Major League Baseball & The Hall Of Fame

What are the real motives behind sinking the careers of sports heroes?

Clockwise from top left: Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose and Sammy Sosa

(CLEVELAND) - When the time came for sports writers to answer the call,
What a shock, Big Mac was not elected to the hall,
Allegedly the same will happen for Sammy and Barry,
All because of the controversy they supposedly carry.

Where was this so-called great big brother concern?
Earlier than realized, the powers that be had learned,
Baseball was all the talk, even strolling through the mall,
Who can forget the commercial, "Chicks dig the long ball?"

Apparently the baseball commissioner and owners of the game,
Tried all the promotions they could think of but off was their aim,
Congratulations to Cal Ripken and his amazing consecutive streak,
Yet still in intensive care because of the never-ending slow leak.

Along came Chicago's Sammy Sosa, from St. Louis Mark McGwire,
Concession workers, ball girls… fast enough personnel couldn't hire,
Peanuts, popcorn, red-hots then cola, beer or water to put out the fire,
Once called hero's, in the new millennium these men are now called liars.

A rose by any other name, unless your first name happens to be Pete,
So many accomplishments, coupled with outstanding amazing feats,
Another guy who more than did his job even filling the bleacher seats,
The price of tickets and salary also rose due to their handy dandy treats.

Let's not forget Barry, in the year of 9/11 he smashed a record setting 73,
The game everyone loved was given credit for helping to heal this country,
Should this Bond's guy break the home run record receive not even a memento?
Saying he'll only receive a standing ovation if it's broken in San Francisco.

Fans, owners, writers are calling foul, what about integrity of the game?
A sport that for years excluded minorities without any remorse or shame?
Shoeless Joe and his cohorts should not be expected to carry all the blame,
This excuse needs to be permanently put to sleep like a horse coming up lame.

Blacks couldn't even get in stadiums to shine the numerous pairs of shoes,
Or sell refreshments in the stands, every now and then to enjoy the view,
Negro Leagues cut into the fan base, now they're allowed to come through,
Sluggers saving the game are lepers, what next will America's pastime do?

These four players have been blessed with the ability to play professional ball,
Through all the hours of hard work, practice and sacrifice they answered the call,
Barry Bonds with Sammy Sosa in the future, Mark McGwire and Pete Rose today,
Deserve the hall; neither sportswriters nor the commissioner should take that away.

Quote, “Earning election to the Hall Of Fame should be difficult and has been”
This was a statement emailed to me by the hall after this poem was sent to them,
Just 1% of those wearing the uniform are elected meaning it’s only for the elite,
BBWAA is saying this does not include impact players like Big Mac & Pete?

Finally, for the vote 'no' writers, the wanna be but not good enough jocks,
Who couldn't tell the time of day with the most expensive digital clocks,
Without any real concrete proof, concerning who did or did not take what?
Please be so kind as to bend over, accepting this swift poetic kick in the butt.

Shocker! January 12th,2010 a steroid confession came as no surprise,
McGwire, a grown man apologizes to the world with tears in his eyes,
However, there is one extremely important thing that is missed by all,
The national past time battle between Mark & Sammy saved baseball.

Ok, if only Barry, Roger, Sammy along with the others would confess,
The game as we love it could move forward forgetting about this mess,
So who would have imagined the negative effects from this drug abuse?
Hey, at the time there was no knowledge about the harm of steroid use.

January 9, 2013, Baseball Writers of America have cast their vote,
Roger, Sammy, Barry first time eligibility and again Big Mac. Nope!
Four bonifide SuperStars are denied their place in Baseball Folklore,
Not because they did less than required but because they did more.

Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com