Matt Hoover
There’s nothing that I
really want to write about right now, but there are a few things that I kind of
want to write about right now. Additionally, I just figured out how to use the
subheading feature. So here’s what I’ll do… I’m going to address three
completely unrelated topics in one post. Let us begin.
Mark McGwire
Between the Lance
Armstrong/Oprah thing (I loathe Oprah, by the way) and the recent Baseball Hall
of Fame elections (or lack thereof), PEDs have been a big topic of discussion
lately. I don’t really know where I stand on the issue of ‘roiders and the Hall
of Fame, and my thoughts on steroids and baseball warrant their own,
full-length post. I don’t want to get into the whole issue today. It’s obvious
that Barry Bonds and Rodger Clemens have Hall of Fame credentials and that
their affiliations with steroids are what is keeping them from being elected.
Sammy Sosa also has a case (though a far less definitive one) to be made based
on his numbers that steroids will continue to overshadow. Unlike the other
names I have mentioned, however, Mark McGwire is not a worthy Hall of Fame
candidate based on his numbers.
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| Eh. |
McGwire was one of the
premier power hitters of the 1990s. He hit a ton of home runs. That’s it. He
couldn’t do anything else. His career average is an unimpressive .263 (to put
this in perspective, Ryan Howard’s career average is currently .271). He has
1626 career hits (to put this in perspective, Aubrey Huff currently has 1699
career hits). He never won an MVP (to put this in perspective, I have also
never won an MVP); he only finished in the top three in voting one time. He
wasn’t a fast or a particularly smart baserunner. He wasn’t bad defensively,
but he played primarily first base, a position that isn’t exactly known to
produce brilliant defensive players. His best WAR accumulation in one season
was a measly 5.5 (Mike Trout accumulated a 10.7 WAR rating in 2012). It is
often said that baseball is a five-tool sport. McGwire was undoubtedly a
one-tool player.
And while his mastery
of his one tool may seem outstandingly good, he was putting up gaudy power
numbers in an era where gaudy power numbers were the norm. I weigh trends in
baseball by looking at a player’s numbers in the context of his peers’ numbers.
McGwire’s power numbers seem impressive out of context, but when three or four
other players are butting up similar (sometimes superior) numbers in the 90s,
his totals are less outstanding. Mark McGwire was a top 5 (probably even top 3)
power hitter in the 1990s. That is his lone credential for Hall of Fame
consideration. Is it enough? In my eyes, the answer is a resounding no.
Jim Crawford
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| Jim "Skyman" Crawford led La Salle in points, rebounds, and assists his senior year. He was eventually enshrined in the Big 5 Hall of Fame |
I’m not sure what I can
say about Mr. Crawford that hasn’t already been said. On Tuesday, he coached
Camden Catholic boys’ basketball to an impressive upset win over previously
unbeaten Lenape (ranked 3rd in South Jersey). Skyman earned his 700th
career coaching victory, all of them at Camden Catholic, in the process. He’s
only the third coach in South Jersey basketball history to achieve this feat,
and while Crawford may never surpass St. Augustine’s Paul Rodeo or Camden’s
Clarence Turner on the career victories list, his legacy is rock solid.
Skyman won his third
state title my junior year at Camden Catholic, and his team that year is
probably my second all-time favorite team ever behind the 2007 (yes, 2007)
Phillies. Combining a half-court offense that ran like clockwork with the most
beautiful manifestation of the 2-3 matchup zone I have ever seen on any level.
I loved that team. Probably not as much as by coblogger did, but I still loved
them. Mr. Crawford has made Camden Catholic basketball a force to be reckoned
with. His success as a coach coupled with his outstanding college career at
La Salle cements his legacy as a truly great basketball mind and basketball
person. If you ever read this, Mr. Crawford, congratulations on an illustrious
career and fuck you for giving me a demerit for being late to lunch sophomore
year. It’s lunch.
Ray Lewis
No need to beat around
the bush with this one, folks; Ray Lewis is a murderer. Funny what winning a
few football games and doing some fucktard dances will make people forget, huh?
I can’t stand the Ravens at all right now, and Ray Lewis is the sole reason
why. So way to go, Ray. I’d be a fan of your team if it weren’t for you. I
won’t miss Ray at all next year, but he’s on my mind for the moment. While he’s
here, let’s mention some of our other favorite sports people who have committed
serious felonies!!!
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| The only Ray that's worse than Ray Lewis is this guy. Shout out to Big Red if he reads this. |
The sheer number of
things Dykstra has gotten in trouble for is awesome. He once wrote a hooker a
bad $1000 check. You name it, and he’s done it. He’s still an awesome dude
though, as most 1993 Phillies are.
Brian Kelly – Murder
R.I.P Declan Sullivan.
That is all.
Ugueth Urbina – Attempted
Murder
Urbina attacked two
farmhands with a machete and then attempted to pour gasoline on them and light
them on fire. Try to tell me that’s not awesome.
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