Attention wrestling fans,
Due to your great support and belief in the
Class, I have been given the opportunity to write for a mainstream sports web site. While the major focus of my columns will be based on the world of wrestling, this premier column will be a hybrid version. As always your opinions are always welcome. AIM-MrBrownsClass.
After years of deception and denial, the proverbial s*** has hit the fan. When the owners, players and media finally submit to the truth, the fans will find the reason we originally fell in love with the national pastime.
The vast majority of the world believes the lies they tell themselves. Women see all of the signs yet they convince themselves that their husbands really are just working late. Thos of us struggling economically try our best to believe the old pity lie that money is not everything. Finally, Major League Baseball believes that the game is not tainted by the use of steroids. Please.
Everyone knows that one’s opinion is worthless unless based on actual facts to support them. The ones that still believe that the accomplishments of Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro are legitimate have spent too many hours at the wrong end of a horse. The beautiful thing about America is that guilt is reserved for the trial proven guilty. But the MOST beautiful characteristic of America is that each individual has the opportunity to think for themselves. I know that I have been alive too long and seen too much to believe in multiple coincidences.
A long time ago, before the invention of Viagra, the Chicago Cubs realized that Rafael Palmeiro had a limp bat. Before his two minutes were up, he was traded because of his lack of pop. A funny thing happened after the trade though. In 1992, Jose Canseco was traded to become a teammate of Rafael’s in Texas. For the three seasons prior to Canseco’s arrival Palmeiro, as a full time player from ages 25-27, hit 8, 14 and 26 homeruns. During their first full season together as teammates Palmeiro hit 37 homeruns, an almost 50% increase over his previous seasons total of 22. After these seasons of 23, 39, 39, 38, 43, 47, 39, 47, and 43 followed. That is a tremendous streak by someone that hit only 70 in his first five years as a player. Maybe Viagra helps with a different kind of swing than it was intended.
While many “believers” may argue that a new ballpark and experience can lead to long term success, I beg to differ. I challenge a reader to find a career track of any former player that is similar to Palmeiro’s. In your quest you will be hard pressed to do so. Jose Canseco accused him, but did it really take the word of Mr. Steroids himself to cast suspicion on Rafael Palmeiro?
He is not the only one who is being sunken by alleged guilt, though. The NL MVP award has been given to Barry Bonds and Ken Caminiti eight of the last fifteen years. Two acknowledge steroid users have been labeled as “the best” for more than half of our recent past. What this does to their MVPs is casts serious doubt on the legitimacy of their achievements. There are only three 40/40 men (homeruns and steals in one season) in history. Two of them, Canseco and Bonds, have acknowledged outside help. What does this do to a guy like Alex Rodriguez who falls into the 40/40 category as well as the tainted past MVP field? Jeff Kent, Jeff Bagwell, Miguel Tejada have all played with acknowledge ‘roid users and have won MVP awards. Unfortunately, their names may be getting dragged into this scrum unecessarily. But to many, their achievements seem as real as the tooth airy.
The mythical phoenix expires and is reborn in cycles. Major League Baseball has the opportunity to do the same if they would just follow the lead of the sports world biggest success, Vince McMahon.
When the federal government got all over Vince McMahon for alleged steroid abuse in his industry, he did not hide. Vince did what everyone in his position is strongly encouraged to do. He told the truth. And the truth must have gotten good to him. This forced confession allowed Vince to realize that another truth about his industry needed to be revealed.
Again after government pressure the former WWF acknowledged that the outcomes of their matches are predetermined No duh! Like a 300lb man falling on someone’s throat is anything less than murder. For years we suspected and finally our suspicions were confirmed. This truth elevated the former WWF to Olympian heights. The truth gave birth to Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley, The Rock, and Shawn Michaels a.k.a. HBK and others. These names are synonymous with wrestling. The Attitude Era, the golden age of wrestling, was a result of being honest with the fans. If Bud Selig has the authority to out those who have cheated the game would be better for it.
