Happy birthday, blog. Thanks to Mighty and Gutsy for providing a medium for me to hoot and holler about the stuff I care about. I know my voice can be loud a lot of the time so I appreciate that they bear with me. Anyways, a lot of sports stuff on my mind this morning so I’ll get right to it. The blurb headings are links to the articles I’m referring to...
1. Lance: Apparently he did dope up for at least one of his Tour de France victories. The science proves it, even if we didn’t have the capability to prove it back in 1999. That said, I don’t know if I really care that much. I mean, yes, it seems like he cheated but I’m going to permit myself the pleasure of a double standard because it thumbs a nose at those colossal pussies that are the French. They’re so bitter about an American, a Texan no less, winning their national mega-event year after year that they have to revert to digging up old urine samples from seven years ago. Frankly, aren’t there any biomedical ethics issues involved in that? What is the “right” amount of time to keep a sample? Should a sample be tested over and over, even if it is for the purpose of perfecting a test to detect banned substances that modern science couldn’t previously detect? Even still, shouldn’t a person have an expectation of privacy if the sample is used for purposes larger than testing the urine itself (in this case, for creating this more accurate test)? I certainly think so. So, a hearty f*ck you to Jacques Chirac for being the president of such a sniveling culture of people. If people around the world hate Americans and harass (and decapitate) them because our leader is George W. Bush, I say we should all piss on any French person we see in the streets.
2. Milton, Jeff and the Dodgers: Wow, the Dodgers have issues. I didn’t even know that Milton Bradley and Jeff Kent were feuding but I guess I’m not surprised. Kent is known to be a horrible teammate and a very self-involved guy. His personality has to be a leading reason why one of the best second baseman in the game has played for six teams and hasn’t been able to stick in one place long enough to even have a honeymoon period. Then again, it’s not like Milton Bradley is the most stable guy in the world. I’m going to have to take his comments about Jeff Kent with a grain of salt. Second to Carl Everett, there might not be a more disturbed individual in baseball. Jeff Kent may or may not like black guys but does Milton Bradley like anyone?
3. Bob Huggins: Out he goes. I support the decision to can Bob Huggins because he ran a dirty program and he’s generally a royal ass. I think the termination package is extremely fair ($3 million plus medical insurance and 401(k)). I also hate it when university presidents “get tough” like this. I think it reeks of hypocrisy. If Huggins was turning out stars like he was in the mid to late 90’s, there’d be more leniency here (not that there should be, just saying…). But kicking a guy when he’s down is how the NCAA operates. They did it to Bobby Knight and they’re doing it to Huggins. I applaud the University of Cincinnati for finally getting rid of the bum but I don’t applaud Nancy Zimpher. She’s full of shit. She reminds me of the mayor in Police Academy 2 when she goes to the street festival with a broom and says some dumb slogan like “cleaning up the streets” or something like that. Shut up and hire teachers, don’t pretend you even know where the fieldhouse is.
4. Frank Robinson: I love him but he’s an idiot. Don’t wipe out anyone’s stats. He’s just pissed because he’s getting bumped down the all-time lists. If I were Frank, I’d be pissed too. It’s bad enough that he’s on the top 10 list of most underrated players ever but to be further marginalized by cheating meatheads like Sosa, Palmeiro, Bonds, etc. can’t make him feel good. Even still, don’t touch those records. We have no idea when Raffy started cheating (even if Jose tells us the exact minute). Leave the record book alone. Baseball history will be written such that everyone will know that cheaters took steroids from 1994-2004. The record book is like the Bible. There are plenty of lies in there too but we’re not running around now with amendments and annexes. No, we’re leaving the Bible alone and we should do the same with baseball’s records.
1. Lance: Apparently he did dope up for at least one of his Tour de France victories. The science proves it, even if we didn’t have the capability to prove it back in 1999. That said, I don’t know if I really care that much. I mean, yes, it seems like he cheated but I’m going to permit myself the pleasure of a double standard because it thumbs a nose at those colossal pussies that are the French. They’re so bitter about an American, a Texan no less, winning their national mega-event year after year that they have to revert to digging up old urine samples from seven years ago. Frankly, aren’t there any biomedical ethics issues involved in that? What is the “right” amount of time to keep a sample? Should a sample be tested over and over, even if it is for the purpose of perfecting a test to detect banned substances that modern science couldn’t previously detect? Even still, shouldn’t a person have an expectation of privacy if the sample is used for purposes larger than testing the urine itself (in this case, for creating this more accurate test)? I certainly think so. So, a hearty f*ck you to Jacques Chirac for being the president of such a sniveling culture of people. If people around the world hate Americans and harass (and decapitate) them because our leader is George W. Bush, I say we should all piss on any French person we see in the streets.
2. Milton, Jeff and the Dodgers: Wow, the Dodgers have issues. I didn’t even know that Milton Bradley and Jeff Kent were feuding but I guess I’m not surprised. Kent is known to be a horrible teammate and a very self-involved guy. His personality has to be a leading reason why one of the best second baseman in the game has played for six teams and hasn’t been able to stick in one place long enough to even have a honeymoon period. Then again, it’s not like Milton Bradley is the most stable guy in the world. I’m going to have to take his comments about Jeff Kent with a grain of salt. Second to Carl Everett, there might not be a more disturbed individual in baseball. Jeff Kent may or may not like black guys but does Milton Bradley like anyone?
3. Bob Huggins: Out he goes. I support the decision to can Bob Huggins because he ran a dirty program and he’s generally a royal ass. I think the termination package is extremely fair ($3 million plus medical insurance and 401(k)). I also hate it when university presidents “get tough” like this. I think it reeks of hypocrisy. If Huggins was turning out stars like he was in the mid to late 90’s, there’d be more leniency here (not that there should be, just saying…). But kicking a guy when he’s down is how the NCAA operates. They did it to Bobby Knight and they’re doing it to Huggins. I applaud the University of Cincinnati for finally getting rid of the bum but I don’t applaud Nancy Zimpher. She’s full of shit. She reminds me of the mayor in Police Academy 2 when she goes to the street festival with a broom and says some dumb slogan like “cleaning up the streets” or something like that. Shut up and hire teachers, don’t pretend you even know where the fieldhouse is.
4. Frank Robinson: I love him but he’s an idiot. Don’t wipe out anyone’s stats. He’s just pissed because he’s getting bumped down the all-time lists. If I were Frank, I’d be pissed too. It’s bad enough that he’s on the top 10 list of most underrated players ever but to be further marginalized by cheating meatheads like Sosa, Palmeiro, Bonds, etc. can’t make him feel good. Even still, don’t touch those records. We have no idea when Raffy started cheating (even if Jose tells us the exact minute). Leave the record book alone. Baseball history will be written such that everyone will know that cheaters took steroids from 1994-2004. The record book is like the Bible. There are plenty of lies in there too but we’re not running around now with amendments and annexes. No, we’re leaving the Bible alone and we should do the same with baseball’s records.
5. Doc Gooden: I can’t tell you how much this one hurts to write. Even though I’m a Yankee fan, I came of age as a baseball fan during the Mets glory years of the mid-80’s. Let me tell you, it was a lot cooler rooting for Doc and Darryl back then than it was rooting for Winfield and Mattingly. So, I can honestly say that even as a Yankee fan, I’ve got a lot of love for those two old Mets. This story may not resonate outside of NYC beyond the usual jokes but it definitely hits all New York-born baseball fans in my age range. He was a childhood hero of mine. I hate seeing him do this to himself. I hate seeing him go through all of this again. Despite my GOP leanings, I’ve always been a social liberal. I feel for people that are this sick. Doc, wherever you are, get well soon.
3 comments:
My understanding over the Lance thing is that the science behind the testing is still very iffy. That said the World Anti-Doping Agency (who tests cyclers) has an 8 year reach back. As such an investigation in planned into the allegations so it will get the bottom of things.
I won't personally pick out Robinson on his comments. It seems to be a growing trend among Baseball's HOF (think Sandberg,etc) to really take steriod users to the shed. I would talk more about this issue but apparently Bonds has released another update on his condition ...this one entitled "Cry for Attention"
Robinson: I think that he should shut up as well. I am sure that players in his era were doing some other type of drug, maybe not one that made you look like hulk hogan, but there was illegalities going on. There are various cheaters in the HOF and on the record books, so those that are being passed should just shut up and remember it is part of the game. Don't even get me started about not allowing certain people into the hall of fame and allowing others in because they weren't caught. In my world, Charlie Hustle and Shoeless Joe should both be having their heads there.
I agree. There's been some form of cheating in all eras -- corked bats, greased or scuffed balls, and whatever else the old-timers came up with.
As far as Pete's concerned, I think he belongs in the Hall but should never be reinstated to good standing in baseball. He should never be allowed anywhere near the game again since he can't be trusted not to gamble on his own team. Having him in the Hall doesn't hurt anyone and he certainly earned his place.
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