Posted by Paul Harrison on 12/14/2007, 1:25:34, in reply to "Re: McGwire's name absent from the Mitchell Report"
No, I believe he should be in the hall as well. My evidence is based on operation equine which convicted Canseco's dealer. That dealer had McGwire's name in his little black book. From jail he said was Canseco's supplier. When they asked him about McGwire he said, "No comment."
When McGwire and others refused to appear before Congress willingly, a newspaper in New York ran a series of articles in which the exact formula McGwire used was described as gotten from the FBI's investiagation of steroid dealers. They busted the dealers, not the buyers.
They went to the front office and told the Commissioner that baseball had a drug problem in 1991, naming Canseco as the main guy, this is why the famous memo was written and circulated. If the FBI has evidence of the exact formula delivered to McGwire, that is pretty good evidence for me.
I think McGwire did the right thing to stay quiet, given it might get him and others into traouble and further investigations, but it also looks like blocking justice and caring nothing of the integrity of the game.
As far as the hall of fame goes. McGwire fans look at his career and say to let him, whereas baseball purists who care for the integrity of the game want him out. Remember, the vote is based on opinion, not evidence, so unless McGwire starts clearing his public image (which he care nothing about) people are going to keep him out.
Mariotti of the Sun Times here in Chicago said something like, "You don't want to talk about the past? Fine, then we'll forget about your career too."
Everyone knew of steroids from the top down and no one cared. It was the culture of the game. When McGwire was asked if using steroids was considered cheating he said, "That's not for me to detemrine." So in a sense, not talking is his way of saying steroids users in the game were not doing anything illegal or cheating in the game, so he doesn't want to ruin the life of his peers but tattling on them.
Steroids or not, I think players should be considered for the hall by their talent, and Mark had it. If you keep Mark out for disrespecting the game, keep out Clemens, Bonds and the others.
Paul
