As spring training gets in full swing and teams sort through talent to fill their opening day rosters, the owner of the greatest swing the game of baseball has ever known works out. At home. With no team. No contract. No offers. 762 home runs. MVP's galore. Waiting by the phone for the chance to play the game that he loves.
How can this be?
Certainly, the man that holds the single season and career home run records is past his prime. But, not one team is interested in bringing in a left hand hitting DH? Not one?
We've seen players who are past their primes (and players who never really had a prime) offered outlandish contracts almost every year.
It's becomes clearer with each moment that passes that Barry Bonds has been 'blackballed' by the league. There is virtually no talk of interest or opportunity. None.
Yet, as Bonds works on keeping his body in shape and healthy, at least one team (the Astros) has said they would let another all time great who has run into trouble play on their team.
We won't be the ones to beat the mortally wounded equine that is Roger Clemens' PED use into further oblivion, but the double standard in MLB is hard to ignore. How can you ignore something that stands in plain sight and smacks you in the face?
Barry, you have set all the records that matter. You have won enough MVP awards to demonstrate your 'mastery' of the white man's game. It's time to hang up your glove. The owners who have aligned against you have proven that they are not worthy of your presence in their company. Let them be the ones that suffer your absence.
Hang up you jock strap and expose what has been covered up.
Blackballed.
Showing posts with label mlb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mlb. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Friday, September 7, 2007
Rick Ankiel: Let's Give the Guy a Break
The investigation into that HGH shop in Florida has turned up yet another athlete that has been documented as receiving HGH.
St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel.
Ankiel, as most baseball fans know, was a promising pitcher who ran into a Knobloch like mental block and couldn't stop from throwing pitches into the backstop.
He gained a reprieve in the minors due to his hitting ability and is having some success after being called up.
It's a great story. And seemed to be on the way to a happy ending.
But, the connection to PED's certainly will tarnish Ankiels feel good story.
"This is the first I've heard of this," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the Daily News. "If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year."
We couldn't agree more.
This would be a tragedy. Clearly, a player connected to HGH or PED's is tragic. Clearly, such an event would be categorized equally with another player on the team dying in a car wreck.
Victims. All are victims.
But, further examination shows that it might not be all that horrible an occurrence for either Ankiel or the Cards.
Major League Baseball doesn't test for HGH, and the sport didn't ban human growth hormone until 2005. But a player who possessed it or used it after it was banned can be suspended for 50 games. Authorities have not accused Ankiel of any wrongdoing, the newspaper said. According to the Signature records the News cited, he stopped receiving HGH just before baseball banned it in 2005.
Obviously, if Ankiel was using HGH before it was banned by baseball, then we shouldn't expect MLB to take action, right? And certainly, why would law enforcement accuse a pro athlete who surreptitiously comes into possession of a controlled substance of wrong doing?
The Daily News said Major League Baseball officials declined to comment, saying they would "look into" the allegations but weren't sure if any action could be taken.
Right!
The feel good story of Ankiel looks like it will continue, although with just a shred of skepticism. But, it doesn't seem like this will - and, since he did possess it before it was banned, shouldn't - have an adverse effect on Ankiel's career or the public's perception of his accomplishments.
It doesn't seem to be bothering Ankiel, as the former HGH possessor smacked 2 homers yesterday.
In related news:
Barry Bonds, accused of using PED's before they were tested for and officially banned by MLB, continues to be the recipient of negative press, demands for asterisks next to his records, boos and taunts from opposing fans and investigations categorizing his possible usage of said substances as criminal.
Yes indeed.
One standard applied to all players.
Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
And MLB was wondering why Negroes have lost interest in the game not too long ago, weren't they?
Can't imagine why.
St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel.
Ankiel, as most baseball fans know, was a promising pitcher who ran into a Knobloch like mental block and couldn't stop from throwing pitches into the backstop.
He gained a reprieve in the minors due to his hitting ability and is having some success after being called up.
It's a great story. And seemed to be on the way to a happy ending.
But, the connection to PED's certainly will tarnish Ankiels feel good story.
"This is the first I've heard of this," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the Daily News. "If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year."
We couldn't agree more.
This would be a tragedy. Clearly, a player connected to HGH or PED's is tragic. Clearly, such an event would be categorized equally with another player on the team dying in a car wreck.
Victims. All are victims.
But, further examination shows that it might not be all that horrible an occurrence for either Ankiel or the Cards.
Major League Baseball doesn't test for HGH, and the sport didn't ban human growth hormone until 2005. But a player who possessed it or used it after it was banned can be suspended for 50 games. Authorities have not accused Ankiel of any wrongdoing, the newspaper said. According to the Signature records the News cited, he stopped receiving HGH just before baseball banned it in 2005.
Obviously, if Ankiel was using HGH before it was banned by baseball, then we shouldn't expect MLB to take action, right? And certainly, why would law enforcement accuse a pro athlete who surreptitiously comes into possession of a controlled substance of wrong doing?
The Daily News said Major League Baseball officials declined to comment, saying they would "look into" the allegations but weren't sure if any action could be taken.
Right!
The feel good story of Ankiel looks like it will continue, although with just a shred of skepticism. But, it doesn't seem like this will - and, since he did possess it before it was banned, shouldn't - have an adverse effect on Ankiel's career or the public's perception of his accomplishments.
It doesn't seem to be bothering Ankiel, as the former HGH possessor smacked 2 homers yesterday.
In related news:
Barry Bonds, accused of using PED's before they were tested for and officially banned by MLB, continues to be the recipient of negative press, demands for asterisks next to his records, boos and taunts from opposing fans and investigations categorizing his possible usage of said substances as criminal.
Yes indeed.
One standard applied to all players.
Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
And MLB was wondering why Negroes have lost interest in the game not too long ago, weren't they?
Can't imagine why.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Bonds: It's Required To Give Him His Due
As Barry Bonds hoisted his powerful arms up into the air after launching the shot heard 'round the world, a great burden was lifted.
Not just Barry's burden. Not just the ever increasing weight placed upon him by a vicious and inhumane media. But a burden felt by all baseball fans. A burden carried by all people.
And now that the chase is over. The quest conquered. The haj complete. We must all look to heal from the damage that the mainstream media has inflicted upon us during the course of Barry's chase.
The best way to heal? Exalt in the majesty of Mr. Bonds' triumph.
If the media can finally lay bias to rest and simply give the new Home Run King the fair treatment and respect due, baseball can recover. Bonds can recover. We can all recover.
The time has come to treat Bonds as we have treated every other player that has performed at super human levels and attained unmatched supremacy.
Is Bonds the first player to be accused of "cheating"?
How many players in the Hall of Fame had reputations as cheaters? How many pushed the limits of the technology available during their careers? Ty Cobb? Gaylord Perry? How many others?
Yet, we kind of snicker about Gaylord Perry and his spit balls. About Ty Cobb and his sharpening his cleats and other tactics. And we vote them into the Hall of Fame with nary a word of dissention.
But, Barry Bonds comes along and is crucified. Grand Juries are convened. Expose books are written. Fans are whipped into a frenzy and urged to take an indignant stance to his accomplishment.
What did Bonds do that separates him from all the others that have operated in a gray area, or just plain cheated in sports?
Bonds played in an era in which MLB purposely and willfully turned its collective back to what was going on with a large portion of the players. The league didn't conduct testing. The league didn't even officially ban many substances. While players began to look like bodybuilders and home runs flew out of parks at unheard of rates, the commissioner and the owners counted receipts. They posed as those three monkeys with their hands over their eyes, ears and mouths: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
And now, when they are called onto the carpet for what transpired, for what they allowed and encouraged through complicit silence...now, we are to all accept that Bonds is the anti-christ in all this?
Players like Bonds are driven. What makes them great is their will to succeed. Part of that is to excel through any means necessary. And, if there is a loop hole in the system, they will find it. In fact, we'd argue that they are encouraged to find it.
Lance Armstrong is a hero. Beloved by the media, and therefore the fans. But, there is more dirt out there on him than any superstar athlete. More individuals connect him to doping than any athlete. He has been returned dubious test results.
But no mention of placing an asterisk next to his name in the record books.
Armstrong is cherished.
It's time to cherish Bonds. To honor his accomplishments. To look past the accusations and the character assaults. It's time to understand that he played the game during an era that encouraged and allowed players to take that extra step. To go above and beyond normal training methods.
Baseball is redefining itself and the owners and commissioner have now been forced to address the issue. But that doesn't change the fact that for decades they silently sat by and watched. And Bonds should not be the lone scapegoat burned in effigy by the media.
MLB created Barry Bonds. He is of their doing. MLB's very own "frankenstein".
To unleash him, and then pretend he didn't become exactly what MLB expected or wanted is the greatest lie in all of this.
The key to moving forward now that the chase has ended is honoring baseball's greatest creation.
Baseball purists argue that Bonds is bad for the game. That his being the Home Run King tarnishes the purity of the game.
Well, any organization that would silently stand by and pretend to not see what went on, and then later accept no responsibility for it, is an impure entity.
The only pure entity in all of this?
Bonds' swing.
Honor it. So we can all heal. Together.
Not just Barry's burden. Not just the ever increasing weight placed upon him by a vicious and inhumane media. But a burden felt by all baseball fans. A burden carried by all people.
And now that the chase is over. The quest conquered. The haj complete. We must all look to heal from the damage that the mainstream media has inflicted upon us during the course of Barry's chase.
The best way to heal? Exalt in the majesty of Mr. Bonds' triumph.
If the media can finally lay bias to rest and simply give the new Home Run King the fair treatment and respect due, baseball can recover. Bonds can recover. We can all recover.
The time has come to treat Bonds as we have treated every other player that has performed at super human levels and attained unmatched supremacy.
Is Bonds the first player to be accused of "cheating"?
How many players in the Hall of Fame had reputations as cheaters? How many pushed the limits of the technology available during their careers? Ty Cobb? Gaylord Perry? How many others?
Yet, we kind of snicker about Gaylord Perry and his spit balls. About Ty Cobb and his sharpening his cleats and other tactics. And we vote them into the Hall of Fame with nary a word of dissention.
But, Barry Bonds comes along and is crucified. Grand Juries are convened. Expose books are written. Fans are whipped into a frenzy and urged to take an indignant stance to his accomplishment.
What did Bonds do that separates him from all the others that have operated in a gray area, or just plain cheated in sports?
Bonds played in an era in which MLB purposely and willfully turned its collective back to what was going on with a large portion of the players. The league didn't conduct testing. The league didn't even officially ban many substances. While players began to look like bodybuilders and home runs flew out of parks at unheard of rates, the commissioner and the owners counted receipts. They posed as those three monkeys with their hands over their eyes, ears and mouths: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
And now, when they are called onto the carpet for what transpired, for what they allowed and encouraged through complicit silence...now, we are to all accept that Bonds is the anti-christ in all this?
Players like Bonds are driven. What makes them great is their will to succeed. Part of that is to excel through any means necessary. And, if there is a loop hole in the system, they will find it. In fact, we'd argue that they are encouraged to find it.
Lance Armstrong is a hero. Beloved by the media, and therefore the fans. But, there is more dirt out there on him than any superstar athlete. More individuals connect him to doping than any athlete. He has been returned dubious test results.
But no mention of placing an asterisk next to his name in the record books.
Armstrong is cherished.
It's time to cherish Bonds. To honor his accomplishments. To look past the accusations and the character assaults. It's time to understand that he played the game during an era that encouraged and allowed players to take that extra step. To go above and beyond normal training methods.
Baseball is redefining itself and the owners and commissioner have now been forced to address the issue. But that doesn't change the fact that for decades they silently sat by and watched. And Bonds should not be the lone scapegoat burned in effigy by the media.
MLB created Barry Bonds. He is of their doing. MLB's very own "frankenstein".
To unleash him, and then pretend he didn't become exactly what MLB expected or wanted is the greatest lie in all of this.
The key to moving forward now that the chase has ended is honoring baseball's greatest creation.
Baseball purists argue that Bonds is bad for the game. That his being the Home Run King tarnishes the purity of the game.
Well, any organization that would silently stand by and pretend to not see what went on, and then later accept no responsibility for it, is an impure entity.
The only pure entity in all of this?
Bonds' swing.
Honor it. So we can all heal. Together.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Home Run Derby Recap
A quick run down of the excitement, in bullet form:
-Kenny Mayne on kayak
-Morgan and Baker agree that Willie Mays is best player they have ever seen. Boomer obligated to agree.
-Berman yells "back back back" a thousand times
-we get bored and switch to "Making the Band 4". The first group of candidates are introduced to a new group that is coming to battle for their spots in the house. A sing off ensues and we forget all about the Home Run Derby.
-Kenny Mayne on kayak
-Morgan and Baker agree that Willie Mays is best player they have ever seen. Boomer obligated to agree.
-Berman yells "back back back" a thousand times
-we get bored and switch to "Making the Band 4". The first group of candidates are introduced to a new group that is coming to battle for their spots in the house. A sing off ensues and we forget all about the Home Run Derby.
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