killeverything wrote:Cooperstown was always the Holy Grail to me. "I'll marry the girl that would go there on our honeymoon ( lol )," etc. With his induction I think it's just a joke now.
I would have married a HO if they went to either Canton or Cooper's with me....Back then....
I always respected Cooperstown more because it was holy and they didn't toss players like Troy Aikman in because of a popularity contest or politics but like you said they went full on Selig now. Unfuckingbelievable....Enriching Selig was criminal.
Selig going in by some special committee still wouldn't change my vote to give others a free pass, I believe it's wrong Selig made it so it would be wrong to vote in another. After that the hinges are off might as well put Sosa to Palmeiro in. Most of the players I worshiped like Bagwell we all know was enhanced and it's down to those not connected or convicted. No Blood, No Foul.....Those who were Caught or even thought to be PED's are punished yet the ones who keep low are good? Ya it's royally fucked.
I will always rank Clemens as one of the best ever, probably the same for Bonds except I hate him and have story's from people who played with him that are more personal, just from the story's he'd never get my vote. So where do you drawn the line? I'd almost say if you stood up and admitted it I'd hand out a hall pass.
I knew they was juiced during the HR race as I raised a fist then afterwords looking at the records and money I have buyers remorse. I've come to the conclusion that I've lost respect for Cooperstown and couldn't careless if I go anymore. I can scratch that off the bucket list and it pisses me off. I'm glad I made it to Canton before the BS of the NFL changed my opinion I just wished I made it to the Graceland of Baseball before now.
Eventually we'll see them bust in, voters who grew up after the era and will rise along with the acceptance but not on my end. This SI writer did a good story and said it best.
I never have and never will vote for players connected to steroid use by public evidence. At no point, rule or no rule, was steroid use acceptable, which is why players went through great lengths to conceal it and continue to do so years later. I understand why some players made the choice. I cannot honor it.
Big Mac had a great quote.......
Mark McGwire, on what steroid use should mean for the greatest honor in the sport: “It’s a mistake that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I have to deal with never, ever getting into the Hall of Fame. I totally understand and totally respect their opinion and I will never, ever push it. That is the way it’s going to be and I can live with that. One of the hardest things I had to do this year was sit down with my nine- and ten-year-old boys and tell them what dad did. That was a really hard thing to do but I did it. They understood as much as a nine or ten year old could. It’s just something, if any ballplayer ever came up to me, run away from it. It’s not good. Run away from it.”
But again, you're left with only punishing the ones who got busted when the entire league was juiced. It's a shitty subject.....integrity, sportsmanship, character? Where to start and where does it end...........I hold them all accountable for pissing on the legacy that use to mean something.