Robservations: Still more rage about the ‘roids
I hate to use my weekly allotment of column space to complain (yeah, right), and company policy prohibits premature disclosure of what will appear in future issues of the paper.
But while I can’t give details, let me just say this about the “Best of the Best” local newspaper columnist category: There will, sadly, be no friendly neighborhood repeat winner this year.
Nevertheless, life must go on. So quicker than a Randy Johnson heater, let’s dive right in to your weekly dose of random Robservations.
Thirty-eight minor leaguers were suspended Monday, and one big-leaguer — Tampa Bay’s Alex Sanchez — has said he won’t appeal his suspension for failing his steroid test.
“As Alex has explained, he did not knowingly take any banned substance,” Michael Weiner, general counsel of the MLB Players Association, told the Associated Press. “We respect Alex’s decision to forgo an appeal, and he has our full support.”
According to Sanchez, whose story is deemed plausible by all parties involved, some of the supplements he admits he bought over the counter were not made illegal until this past January. So what he was tested for might not even have been banned when he took it. Baseball’s rules won’t allow the disclosure of what substances showed up in Sanchez, or any other suspended player, however, so we’ll never know.
First of all, what kind of justice is there when you get just as big a penalty for shooting up the hardest steroids in the world as you get for taking something that was legal four months ago? How about disclosing the drugs these guys are on, and making the punishment fit the crime?
And secondly, did you notice the baseball players union’s lawyer’s last name is Weiner? How hilarious is that?
“He feels his presence at next week’s enshrinement banquet … would be too much of a distraction to the induction,” said the president of the hall, which was also scheduled to induct John McEnroe, Steve Young and Dick Bass.
So now he’s shunning the spotlight, to avoid the accusations of hypocrisy and further questions about the steroid scandal. Crybaby.
Hey, here’s an idea. Since McGwire doesn’t want to talk about the past, don’t put him in a hall of fame celebrating his past accomplishments.
And to answer the question I’m sure is on all of your minds, no. I’m never going to get tired of slamming Mark McGwire.
“The 1993 Toronto Blue Jays had a great batting order. First baseman John Olerud won the batting title, while Paul Molitor and Roberto Alomar came in second and third, respectively. This was the first time in modern Major League history that three teammates placed 1-2-3 in the batting race.”
Oddly enough, the Jays won the World Series that year. Which just goes to show you youngsters out there, you’ve got to hit that ‘tater if you want to be a winner.
(And they say this column has no educational value.)