Posted by Mitch
on 1/12/2010, 20:15:58
Mark McGwire shouldn't ever be inducted into the Hall Of Fame any more than Mike Tyson should be held up as an example of purity in sport. They've both disgraced their chosen professions, and shouldn't be rewarded for cheating (as an aside, the fact that Tyson -- an ignorant thug and convicted rapist who bit the ear off his opponent when he started to lose a fight -- was allowed to fight professionally at all after such incidents is beyond my comprehension).
I'll bet I could break some track records if I take methamphetamine before a race, but that doesn't mean I'm worthy of recognition for anything other than being a drug abuser. By knowingly injecting himself with steroids on a regular basis, Mark McGwire is no longer a professional athlete; he's a drug-abusing cheater who should serve as an example to all kids how NOT to conduct yourself. He's an embarrassment, and the fact that he's now "coming clean" after years of drug abuse, cheating and lying shouldn't be an excuse to reward him for such behavior.
The only way I could justify his inclusion into the HOF would be if he were to reset the clock and try for the record WITHOUT being hopped up on junk (i.e. mandatory drug testing before each practice and game). My guess is he'd fall WAY short of the REAL record held by actual athletes who respected the sport -- AND ITS FANS -- enough to compete honestly and without the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He and every other drug abuser (Steroid Users List) should be banned from sports, not idolized for their criminal and unethical behavior.
Babe Ruth is spinning in his grave at the way the American Pastime has become not a true sport, but a shooting gallery. The only just thing to do would be to ban all these losers from the sport for life.
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