Welcome

Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Brian Stromberg and this is The Book of Sports Blog. (Not to be mistaken with the ancient decree of King James I from 1617, although I feel if he could have blogged he would have.)

My goal of this blog is to use it as a forum to express my opinions on all things sports. I will try to write something new everyday but I cannot make any promises. I have a variety of friends that may make guest appearances and who knows if this thing takes off, we could even see podcast.

Two thing you must know about me before we start...
1. My teams are University of Michigan, University of Xavier (where I attended school), Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavs, and Columbus Blue Jackets. (If you follow professional soccer I love Bayern Munich)

2. I have the tendency at times to be a homer for my teams. So I ask that you cut me a little slack.

So I hope you give it a chance and if you like it forward it on to friend.

Lets get the show on the road...

MLB WRITERS

Let me preface by saying I have no respect for steroid users. This era has been marked by huge numbers and even more huge muscles. I have not made a final decision on steroid users and the HOF but with every new player busted it becomes more obvious that almost everyone was juicing during the past 10-15 years. If this is the case then I believe that the voters should vote solely based on numbers. Although I do think there should be some additional arbitrary punishment for steroid users allowed in the HOF. I don't care if they make a steroid era wing in the HOF, unanimously decide that no one who is linked to steroids can get voted in until 5 additional years of voting have passed, or some other form of arbitrary punishment. At the end of the day I still am undecided but the fact remains if the HOF is going to continue to add new players I would much rather have it be truly great players linked to steroids (oxymoron but I swear it makes sense)than fringe players from past decades.

However this is not my bigger concern. My problem is with the writers and baseball personality's that keep saying "I cannot vote for Player A or B because they have disgraced the game of baseball by taking steroids". Disgraced the game of baseball? Where do baseball fans draw the line of disgrace? The MLB started playing in the 1880's and did not allow African American players till the1950's, and in the past 60 years has actually had something called the Negro League. The Boston Red Sox arguably one of if not the most popular team in the MLB was one of the last teams to embrace African American players. Are the pre-Jackie Robinson eras considered a disgrace? No, in fact many people will call it the the glory days of baseball without even thinking about the fact an entire race of players was banned.

Is it a disgrace when pitchers throw at a batter's head in order to send a message, or even go as far as Bobby Jenks, who openly admitted he was trying to throw behind the head of Ian Kinsler? No, people say its part of the game and MLB manages to fine Jenks a whole $750 for the offense. Last time I checked a 97 mph fastball can do significant damage.

What about bench clearing brawls? What other sport allows for not only a fight to break out but encourages everyone to run on the field to get involved? I mean at least the NHL it usually is just two guys going at each other while everyone else watches. And yet again people tell you that these brawls are part of the tradition of the MLB.

Did anyone say we should keep George Brett out of the HOF because he was caught trying to bend the rules with pine tar? (I realize steroid usage is a much worse offense but the intent of the illegal amount of pine tar is still to gain an illegal advantage, which is the same advantage juicers are going for.) No, in fact his over the top reaction is often the most visible highlight of his career.

The Shot Heard Round the World? Bobby Thompson and the Giants were stealing signs. Yet it is considered to be one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.

You get my point. It seems the only thing in MLB history that is off limits and will earn you no chance of HOF is gambling on baseball so if your keeping score the most heinous offense a baseball player can commit is gambling on baseball or taking steroids, everything else is just part of the game.

So, do steroid users really disgrace the game? If you say yes, then ask yourself is there really that much integrity of baseball left to disgrace?

So you can tell me that Manny, Bonds, Big Mac, Sosa, Clemens, A-Rod, and etc were juicers and should be punished. You can tell me they broke the rules and that makes them cheaters. You can even tell me that they do not belong in the HOF and you will not get too much of an argument from me. However, do not tell me that they are disgracing the great game of baseball. In my book the great game of baseball lost the great a long time ago.