In 1996, Bruce Froemming entered the vistors' clubhouse at Shea Stadium, then penetrated the trainers' room, to boot, and asked Mike Piazza (then with the Dodgers) for some autographs. While Piazza was undergoing treatment.
In 2003, Froemming, Major League Baseball's senior active umpire, left an anti-Semitic, sexist message on a superior's voice mail, drawing himself a 10-game suspension.
Which offends you more? Those actions, or Barry Bonds' apparent steroid usage?
For me, it's a no-brainer. As someone paid to be both objective and a leader on the field, Froemming has no business hustling players and managers for autographs (and the Piazza anecdote is just one example. Froemming used to talk on the banquet circuit about how he would harrass Johnny Bench for autographs). The nasty voice mail message speaks for itself, doesn't it? An apology really doesn't soften the blow; once you say something like that, you're forever exposed as a bigot.
Bonds' actions are highly objectionable, don't get me wrong. At this point, I don't intend to vote for Bonds for the Hall of Fame, because of his offenses. Yet Bonds' near-certain deployment of performance-enhancing drugs reflected his desire to improve his statistics, which also improved his team's chances of winning. It was cheating, but it wasn't conflict-of-interest cheating.
Furthermore, Bonds' sour personality is well known, yet he seems to hate pretty much everyone, not discriminating on race, sex or beliefs.
Why does this matter? Because baseball continues to tribute Froemming for his longevity, publicly celebrating his 5,000th career game last year and naming him the crew chief and home-plate umpire for this year's All-Star Game. Whereas Bud Selig refuses to commit to attending Bonds' 756th career homer.
Why honor one jerk while shunning the second? Unless he gets "guilty-in-a-trial" evidence on Bonds (which would, of course, merit a suspension), Selig should exhibit an equality-for-jerks understanding. I'm not ripping baseball for supporting Froemming; since his offenses are loathsome yet not fireable, that's the right thing to do. But so, therefore, is being there for Bonds' big moment.
Please discuss.
Comments (2)
Yes, Selig's recognition of Froemming's milestone and continued ambivalence toward Bonds is somewhat hypocritical, but Froemmings achievement is easily forgetable while Bonds accomplishment is monumental and highly questionable. But the time has finally come for Selig to get off the fence and prove to the fans that "this Bud's for you", by joining Aaron on the golf course as Bonds approaches the record.
NOT INTENDING TO VOTE BONDS INTO THE HALL OF FAME EH? THEN MAYBE I'LL VOTE YOU INTO THE "MR. POOPIE-PANTS HALL OF FAME". FACT IS, BONDS HAS TRANSFORMED BASEBALL FROM A TEDIOUS GAME OF INSIPID PENCIL-NECKED ZEROES SLAPPING THE BALL AROUND WILLY NILLY, INTO A SPELLBINDING BATTLE OF BEHEMOTHS HELL BENT ON BLASTING THE SPORT BACK INTO "NATIONAL PAST-TIME" STATUS. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD JUST THANK BONDS AND BE ON YOU WAY.
PS.FROEMMING SUCKS!