Slappy Doo Hoo wrote:jespah wrote:I think you gotta look at anyone who had some sort of massive anger outburst (seemingly for little to no reason) or who seemed to be improving even as his career was on the wane, even if they aren't listed, and wonder whether they're next.
For Clemens...he can probably kiss the HOF good-bye.
I don't think fingering an athlete because of his temper is a good tactic. Steroids won't turn a calm person into a maniac. There's actually no solid proof of "roid rage." Those who are already prone to being aggressive, then take certain steroids, can definitely experience it...I think the ego that comes with the added strength & bulk is the main culprit.
And I will guarantee my left nut that Clemens gets into the HOF, and he 100% deserves it. He's the most dominating pitcher of modern baseball. What do they have on him? That he may have purchased GH in 2000-2001? He was already in the HOF by then.
Agreed that drugs aren't necessary for someone to act like a jerk or think that they're oh so delicate ego is being manhandled just because someone throws inside or looks at and admires their home run ball for five extra seconds. But we have seen that there are folks who take such things in stride and don't give a damn about them, and there are folks who fly off the handle. It does give one pause. Not condemning anyone but that kind of stuff is ridiculous and potentially dangerous. I don't think there's a great stretch or a wild goose chase to look at those people more carefully. Not everyone who stands up during a bench-clearing brawl, no. I mean the ones who are the straws who stir
that drink.
As for the HOF, look at what happened to Marion Jones. While it is, of course, not the same sport, plus you have the whole Olympic amateur thing going on, the way the wind is blowing these days is that performance enhancement is simply not going to be viewed very kindly. And, I suspect that Congress will get involved. Then it will
really get interesting, as they've got subpoena power and can push for a contempt of court ruling.
This is what Jason Giambi was concerned about, and rightfully so. I think he was wise enough to realize that he had to come clean there, which is why he's not going to jail.
And there's not just contempt out there. There's also, if any evidence is destroyed, obstruction of justice. Which is a felony. This is going to, of course (because Congress would be involved), be under Federal jurisdiction. Anyone getting caught at obstruction of justice will go to some beautiful happy places like Leavenworth.
http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityLoc
Right now, there really is some useful, admissable (assuming it is authenticated) evidence out there. There's testimony. There are cancelled checks. There are receipts. There are internal managerial memoranda.
Put Congress on this (and because next year is an election year there may be some delay in getting this done) and you will see more coming out. While Mitchell advised to not punish people, Selig will go after the active players. And Congress naturally isn't bound by what either Selig or Mitchell say. I don't want to see players in jail. But it may very well happen.
