Monday News and Notes
It's become evident that Mark McGwire is going to become guilty by reputation because of the crimes of Barry Bonds. The two sluggers are being lumped together, not by criminal intent, but by their monstrous talent. Because they have each broken the home run record, they are perceived as part of the same criminal conspiracy. Yet their "crimes" could not stand in starker contrast. Barry Bonds has been named in the federal indictment of his personal trainer, who has admitted giving steroids to clients. Bonds may also be found guilty of perjury. McGwire used a legal supplement in his workouts- a product legal in baseball and America at large.In 1998, Androstenedione could be purchased by any freedom-loving American in their local mall. The media and the public knew McGwire was using it, and they didn't care. Why is Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon now advocating an asterisk by McGwire's records when he wasn't in 1998? What has changed since then?
Other than Bonds' completely-unrelated behavior, I have come up with only three significant developments since '98, none of which serve to indict McGwire.
Number one, McGwire's slugging competitor, Sammy Sosa, was discovered to be a fraud, both personally and professionally, which I contended he was from the very beginning. Michael Wilbon, a Chicago native, isn't advocating an asterisk for Sosa, even though we know Sammy Sequel corked his bat. Six years ago, Sosa was considered a hero and an icon. Today, he's tradebait, a man accused by teammates of quitting on his team, and a convicted cheater. I knew at the time Sosa was detracting more from the home run race than he was adding to it, but the public was coming to see McGwire and Sosa as partners in the same human drama. Now, Sosa sullies Big Mac by association with his increasingly-bizarre behavior.
Number two development- McGwire fathered two children. So much for the thought that Andro hinders fertility. I'm not qualified to say the supplement can't be harmful, but so can chewing tobacco. Kerry Wood, Moises Alou, and many others soak that in their jaw all game long. It's completely beside the larger point, but it's worth considering the notion that, one day, science will perfect a steroid with no negative side effects. At that point, we'll have one hell of an ethical dilemma in the sports world. Or the problem will be solved.
The third important development- the one pundits frequently cite- is that the sale of Andro has now been banned. This is insignificant. For one reason, it was banned by an act of Congress. Not by doctors, pharmacists, or scientists. By politicians. Politicians who seek maximum media coverage for their exploits. Forget that McGwire did nothing illegal and broke no rules. If Senator Blowhard wants to score headlines in his home state or prep a run for president, Big Mac goes to the gallows.
Mark McGwire is now in the position of having to prove his innocence. We demanded that he give his all to the game in exchange for his large paychecks. He did that- and much more- by any reasonable evaluation. He handled himself with grace, mental strength, and with an historic display of sportsmanship. His numbers should stand without contempt or suspicion until someone presents evidence that he broke the rules. The public understands this inherently. That's why the only people who propose asterisks are pompous members of the media and friends who want to get a rise out of me.
Ban the substance. Change the current rules. That's fine. Better than fine. But keep in mind- they didn't toss out the records of the turn-of-the-century pitchers after they banned the spitball. They didn't erase the records of the 1960s when it was revealed to the public that many of the players were popping amphetamines.
In 2008, the Hall-of-Fame will come calling and Mac will be back. It's time to get off that back.
posted by CM @ 9:14 PM
6 Comments:
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Mark McGwire would kick your ass if he read your comments (and if he wasn't such a nice person.) And he would be right to do so. Again, you're asking him to prove his innocence. Robin Williams lives in the Bay Area. Does he take steroids? That might explain all of the body hair. Besides, McGwire didn't live in the Bay Area during the period in question in the Balco case.
Point for point, I agree with Mr. Semelroth. While McGwire shouldn't have to prove his innocence, he's clearly guilty unless he proves himself otherwise.
Every homerun and slugging percentage record since the early 1980's should have an asterisk IMHO. The "modern era" of baseball ended with weight training and "nutrition science." Plus the ball players make so much money they can train all winter instead of getting a second job like the players from every other era.
I don't believe that the ball is juiced, but I'd like to see some experimental use of limited flight balls in some of these small ballparks.
Chris, is it true McGwire wouldn't have set the record if St. Louis had not moved their fences in several feet? How can you speak so well of McGwire when he helped to kill the small-ball style of so many of the great Cardinals teams of the past? St. Louis under Tony L. might as well move the American League; they would fit in better. TA
No one misses the old days like I do, Anonymous. You'll find Whitey Herzog's groundbreaking autobiography, White Rat, listed on my list of favorite books. But there have been 4 truly pivotal moments in the history of the Cardinals franchise.
1) The winning of the first championship in 1926 against the Yankees, setting up the parade in St. Louis to be rivaled only by Lindbergh's return the next year.
2) The selling of old Robison Field by Branch Rickey in the late 20s to pay for the foundation of baseball's first farm system. Rickey had already changed the game forever before he integrated it.
3) The hiring by Gussie Busch of Whitey Herzog, which started the attendance explosion at Busch Stadium, and gave Cardinal Nation its current identity.
and 4)The emergence of Mark McGwire. McGwire put us in the global spotlight for the first time. He only played in St. Louis for 4 1/2 years, but during that short time our payroll went from about 20 million to 90 million. Mark gets a pass for life.
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