Sports Blog

I read with great interest, one of Jim Caple’s recent articles on ESPN’s web site. Jim is one of the writers with the honour of casting a vote to decide who gets into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And next year’s ballot will include Mark McGwire.

I’ll save you the suspense. He has decided to cast his vote in favour of McGwire’s entry into the Hall - on the first ballot. Nice reward. And Why? Because, in a nutshell, he feels that Mark McGwire displaced all the misery in the world with his magical ride in 1998! Caple goes on to contend that we really don’t have proof that McGwire was on the juice and that "fresher in our memories is McGwire ducking questions while testifying before Congress two Springs ago". Yes, Jim - exactly. Why didn’t McGwire fight back with all his might (under oath) to clear his name? Why didn’t he answer THE question?

How ironic - Caple notes that the "Baseball writers knew McGwire was taking Andro in 1998 and some ...suspected he might be taking something more powerful" - The “something more powerful” being steroids.

I don’t want to turn this into a witch hunt, but before McGwire waltzes into Cooperstown, he must plainly and clearly state the obvious - did he or didn’t he take steroids during his major league career - yes or no? Nothing less than a crystal clear declaration will do.

It is time to draw a line in the sand - players who take illegal performance enhancing drugs or cheat in various other ways I wrote about earlier this week, are not welcome in the Hall of Fame. Period.

As for the likes of Gaylord Perry and countless others who have cheated their way to Cooperstown, there really isn’t much that can be done – short of an asterisk. But we all know this will never happen. No – Baseball would rather continue to admit nothing and look the other way.

But that doesn’t mean this sham has to continue.

I hope Jim Caple is in the minority. We will certainly hear more about this as the voting draws closer. Unless McGwire clears up the suspicions once and for all, I don’t think he’ll garner the 75% of votes needed for induction.

Competition will be stiff next year – other candidates will include Cal Ripkin, Jr., Tony Gwynn and Harold Baines, to name a few. Some returning candidates that didn’t get in the on their first ballot include Alan Trammell, Jim Rice, and Don Mattingly.

By the way, MVPs José Canseco and the late Ken Caminiti are also on the ballot for the first time. Both admitted to using steroids and have no chance to get in. So look for McGwire to keep quiet – and hope that writers like Caple look the other way… again.

Induction Ceremonies will be held July 29, 2007 in Cooperstown.