Blah…Blah…Shut this guy up!

Today is a special day in the sports world.  It is the day that the Baseball Hall of Fame inductees are announced.  This year Tony Gwinn and Cal Ripken Jr.  were elected into the Hall of Fame.  One eligible member was conspicuously left off.  His name was Mark McGuire.  Although sports-news outlets are trying to focus on the good, they would be irresponsible in not stating the obvious.  McGuire has the “magic” numbers to be in the hall of fame.  He hit over 500 homeruns and broke the single-season homerun record which stood for 27 years.

Why didn’t he make it into the Hall of Fame?  One could only speculate, but it is not a far reach to think the sports writers are of the opinion he used PED’s.  Is it right?  I do not think so.  McGuire was never cited for breaking a rule.  He was never charged in a crime involving illegal performance enhancing substances.  His two downfalls are admitting to using “andro”, which can be bought at any GNC and was not on baseballs “banned substance” list, and weak testimony in a congressional hearing.

Although I agree the “innocent until proven guilty” axiom does not apply to sports, it is an ideal our country is founded upon.  Unfortunately, the sports writers missed that day in junior high.  The have decided it is their duty to punish someone even though there is no proof of their allegations.

Maybe the sports writers would realize the error in their ways if every time someone sued them for libel for one of their articles or columns, they were assumed guilty because of rumors.  Maybe they should have to prove that everything they write is the truth before it is published.

I do not blame sports-news outlets for stating the obvious as to why McGuire did not get into the Hall of Fame.  I blame the sports writers who have taken it upon themselves to be judge and jury.  They will continue to do so over the next two decades as the “steroid era” has a plethora of players up for induction.  In judging without fact on McGuire, they have taken interest away from the real story and diminished the game they are supposed to love.