You Stay Classy, Barry Bonds

The New York Daily News reported today that the most beloved player in baseball, one Barry Bonds, has tested positive for amphetamines. This test was performed last year, and if you test positive for a first test, you are to remain anonymous. Well, Bonds is now playing the finger pointing game, blaming his positive testing on teammate Mark Sweeney, saying that he took the substance out of Sweeney's locker. Alright, Barry, so your saying that you went into Sweeney's locker, and unknowingly popped a couple of pills, to help you better your game? Amphetamines are also known as "greenies" and players like Pete Rose have admitted to taking them. After he tested positive, Barry was referred to counseling, not punished. A second violation for amphetamines, warrants a 25 game suspension. Bonds is playing the Rafael Palmiero game, blaming a fellow teammate, such as when Palmiero blamed Miguel Tejada for his postive testing. I know the next time I'm in need of a fix, I'm just going to search through friends medical cabinets....Foot fungus pills? This will fix my throbbing green genitals.

Huge Numbers, Small Balls

The voting for the Hall is over, and Mark McGwire was left in the dust trail that was Cal Ripken Jr., and Tony Gwynn, who absolutely, without a doubt earned their place among the greats. The numbers McGwire put up were certainly Hall of Fame caliber: a home run every 10.5 bats, greatest all time, .588 slugging percentage, not to mention the fact the home run race of 1998 revived the dying sport which was baseball, partially because after the strike many people thought athletes were spoiled, rich, pussies. A fact many today still agree with. In the first year of voting that he was eligible, McGwire recieved only 23% of the vote, which is enough to keep him on the ballet for next year. The question is, does he deserve to be enshrined among the greats? The consesus of the voters in the A.P., and league officials is that they want McGwire as far away from Cooperstown as they can manage. McGwires testimony in front of the House Government Reform Committee on March 17th, 2005 was one of a scandalous ridden politician:

"My lawyers have advised me that I cannot answer these questions without jeopardizing my friends, family, and myself." And repeatedly saying "I'm not here to talk about my past, I'm here to be positive about this subject."

He did what every American has the right to do, the right to not incriminate himself, as stated in the 5th amendment. McGwire has stated previously that he has taken Andro, a substance that then was not banned by the MLB. The thing is, McGwire had to face pitchers that were also knowingly taking these substances, thus increasing their throwing power. This would make things even, a steroird ingesting pitcher vs. a steroid ingesting batter. McGwire did a lot to refuel America's interest in baseball, and now its as popular as ever.

At the very least McGwire admitted to using now banned substances, because my respect for players like Bonds is a consensus with pretty much everyone else across America: I'm out for blood. Bonds has nearly been caught red-handed, and I understand the fact that he has no choice but to deny his outright use of steroids, it would put a scar that is the face of the MLB. But he should have left earlier, his show got him no sympathy, and fans continue to taunt him to no end. The fact that he continues to chase the record for home runs makes me sick, and if baseball rejects McGwire, they know in their hearts they must reject Bonds as well.