They cheated the game. They cheated the history of the game. We're not singing the praises of Ben Johnson, or celebrating what he did in 1988. And watching Bonds sneer and cheat his way to breaking Aaron's record - when we all know what Hank endured on his way to 715 - sickens me to no end.
IF they ever decide they just have to induct Barroid Bonds, Roidger Clemens, Mark McLiar, etc..? Then put them in their own wing, put a giant asterisk on their cap and state on their plaque that they had to use PED's to "achieve" what they did. If it ever comes to that, though, I hope they wait until they're gone to induct them. After what they've done to the game, I don't think they deserve to enjoy the moment.
In my opinion, what they did was worse than Rose did (no evidence he ever bet against the Reds). As for Shoeless Joe, who knows? I lean toward "Didn't take part in the scandal", but, I doubt we'll ever know for sure if he threw games or not. Going back to Pete Rose, though, I've gone from defending him to now deciding he should remained banned for life, that he should be allowed into the Hall after he passes away, and that the last line of his plaque should state "BANNED FROM BASEBALL IN 1989 FOR BETTING ON GAMES."
But Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Ramirez, Palmeiro, etc.. turned the record books into a joke. There's "looking for an edge", and there's taking a flamethrower to the rules. Many of these players turned themselves into walking cartoon characters, putting up video game numbers. The numbers are tainted, an entire era is tainted, and the game still hasn't fully cleaned itself up from this insanity. Not to mention that rewarding cheating only encourages more of it. "If Roger Clemens injected himself to 300 wins and the Hall of Fame, then I might as well do so too!"
So, yes, voters. Please continue to deliver a message by keeping these cheaters out.
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