The Temple

It has begun. Clemens speaking through his lawyer. John Smoltz (not named in the report) going Miss South Carolina on the Dan Patrick show. Unbelievable, he was incoherent in his defense of…I honestly don’t know what he was defending. Jim Rome rolling out his mantra: “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. It is only cheating if you get caught” and then proceeding to talk about how stupid players were for leaving a paper trail. Others commenting on how “the report will ruin the reputation of many…”

If you are innocent, speak for yourself. If you don’t know what to say, say nothing. Let’s admit that we don’t care if people cheat, because the consequences will show that we don’t. The ruined reputations came from the behavior not the report.

Some are saying that this reveals a problem in baseball. More accurately, it reveals our culture. It is a revelation of American values. Legacy, personal empire and money are the driving forces motivating behavior. Integrity and character are convenient only in so far as they promote my image and marketability. So why are we surprised at all. Human nature is deficient, theologically we call it depravity. The lure of money, fame and prowess will not cure humanity of its shortcomings, it only glamorizes the attempt.

Let’s be honest, sports are at best peripherally important. They impact fewer people than we think. Many people, in fact the majority of people couldn’t identify the bulk of the names in the report. But the depravity of man is universal.

Technorati Tags: Mitchell Report, Jim Rome, Cheating, Depravity

So, the Mitchell report is out, and Major League Baseball needs to do some work. Surprise, surprise…Roger Clemens is on the juice. Why are you surprised? Examine early pictures of Roger with later pictures of Roger. I don’t know about you, but he is a little bigger, I wonder what his hat size is (then and now).

Here is the big question: Why does Barry Bonds undergo all the suspicion and criticism, yet Clemens is never questioned? The standard answer is that Barry is unlikeable, a jerk, surly, mean to reporters. Funny thing, I don’t remember Barry ever throwing a bat at a Piazza, or anyone else for that matter. He just showed up for work, day in and day out. He also didn’t pimp himself out to the Yankees, just stuck with the Pirates/Giants. He could have easily outdone A-Rod/Clemens in salary package from Steinbrenner. I don’t know, Clemens isn’t that likable in my opinion. Didn’t like him at Texas (the University), Boston, Toronto, Houston and especially not as a Yankee. Since I can come up with all the stupid fan reasons not to like someone who plays for the other guy, how did Clemens avoid all the suspicion that his body size and super-human longevity should have caused, as it did with Barry?

Here is the real answer: Barry Bonds is not white. Roger Clemens is. We really have not come as far as we would like with regard to race issues, and black demons are preferable to white ones. It really is the only answer that makes any sense, unfortunately. But we won’t talk about it because we believe we are over it.

Roger is not my favorite MLB guy, see previous post: Roger Clemens Should Be Ashamed of Himself . Lest you think I am a Barry Bonds fan, understand that I bleed Dodger Blue, and Eric Gagne, Paul LoDuca, and Matt Herges should be ashamed of themselves as well as any other players on the list.

Technorati Tags: Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mitchell Report, Steroids, Baseball, Racism

I am a baseball nut. Dodger brand. Still playing at 47 (old man’s version). Volunteer to umpire 7-8 year olds (Pinto in PONY Baseball). And my opinion is that Roger Clemens should be ashamed of himself ; the Yankees and George Steinbrenner should be ashamed of themselves.

I pay to play (our team is NCC, short for Nuevo Community Church)…and I would never play for “In His Image” or “Lighthouse” or any other team we compete against. Never. End of story. And we play for t-shirts. What is up with players who when they move on, move on to the rival? When Giambi jumped ship after coming so close to beating the dreaded Yankees, I wanted to puke! I still have a hard time when I see Jeff Kent in a Dodger’s uniform.

The problem with major league baseball, and pro sports in general is summed up in Roger Clemen’s form of extreme “free agency.” It should be against the rules to have a player “retire” just to sit out the first few months of the season and pick and choose where he will play. It isn’t good for baseball. It is a horrible precedent and doesn’t bode well for the future if it is allowed to continue. All that talk of Pettitte and Clemens going back to Houston to lead them to the pennant is an obnoxious memory. “Just do it,” or give back the cleats!! Don’t blame the run support, lots of teams have won without run support. Especially teams with “pitching.” Now they are both playing for the dark side. I am amending a funny bumper sticker for the occasion. “Frodo failed, Steinbrenner has the ring.”

Here is a plea for more players like Tony Gwynn possibly our era’s best hitter who played for the San Diego Padre’s his entire career. MLB needs more players like Cal Ripken, who didn’t have to chose which hat to wear upon entry to the Hall of Fame. Just so you don’t think I am picking on the Yankees - Jeter, Williams Posada and a list of others have been faithful to the Yankees; throw up your hands in protest. You don’t need Roger!!!

It is inevitable that players will change teams, either by trade or free agency - but that is not what is happening with Roger Clemens. He is selling out, for a cheap ring. At least work in Spring Training for your ring. He has more than enough money to buy a ring at Robbins Bros. And travel with your team. What happened to being a part of the team. This is a blog called the Temple so I will refrain from cliches about people who think they are too good for others.

Now the talking heads are justifying the move with statements like: “Roger’s a businessman.” What a crock. Roger is a thief. The fan’s deserve better than this. The fans of Houston deserve better. The fans of Boston and Toronto. The fans in New York. How is this baseball? He is making more money than the entire Tampa Bay Devil Rays roster, combined. Maybe I don’t understand the “business” end of baseball, but I do understand the game. This is not the game, so…

• Here’s to a sore elbow and shoulder.
• Here’s to Tampa Bay knocking him out in the second inning.
• Here’s to a 6.50 era.
• Here’s to Oakland beating the Yankees in the playoffs.
• Here’s to Steinbrenner spending all his money and the Yankees coming in second place.
• Here’s to the Yankees missing the wild card spot by 1 game to Minnesota.

I might even send up an imprecatory prayer or two, maybe God is a baseball fan.

Technorati Tags: Roger Clemens, Baseball,