Today, in the sports world, was to be announced who may be chosen to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This year's class of possibilities was full controversial picks.
And, with that in mind, maybe it shouldn't be any surprise that absolutely NO one was chosen to be inducted this year!The choices up for this year were from, what's considered, the "steroid era." Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa all fell far short of the 75% voting needed to get in. No one even got 70%. Sammy Sosa got a smidgen over 12%. How sad for a group that made such a name for themselves back in their hayday. And how quickly they fell from grace in the baseball world. The use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) was the culprit in their major success, apparently. And with that...none of these big names got to the big prize.
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| Sosa, Bonds, Clemons - REEEEEE-JE-E-E-E-E-ECTED! |
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| Mark McGwire - REEEEEEEEEE-JE-E-E-E-E-ECTED!!! Again... |
The debate has been whether or not any of these guys should even be allowed into the baseball house of such high honor. As it turns out, not enough thought so this year. Now then...they do have more chances to possibly get in...but their careers may have been permanently tainted in the minds of the voters in the future. It's sad, really.
However...I'm going to make a case for these guys to actually get in. They did make a name for themselves, POSITIVELY (which has nothing to do with their drug test results), in their stats when they played. But I need you to stick with me to understand. I think it will make sense & really should be considered...
The Hall of Fame (the NFL's HOF should consider this, too) should have/build an extra wing or room dedicated specifically to these guys. And it's not the hall of shame...that's way harsh. But it would be a statement place...
I believe they should be inducted into Asterisks Hall! The area designated for the guys who changed the face of baseball, encouraging & inspiring other players & future players to do bigger & greater things, but disgraced themselves by getting help from illegal substances & not their own manpower, or by any other disgrace (more on the latter later).
They did great things...but it would be like they've been put on display in eternal timeout. We can marvel at their feats while learning a major lesson.
Oh, and? There would be a particular piece of baseball history displayed at the entrance to this hall of disgraced greats...
Do you remember the ball that was to be displayed in The Hall hit by Barry Bonds? Then the debate went up, after the ruling came out against him, about what to do with the ball. It ended up being left up to the public. The public vote had the majority saying it should be branded...with...an asterisk! Remember? Which is sad. The ball got tattooed over something it was a part of by chance. The ball did no wrong, but just happened to end up having ties to the one who was in the wrong. Poor ball...
However...think about it...it would certainly be an appropriate site to come upon as you enter into Asterisks Hall. The ball with the asterisk tattoo...
Amm-i-rite?
And, in Asterisks Hall, each player's plaque would be tattooed...uh...I mean "branded" with an asterisk by their name. It would also be in the realm of having any player already inducted have the ability to me transferred into Asterisks Hall should any disgrace comes upon their namesake in the baseball world.
Tshirts could totally be sold in the gift shop with a big asterisk on it!
See? Excellence can still be recognized, but it will also be given the slap on the wrist (or name) they brought upon themselves.
And then...do you know who could be an early candidate into this new area? Pete Rose. He would finally be given his chance to get into the hall...but with an asterisk. I think he'd take getting in that place anyway he could.
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| * Pete Rose |
So...would you make your way to Asterisks Hall if you went to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown? Think about it. Win-win for all!
Stay tuned...
God Bless, AM~Erica
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