News came today that Alex Rodriguez has dropped his lawsuits against Major League Baseball, the players' union and the commissioner. That means he will accept his 162 day suspension and will not be able to play in the 2014 season or the postseason games. My opinion: it's about time and his punishment is not enough. I think anyone found to have used performance enhancing drugs or steroids or anything else that is banned by the game should be kicked out of that game. Forever. And they shouldn't be eligible for the Hall of Fame either.
Even without such a rule, Pete Rose has never been able to make it into the Hall. But that is decided by sports writers and some of them have been hinting that they might vote for him in the future. So let's take it out of their hands and just make these cheaters ineligible.
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Now I haven't ranted about politics for quite awhile but you can't keep a good man quiet forever. So, let me take on the Senator from Kansas, Pat Roberts, who is running for reelection. He was first elected to the House in 1981 (33 years ago). He kept getting reelected every two years until 1997 when he ran successfully for the U.S. Senate. He's been ensconced there ever since. Only thing wrong with this picture? He doesn't have a home in Kansas. He lists his official voting address as the home of a couple of friends and supporters. Roberts says he stays there when he goes "home" but many Kansans say they haven't seen him for years. The Senator is making many more visits to Kansas now because of a Tea Party challenger. Let's face it, if he spends most of his time in Washington it makes sense for him to have a home nearby, like Virginia, where he and his wife actually live. But seems like he ought to also have at least an apartment in the state whose voters sent him to Washington.
Longtime Indiana U.S. Senator Richard Lugar got into this same mess when he was defeated in a Republican primary a couple of years ago. People said when he came to Indiana he stayed in hotels.
So let's require these pols to maintain a real legal residence in their home state. Okay?
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Then there's the case of Allan Levene. He's running for the House in four states at once. Georgia (where he lives), Michigan, Minnesota and Hawaii. Apparently if he wins in the primary election in any of those states, he'll then move to that state and establish an official voting residence before the general election. This seems like politics at its most crass. I suppose we can forgive Levene. After all he was born in London (England) and didn't come to the U.S. until he was 21. He eventually became a naturalized citizen. I was just wondering what he'd do if he wins the primary in MORE than one state. I guess he'd pick one and pull out of his campaign in the other(s). Politics just gets curiouser and curiouser.
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Finally a different subject. Rudeness. I know a woman who had a dinner party for several guests. When the meal was served one guest said she couldn't eat that, she was allergic to this, etc. Now this person hadn't said anything about her food problems when the invitations went out or when she first arrived. Just when the food was served.
Is that rude to the hosts of the meal? I think so. I think I'd just say to her "How are you with water?"
O.K. My ranting is over for today. Your turn.
Outside of the idiots that pass for drivers down here, my slate it clean at the moment. Half-way through Feb and haven't been near a hospital, so maybe the old body will motor on through 2014 without a hitch. Hope.
ReplyDeleteI wish you good health.
DeleteI also wish I knew who you are.
That is Anonymous, she comments on many blogs...sometimes very nice, often really nasty.
DeleteYes, he/she comments here from time to time, too, but I have no idea where or who he/she is.
DeleteGood rant(s) and good points. Last first-by all means when accepting an invite it would be helpful to inform the host or hostess of any food allergies or special issues. That seems to be a courtesy. When we invite we always ask, which is another way to head off a problem.
ReplyDeleteSeems as though election law should forbid multiple candidacies. Maintaining a residence in the state you represent should be a must.
A-Rod apparently lied as well as cheated so he knew he was violating the "law." HOWEVER-I think it is time for professional sport to address this issue in another way. If professional jocks, who put their bodies to extreme use, can aid, assist or prevent damage by use of compounds, there should be standards set for those compounds and let them have at it. I don't think it is right to permit use of substances that can damage the body or general health, but if research indicates they can safely provide additional strength, enable continued hyper use of joints and or muscles or even prevent damage or injury, then they should be allowed, according to prescribed amounts and doses. Think of how cyclists use their legs and knees in ways the body was not intended for, or how NBA players over use their full bodies, and how NFL players abuse their bodies, and etc. etc.. If medicine can help, why not let them use it? Then you avoid situations like A-Rod and others. If science can design new safety gear and equipment, why not medical science for the jocks. I'm now taking a BCAA before and after my tennis matches. It helps prevent muscle damage and prompts quicker recovery. Branched Chain Amino Acids are used by a lot of people as food supplements. Some of the stuff the super jocks use are just more of a hybrid, body chemistry match. Again, it has to contribute to health and repair and not be damaging or dangerous. So if it is performance enhancing, big deal. The bats that are used today are different than what the Babe used, right?
Sorry I just don't agree. If the bodies can't handle the stress, maybe the athlete should retire.
DeleteI am inclined to agree with Tom. Steroids have been proved to be dangerous over periods of time, but if enhancing drugs can be proved to be safe within given doses and duration, why not. Should aspirin and Ibuprophen be banned? Athletes numb pain with Novocain all the time. Tough call.
DeleteThe lady who could not eat the meal...just rude, and stupid. She should have apologized for forgetting to mention her issue and nibbled on whatever she could.
Tough call about the doping. On the one hand, a cheat is a cheat, and they are possibly (probably) depriving another athlete who is clean from having his shot at a major league career. But as Joe and Tom said, just controlling it and seeing to it that it is administered safely would be a step forward, too. I dunno.
ReplyDeletePolitics: I agree completely, without a permanent residence of some sort, you aren't a resident. But does this really surprise you, politicians being the snakes they are?
The rude guest: Yes, she should have said something when she was first invited. But once there, she could have made a discrete, polite excuse and not eaten, then stayed as a conversation companion for the evening.
S
Good rants and good discusions.
ReplyDeleteIf an athlete uses banned substances they should pay the price. What that price should be, I really can't say. What substances can and cannot be used needs to be reviewed and updated as Tom suggests.
Let the folks elect the former Brit, he can't do worse then some of our home grown boys.
That lady was pissed off about something other than the food.
I agree with Steve - that lady has other issues!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the doping - I guess I feel like unless you're a pitcher or catcher what are you doing to your body other than being extra fit? I don't see where being an average baseball player damages your body. Am I being naive? Of course pitcher's elbows & shoulders & catcher's knees are a whole other matter.
I didn't even know you COULD put yourself on a ballot in multiple states! I say he runs for all of them :)