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Hall of Shame

Friday, April 8, a date which will live in Major League Baseball infamy.  For that is the date that my formerly favorite player, Manny Ramirez, retired.  And why did he retire?  Because he got caught taking performance enhancing drugs - AGAIN.  So - rather than come clean, face the music, and accept his 100 game suspension, he took the coward's way out and retired from professional baseball.  

For a lot of years, Manny seemed to have it all.  He had a goofy grin, he played the game like he was really having fun, and he was one of the best hitters the game had ever seen.  And I admit, I loved the guy for all those reasons.  But in the end the things that endeared him to fans and media alike were the very things he compromised and ended up losing through his use of drugs.  He's also basically left himself without any future opportunities to be part of the game of baseball -  there will be no endorsement opportunities, or any segue into a future career in broadcasting.  There won't be any sports memorabilia conventions, or anyone standing in line for his autograph.  And not only that - after 555 home runs and a lifetime .312 batting average, there will be no ceremony in Cooperstown for Manny. What a price to pay for an inability to do the right thing.

Comments

The Perry Family said…
I was thinking of you when I read that article and knew that you would be disheartened! Maybe he will still find a way to redeem himself..... :)
April 10, 2011 at 10:38 AM
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