McGwire Speaks

So, last week Mark McGwire confessed that he once used steroids...DUH! Honestly, how many people actually believed there was a question about that?

I read several articles about McGwire and how insincere his statement was and that even though he did confess it didn't mean anything. Writers were still not going to vote him into the Hall of Fame. You know, I'm okay with those who have votes for the Hall choose not to vote him in because he used steroids and his stats are tainted, that's there choice, but PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that you aren't going to vote in those other guys who confessed too!

A-Rod, probably the most talented player of his era admitted to steroids and all is forgiven, same thing for Jason Giambi. I even understand holding a grudge against those who denied using steroids and later failed a test like Rafael Palmeiro, but just because others like A-Rod said yes, I did and I'm sorry doesn't clear their record. If they used steroids their stats are tainted too, period. Would A-Rod have just volunteered the information, NO! He waited until it came out that he was a user before he confessed. He, like many others, was hoping that he would slip through and not get caught up in the roid-hunt in baseball.

I guess what it all boils down to for me is this; If the voters for the Hall of Fame say that I'm not voting for anyone who was caught using steroids, I'm okay with that. If the voters for the Hall of Fame say I will only vote for someone who confesses they used steroids, I'm okay with that if they do that for everyone, but the second they say "His confession wasn't sincere enough" so I'm not voting for him, then that voter should lose his vote.

In my opinion, steroids are wrong and should have no place in athletics. Problem is, there was a period in history where steroids were all over sports. I don't think that you can just ignore those who played during the 'roid era. The Hall of Fame sure didn't think it was too bad to vote in those players who took amphetamines like they were candy in the sixties and seventies. I guess, all in all, each voter of the Hall has to make a decision about their stance on steroids and whatever that stance is, they need to stick to it. Don't be wishy-washy about it, make a decision on what you believe and stick to it. If they used, too bad you can't be in the Hall; If they used and confessed its okay, you can be in the Hall; I don't care if they used, they can be in the Hall; I really don't care what the voters choose, I just want consistency.

I know what I think...if there is undeniable proof that the player used steroids, then I'm sorry but you don't deserve the Hall of Fame. So, no Mark McGwire, no Barry Bonds, no A-Rod, no Rafael Palmeiro. It's sad, but that's how I feel.

Mortality

So, Zach got a basketball goal from Santa this year. Because of the weather and Christmas commitments, it took a couple of extra days to get the thing put together and put in place. Now that its together my two older sons wanted to play me in HORSE. Seems that when we had a basketball goal before, we played HORSE or PIG (Based on the amount of time to play) quite a bit. So, yesterday Josh and I get out on the driveway to play. Josh wins the first game. He raises his hands in the air and yells "Finally!". He says that he's never beaten me before. I have a hard time believing that, but okay. We play two more games and the old man wins them both. As far as I'm concerned two out of three means I'm still undefeated. Tonight Moose and I play...I win the first one, he wins the second one and does a happy dance. I hang on to win game number three. Still undefeated in my eyes, but I can see that the winning record won't last too long. My two older boys are way too young and strong for this old man to hang with much longer.

I remember playing HORSE in the driveway with my dad. He never let me win, but I remember the first time I beat him too. Why is it that the boys want to beat their dads so bad? I know that I wanted to and its obvious by the way my boys reacted that they wanted to...is it a sign that manhood has been achieved? Is it the sign that we've become better than our dads? I know that when it came to basketball or baseball I was a better athlete than my dad, but over the years I've quickly assessed that I haven't even come close to being the man he was. I was blessed with a great example of what a dad is supposed to be. It's a goal that I strive for everyday. I hope that when my boys pass me by in sports, they pass me and become better men too.