Ooops Sorry.
Ooops Sorry.
J. Lewis/RF23
www.keepingitright.blogspot.com
Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced two inductees to its hallow halls, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripkin, Jr. But that's not really groundbreaking news. Those two were shoo in's from the get go and rightfully first time nominees to get the nod. Both were instrumental in the record books, both were good ambassadors of the game and there isn't a time when a fan of both of the men won't think about those two with a smile and stories of their feats.
However, with the joy of those men who will be gracing the hall in few months, there will be candidates denied entry. These players were instrumental to their respective teams, they were threats for opposing pitchers and fans often thought of them around all star games. Some were great, some were just good enough to be great, but for the next fourteen years or so, they will bite their fingernails and hope that their name is called. But there's a problem and maybe an injustice that is going to happen for the second time this year. Last year, baseball ambassador and the first black to hold a coaching position was denied entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Buck O'Neill was turned away from joining the greats that denied him into the majors and was denied to join the men he called friends that played in the Negro Leagues. And being Buck O'Neill, he decided to join them spiritually and left us last year, without ever receiving that phone call telling him that he will join the immortals.
But this isn't about Buck, it's about these "moral" police press that has carte blanche to deem an individual guilty without due process. Mark McGwire was denied entry into the Hall of Fame and wasn't because of his numbers, well maybe it was, because but for his numbers and the moral police of the press, McGwire has been deemed guilty as charged for steroid use. McGwire up to his retirement has not come up hot on drug tests, OH!! wait a minute, there was no drug testing going on for steroid use when McGwire played. So what is he guilty of?
For taking the fifth at congress, by refusing to answer questions if whether he used steroids or performance enhancing drugs.
And for that over 75% of the "moral" press said that McGwire is a steroid user and the "Ivory" of what is wrong with baseball (Bonds is "Ebony").
Now this man sits 8th on the home run list and along with Sammy Sosa single handedly put baseball back on the map, after a world series had been cancelled because of a strike. The game was on life support if not for those two and other players playing out of their backside!! But 1998 and 99 will foreever be remembered as the "Mark McGwire Show", co-starring Sammy Sosa.
And for that he is being denied his rightful place in the hall because of some "purist" wants to know that the home runs he has never hit, and probably never in a game of "kick ball," is real and on the up and up. That's crazy and these people should be ostrasized for being so gulliable.
This isn't your grandfather's game anymore, hell it ain't even America's past time. For that matter it ain't even American, with the hugh influx of foreign ball players. I guess the game can be happy that history is repeating itself in regard to the paucity of black players in the game. In that case, the majors won't have to worry about another negro leagues coming out and out selling them.
Anyway congratulations to Gwynn and Ripken for your inductions to the Hall. As for you, McGwire, please take the seat next to Pete Rose, squeeze in tight, cause Bonds will be joining you both in 6 years.
J. Lewis/RF23
www.keepingitright.blogspot.com
Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced two inductees to its hallow halls, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripkin, Jr. But that's not really groundbreaking news. Those two were shoo in's from the get go and rightfully first time nominees to get the nod. Both were instrumental in the record books, both were good ambassadors of the game and there isn't a time when a fan of both of the men won't think about those two with a smile and stories of their feats.
However, with the joy of those men who will be gracing the hall in few months, there will be candidates denied entry. These players were instrumental to their respective teams, they were threats for opposing pitchers and fans often thought of them around all star games. Some were great, some were just good enough to be great, but for the next fourteen years or so, they will bite their fingernails and hope that their name is called. But there's a problem and maybe an injustice that is going to happen for the second time this year. Last year, baseball ambassador and the first black to hold a coaching position was denied entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Buck O'Neill was turned away from joining the greats that denied him into the majors and was denied to join the men he called friends that played in the Negro Leagues. And being Buck O'Neill, he decided to join them spiritually and left us last year, without ever receiving that phone call telling him that he will join the immortals.
But this isn't about Buck, it's about these "moral" police press that has carte blanche to deem an individual guilty without due process. Mark McGwire was denied entry into the Hall of Fame and wasn't because of his numbers, well maybe it was, because but for his numbers and the moral police of the press, McGwire has been deemed guilty as charged for steroid use. McGwire up to his retirement has not come up hot on drug tests, OH!! wait a minute, there was no drug testing going on for steroid use when McGwire played. So what is he guilty of?
For taking the fifth at congress, by refusing to answer questions if whether he used steroids or performance enhancing drugs.
And for that over 75% of the "moral" press said that McGwire is a steroid user and the "Ivory" of what is wrong with baseball (Bonds is "Ebony").
Now this man sits 8th on the home run list and along with Sammy Sosa single handedly put baseball back on the map, after a world series had been cancelled because of a strike. The game was on life support if not for those two and other players playing out of their backside!! But 1998 and 99 will foreever be remembered as the "Mark McGwire Show", co-starring Sammy Sosa.
And for that he is being denied his rightful place in the hall because of some "purist" wants to know that the home runs he has never hit, and probably never in a game of "kick ball," is real and on the up and up. That's crazy and these people should be ostrasized for being so gulliable.
This isn't your grandfather's game anymore, hell it ain't even America's past time. For that matter it ain't even American, with the hugh influx of foreign ball players. I guess the game can be happy that history is repeating itself in regard to the paucity of black players in the game. In that case, the majors won't have to worry about another negro leagues coming out and out selling them.
Anyway congratulations to Gwynn and Ripken for your inductions to the Hall. As for you, McGwire, please take the seat next to Pete Rose, squeeze in tight, cause Bonds will be joining you both in 6 years.
posted by J.C. "Fanz23" Lewis, Jr | 3:51 PM
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