http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790 Mark McGwire has been nominated for baseball's Hall of Fame. If it wasn't for that steroid thing, he'd be a shoe in. Just last decade, virtually every American was wrapped up in home run races between McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Bloomberg sports writer Scott Soshnick summed&nbsp; up the dilemma for voting sportswriters this way: Their consternation centers on whether to admit McGwire, who finished his career with 583 home runs, which ranks seventh on MLB's all-time list. Five-hundred home runs, 3,000 hits --both are usually considered automatic entries. Consider some of the surnames who hit fewer homers than McGwire: Killebrew, Schmidt, Mantle, McCovey and Foxx. All are enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. If only McGwire hadn't gone to Capitol Hill last year. Things might be different. The slugger was peppered with questions from opportunistic lawmakers wanting to know what he put in his body to become Paul Bunyan. He shed no light, instead making a half-hearted effort to plead the fifth. Asked, point blank, if he had used performance-enhancing substances, this is what McGwire offered on national television: ``My lawyers have advised me that I cannot answer these questions without jeopardizing my friends, my family and myself.'' Only McGwire didn't stop there. He meekly uttered the now- famous, ``I'm not here to talk about the past.'' Those eight words haunt him. The Associated Press earlier this week surveyed about 20 percent of eligible voters. Only 1-in-4 who gave an opinion said they planned to vote for McGwire this year. That's far shy of the 75 percent needed for induction. In fact, it's closer to the 5 percent needed just to remain on future ballots. If you were a sports writer, how would you vote on McGwire's nomination? Posted by Steve E. Swenson Mark McGwire has been nominated for baseball's Hall of Fame. If it wasn't for that steroid thing, he'd be a shoe in. Just last decade, virtually every American was wrapped up in home run races between McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Bloomberg sports writer Scott Soshnick summed&nbsp; up the dilemma for voting sportswriters this way: Their consternation centers on whether to admit McGwire, who finished his career with 583 home runs, which ranks seventh on MLB's all-time list. Five-hundred home runs, 3,000 hits --both are usually considered automatic entries. Consider some of the surnames who hit fewer homers than McGwire: Killebrew, Schmidt, Mantle, McCovey and Foxx. All are enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. If only McGwire hadn't gone to Capitol Hill last year. Things might be different. The slugger was peppered with questions from opportunistic lawmakers wanting to know what he put in his body to become Paul Bunyan. He shed no light, instead making a half-hearted effort to plead the fifth. Asked, point blank, if he had used performance-enhancing substances, this is what McGwire offered on national television: ``My lawyers have advised me that I cannot answer these questions without jeopardizing my friends, my family and myself.'' Only McGwire didn't stop there. He meekly uttered the now- famous, ``I'm not here to talk about the past.'' Those eight words haunt him. The Associated Press earlier this week surveyed about 20 percent of eligible voters. Only 1-in-4 who gave an opinion said they planned to vote for McGwire this year. That's far shy of the 75 percent needed for induction. In fact, it's closer to the 5 percent needed just to remain on future ballots. If you were a sports writer, how would you vote on McGwire's nomination? Posted by Steve E. Swenson en-us Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:05:28 PST This whole issue is relative only because of the BALCO investigation and subsequent trials. That is what drove the congressional hearings. I think many of the writers won't vote him in this year, but will in a subsequent year. Whatever Big Mac took, it was prior to MLB instituting sanctions against&nbsp; steroids and HGH. <br /> <br /> I would probably hold him out this year as well. He really shouldn't of shown up at the hearing if he wasn't going to come clean. I think many people would of forgiven him if he had, I know I would. I respect Giambi for admitting his use of 'roids. Barroid Bonds..not so much..if at all. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42492 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42492 This whole issue is relative only because of the BALCO investigation and subsequent trials. That is what drove the congressional hearings. I think many of the writers won't vote him in this year, but will in a subsequent year. Whatever Big Mac took, it was prior to MLB instituting sanctions against&nbsp; steroids and HGH. <br /> <br /> I would probably hold him out this year as well. He really shouldn't of shown up at the hearing if he wasn't going to come clean. I think many people would of forgiven him if he had, I know I would. I respect Giambi for admitting his use of 'roids. Barroid Bonds..not so much..if at all. There is a really good columnist from the Sacramento Bee, Marcos Breton, who said forget it to McGwire's nomination. I'm sure a ton of people will agree with the viewpoint that steroid use and/or supplement use taints McGwire's game and credentials and should bar him from the Hall of Fame, along with a host of others coming up for nomination soon. I doubt that I will ever see Pete Rose inducted in my lifetime, or Shoeless Joe Jackson either. Gambling and drugs are the big cannot do items that get the permanent exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Booze ingestion and scuffing or wiping some jack-juice on the ball while pitching seems to be okay. <br /> <br /> My only problem with this steroid supplement thing and asterisking all potential abusers' records is that these items were never illegal in baseball prior to just a couple of years ago. The sport, after the last player's strike, was dead. Nobody cared any longer about really rich stupid guys playing this game that was very boring and took forever to complete. Heck, they don't even play the same game between the two leagues any longer. How stupid is that?<br /> <br /> The juice woke people up, and guys like McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro and Bonds made the game exciting again. Are the leagues ready to return all the money they made with the home run frenzy back to us sucker fans who watched and paid for the priviledge? Hell no, that&nbsp; would be the honorable thing to do, but there is no honor among greedy owners of the&nbsp; pastime. Want to know why nobody watched this last year's World Series? It was boring, and at this point most of us have figured out that most players are spoiled addicts&nbsp; anyway and we don't care&nbsp; who is in some league Hall of Fame anyway.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42502 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42502 There is a really good columnist from the Sacramento Bee, Marcos Breton, who said forget it to McGwire's nomination. I'm sure a ton of people will agree with the viewpoint that steroid use and/or supplement use taints McGwire's game and credentials and should bar him from the Hall of Fame, along with a host of others coming up for nomination soon. I doubt that I will ever see Pete Rose inducted in my lifetime, or Shoeless Joe Jackson either. Gambling and drugs are the big cannot do items that get the permanent exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Booze ingestion and scuffing or wiping some jack-juice on the ball while pitching seems to be okay. <br /> <br /> My only problem with this steroid supplement thing and asterisking all potential abusers' records is that these items were never illegal in baseball prior to just a couple of years ago. The sport, after the last player's strike, was dead. Nobody cared any longer about really rich stupid guys playing this game that was very boring and took forever to complete. Heck, they don't even play the same game between the two leagues any longer. How stupid is that?<br /> <br /> The juice woke people up, and guys like McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro and Bonds made the game exciting again. Are the leagues ready to return all the money they made with the home run frenzy back to us sucker fans who watched and paid for the priviledge? Hell no, that&nbsp; would be the honorable thing to do, but there is no honor among greedy owners of the&nbsp; pastime. Want to know why nobody watched this last year's World Series? It was boring, and at this point most of us have figured out that most players are spoiled addicts&nbsp; anyway and we don't care&nbsp; who is in some league Hall of Fame anyway.&nbsp; As I said Adam..its hard to hang Big Mac when he did the things he did prior to MLB's outlawing of them. I do agree that the taint of roid use will hang over him forever, but that is his fault, no one elses. I was ready to believe he didn't do any when Canseco's book came out..but his non-responses at the congressional hearing just made me ill. <br /> <br /> Before the steroids and HGH were outlawed everyone turned a blind eye to their use. The Padres GM Kevin Towers..as big a moron has you can find in the game, admitted everyone knew Caminiti did them the year he won the MVP with them. It broke my heart when I heard the truth years later, when Cammi confessed. But he did confess, and he tried to right the ship..sadly it still killed him. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42508 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42508 As I said Adam..its hard to hang Big Mac when he did the things he did prior to MLB's outlawing of them. I do agree that the taint of roid use will hang over him forever, but that is his fault, no one elses. I was ready to believe he didn't do any when Canseco's book came out..but his non-responses at the congressional hearing just made me ill. <br /> <br /> Before the steroids and HGH were outlawed everyone turned a blind eye to their use. The Padres GM Kevin Towers..as big a moron has you can find in the game, admitted everyone knew Caminiti did them the year he won the MVP with them. It broke my heart when I heard the truth years later, when Cammi confessed. But he did confess, and he tried to right the ship..sadly it still killed him. As an avid baseball fan..I watch any and all things baseball Adam. Sorry, but I do not find it boring on any level. The HOF is like a church to me, with baseball being a religion..it does matter to me who gets in and who doesn't. <br /> <br /> But, that said..I am bothered by the payrolls and paychecks of men playing a childs game for profit. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42509 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42509 As an avid baseball fan..I watch any and all things baseball Adam. Sorry, but I do not find it boring on any level. The HOF is like a church to me, with baseball being a religion..it does matter to me who gets in and who doesn't. <br /> <br /> But, that said..I am bothered by the payrolls and paychecks of men playing a childs game for profit. What about all the players that used amphetamines before they were illegal, and probably even after. The cocaine scandal of the 80's. What about chewing tobacco? Coffee? Marijuana? All these things would improve/enhance performance. I even remeber hearing about some crazy pitcher that was on LSD during a game. I say if the player didn't get kicked out of baseball it's a non issue. <br /> <br /> For anyone interested here's the story about Doc Ellis who said he was on LSD when he pitched a no-hitter.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gettingit.com/article/691">http://www.gettingit.com/article/691</a><br /> <br /> And a great quote from Doc:<br /> &quot;If parents need athletes as role models, they're in trouble.&quot;<br /> <br /> ---<br /> damn thing cut me off again. <br /> <a href="&lt;/body"></a> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42516 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42516 What about all the players that used amphetamines before they were illegal, and probably even after. The cocaine scandal of the 80's. What about chewing tobacco? Coffee? Marijuana? All these things would improve/enhance performance. I even remeber hearing about some crazy pitcher that was on LSD during a game. I say if the player didn't get kicked out of baseball it's a non issue. <br /> <br /> For anyone interested here's the story about Doc Ellis who said he was on LSD when he pitched a no-hitter.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gettingit.com/article/691">http://www.gettingit.com/article/691</a><br /> <br /> And a great quote from Doc:<br /> &quot;If parents need athletes as role models, they're in trouble.&quot;<br /> <br /> ---<br /> damn thing cut me off again. <br /> <a href="&lt;/body"></a> I disagree Pete, speed wasn't used as steroids were to enhance their performance. Speed was used after a hard night of partying and boozing. You can not compare cannabis to steroids, how would that enhance your performance? Steroids were taken on a schedule in order to increase the ability to build mass and hit the ball harder and longer..or in the case of pitchers..to heal quicker and pitch consecutive days. That reminds me..the majority of the players busted for 'roids have been pitchers..not hitters. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42519 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42519 I disagree Pete, speed wasn't used as steroids were to enhance their performance. Speed was used after a hard night of partying and boozing. You can not compare cannabis to steroids, how would that enhance your performance? Steroids were taken on a schedule in order to increase the ability to build mass and hit the ball harder and longer..or in the case of pitchers..to heal quicker and pitch consecutive days. That reminds me..the majority of the players busted for 'roids have been pitchers..not hitters. I used to be a fan, but the game has de-evolved so much today. I still am upset over the DH and no DH league separation. Stupid! You'd think they could pick which way to go and make it uniform for all of MLB. I thought lowering the mound was pretty stupid more than thirty years ago. What did that end up doing? Zip! The dollar differentials on what teams spend for players today ensures&nbsp; that a lot of cities will never&nbsp; experience&nbsp; the World Series. And salaries on&nbsp; every level of professional sports is so out of whack I just can't get behind much of it anymore. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42559 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42559 I used to be a fan, but the game has de-evolved so much today. I still am upset over the DH and no DH league separation. Stupid! You'd think they could pick which way to go and make it uniform for all of MLB. I thought lowering the mound was pretty stupid more than thirty years ago. What did that end up doing? Zip! The dollar differentials on what teams spend for players today ensures&nbsp; that a lot of cities will never&nbsp; experience&nbsp; the World Series. And salaries on&nbsp; every level of professional sports is so out of whack I just can't get behind much of it anymore. <p>Fox baseball analysis Kevin Kennedy said that he thought the steroids allegations around Mark McGuire shouldn't be counted against him for entering the Hall of Fame because the steroid he took, Androstenedione, was legal and allowed in MLB at the time.  I think I agree with this because if your going to allow your players to take it within the rule books, than why should McGuire be punished for something that was legal?</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42673 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42673 <p>Fox baseball analysis Kevin Kennedy said that he thought the steroids allegations around Mark McGuire shouldn't be counted against him for entering the Hall of Fame because the steroid he took, Androstenedione, was legal and allowed in MLB at the time.  I think I agree with this because if your going to allow your players to take it within the rule books, than why should McGuire be punished for something that was legal?</p> Dusty, Speed would definately enhance performance with the increased reaction time and all. I've heard some athletes say pot helps, but by watching the NBA, I'd say it slows things down a lot.<br /> <br /> I actually don't care who used roids or whatever else for that matter. When it was going on with McGuire, Sosa, Bonds (no wait, he didn't use steroids), etc., It was obvious. Just like how track star Marian Jones suddenly became totally ripped with huge shoulders. It always seemed to me at the time that NLB didn't care. This was right around when they juiced the ball to get more homers. Well, they got them, baseball was exciting for a change. Everyone forgot about the strike. I even watched a few series in those years. Now, I could care less. Baseball is booring again. Yawn.<br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42696 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_42696 Dusty, Speed would definately enhance performance with the increased reaction time and all. I've heard some athletes say pot helps, but by watching the NBA, I'd say it slows things down a lot.<br /> <br /> I actually don't care who used roids or whatever else for that matter. When it was going on with McGuire, Sosa, Bonds (no wait, he didn't use steroids), etc., It was obvious. Just like how track star Marian Jones suddenly became totally ripped with huge shoulders. It always seemed to me at the time that NLB didn't care. This was right around when they juiced the ball to get more homers. Well, they got them, baseball was exciting for a change. Everyone forgot about the strike. I even watched a few series in those years. Now, I could care less. Baseball is booring again. Yawn.<br /> <p>If I remember correctly Mark McGuire passed all drug tests that he took. Also I dont think that steroids were on the MLB illeagle drug list at that time. So if Mark committed no</p> <p>rule breaking or laws why would you hold him out of Hall of Fame</p> <p>I say let the first Baseball Writers Association of Americe voter without any sin or wrongdoing in his lifetime cast the first no vote for Mark McGuire.</p> <p>&nbsp;I dont think there would be many no votes it this were the case.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_43330 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/insidesports/2790/#c_43330 <p>If I remember correctly Mark McGuire passed all drug tests that he took. Also I dont think that steroids were on the MLB illeagle drug list at that time. So if Mark committed no</p> <p>rule breaking or laws why would you hold him out of Hall of Fame</p> <p>I say let the first Baseball Writers Association of Americe voter without any sin or wrongdoing in his lifetime cast the first no vote for Mark McGuire.</p> <p>&nbsp;I dont think there would be many no votes it this were the case.</p>