Saturday, January 13, 2007

Why McGwire should be in, and why Bonds shouldn't

Mark McGwire should be in the Hall. Barry Bonds shouldn't. Here's my reasons why:

First, in 1998, when we were ALL cheering McGwire, we also had a suspicion of steroids. But we didn't care that year. Not a single one of us said a word. Now nine years later all those supporters are mad. You can't have it both ways.

Second, steroids weren't illegal in baseball in 98 or any other year McGwire played. Yes, they were illegal in the U.S., but so is punching someone and yet boxers are being hauled off to jail after every match.

For the record, I believe McGwire used steroids. But it wasn't illegal at the time. You can't penalize him for doing something that so many others were doing at the time.

As for Bonds, I'll take my feelings for him out of the equation. Like McGwire, he wasn't cheating if he used steroids prior to them being illegal. But the minute he used them illegally, he lost any chance at the hall. There's enough proof(leaked from grand jury) to show he used them. Throw in the amphetamines, and you have enough reason to keep him out.

Baseball brought this on itself. I won't cheer Bonds if he breaks Hank Aaron's record. The fact that he allegedly blamed a teammate for the amphetamines is downright despicable. But that has nothing to do with the hall. Looking just at their records(steroids and all) McGwire played fair, whatever that meant at the time. Bonds did not.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.
Posted by Joe :: 10:26 PM ::

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