This afternoon, a Federal Judge in Utah struck down a provision in the Utah State Constitution regarding the definition of marriage, which was voter approved in 2004 by a 66% majority. The article contained all the now usual celebrations from the gay community; but few from anyone who disagreed with the Judges ruling.
In a previous blog (during the whole Proposition 8 debacle), I stated that I think gay marriage is an inevitability in the US. However, I disagreed with the manner in which this struggle was being fought; which is to say that the LGBT community is seeking to force their agenda on everyone rather than allowing time to go about its slow, steady change to the opinions of Americans everywhere.
Now, these five years later, we are seeing almost every day new rulings that tell the majority of Americans that they are wrong and now must accept gay marriage whether they like it or not. Dissenting opinions are quickly quashed by those who claim tolerance, but display none towards anyone who dares speak out.
Anyway, I had to write my dissenting opinion on the local paper's boards. I won't go back and read any comments to my opinion because I know that they will be filled with hateful words, and my beliefs will be reviled and attacked at every turn.
Here's my response:
"Next up...The PC Thought Police will be attacking anyone who has the temerity to even THINK differently than what the gay agenda tells everyone they MUST think. If you disagree, you are hateful, bigoted, prejudiced, blah, blah, blah...
I didn't grow up in Utah; I have know a number of people who are gay, worked well with them, and have no problem with anyone who is gay. However, I personally find the thought of gay marriage to be morally repugnant. I will never agree that gay marriage is a civil right, and that the laws and interpretations regarding such have been twisted and skewed to create a hostile environment towards anyone who disagrees with the LGBT position on the matter. Our lawmakers, corporate leaders and local leaders are being relentlessly, viciously attacked and cowed into positions of acquiescence to make it appear that all Americans view gay marriage with open arms.
This is a great lie that the majority of Americans fail to speak out against for fear of being called names and labeled with terms that most gays don't even understand, but which help them to belittle anyone who dares have an opinion contrary to what they are telling everyone else that they should believe. This incredibly vocal minority is dictating to a vast majority of Americans how to think, and in doing so, are stripping our populace of their freedom of speech on this matter. There is no open dialogue; no differing of opinion. In this matter, there is ONLY the opinion that the LBGT community dictates. Anyone who thinks otherwise is hateful, bigoted, prejudiced, blah, blah, blah..."
Friday, December 20, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th
May America never forget the sacrifices of "the greatest generation" both at Pearl Harbor, and throughout the ensuing US involvement in WWII.
We ALL owe an immense debt to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that our freedoms were intact.
Thanks to all those 2400 who lost their lives that terrible morning in 1941.
Many more thanks to all those brave men and women who helped to deal with the aftermath of the attack. What they saw and did is well beyond my comprehension. May you also be remembered for your service and your heroism!
We ALL owe an immense debt to those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that our freedoms were intact.
Thanks to all those 2400 who lost their lives that terrible morning in 1941.
Many more thanks to all those brave men and women who helped to deal with the aftermath of the attack. What they saw and did is well beyond my comprehension. May you also be remembered for your service and your heroism!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
A Problematic Resignation
Today, Martin Bashir, a political reporter with MSNBC, resigned following supposed uproar over comments he made about former Alaska Governor and one-time VP candidate, Sarah Palin. Although the commentary about Palin was rather innocuous, Bashir was forced to resign anyhow.
The message boards all either attacked Palin as the idiot that Bashir decried, or attacked the reporter as a leftist coward who should be held accountable for such treasonous views. However, not one respondent addressed the real issue at stake, so I had to elucidate the issue as succinctly as I could.
Here is my response:
"So now the Press can no longer hold our politician's feet to the fire?
If anything, the Press in the United States has been soft on our elected leaders as corporate media owners are deeper and deeper into the pockets of our politicians' war chests.
Where is the political accountability of days past when media pressure effected real change? These days you can't say boo about a politician without drawing the ire of some idiot who thinks that we have to pussy-foot around issues, scandals, etc. so that no one's feelings are hurt.
This "resignation" is problematic of the greater, systemic issue of media oversight that is increasingly bound and gagged, disallowing true freedom of the Press. As a whole, the US Press needs to step up and really investigate issues and stop being afraid of those who want truth and accountability hidden from the general public."
So far, in the 37 minutes since my posting, not one person has addressed my comments; opting instead to add fuel to the fire of either side the message board opinions as illustrated earlier in my comments. This lack of awareness as to the real issue typifies a growing ignorance and lack of caring about the direction in which our political landscape is headed, and of the perils [to the United States] which accompany such a dangerous path.
The message boards all either attacked Palin as the idiot that Bashir decried, or attacked the reporter as a leftist coward who should be held accountable for such treasonous views. However, not one respondent addressed the real issue at stake, so I had to elucidate the issue as succinctly as I could.
Here is my response:
"So now the Press can no longer hold our politician's feet to the fire?
If anything, the Press in the United States has been soft on our elected leaders as corporate media owners are deeper and deeper into the pockets of our politicians' war chests.
Where is the political accountability of days past when media pressure effected real change? These days you can't say boo about a politician without drawing the ire of some idiot who thinks that we have to pussy-foot around issues, scandals, etc. so that no one's feelings are hurt.
This "resignation" is problematic of the greater, systemic issue of media oversight that is increasingly bound and gagged, disallowing true freedom of the Press. As a whole, the US Press needs to step up and really investigate issues and stop being afraid of those who want truth and accountability hidden from the general public."
So far, in the 37 minutes since my posting, not one person has addressed my comments; opting instead to add fuel to the fire of either side the message board opinions as illustrated earlier in my comments. This lack of awareness as to the real issue typifies a growing ignorance and lack of caring about the direction in which our political landscape is headed, and of the perils [to the United States] which accompany such a dangerous path.
Monday, October 14, 2013
My Response: Huffing In Utah County
An article in today's Provo Daily Herald discusses the dangers of huffing legal substances that are generally easily available in just about any store. This particular article focused on huffing Air Dusters--the cans of compressed air everyone uses to clean computers and other electronics.
All in all, the article was fairly well-written, and did an OK job at educating the public on the dangers of huffing in general. The responses that followed the article were not really intelligent, and failed to address the issue in our community.
Here is me response:
"Anyone who believes there isn't a drug problem in Utah county is either an idiot, or in heaps of self-denial. Whether it's illegal drugs, or readily available OTC items, the drug problem is as bad here as anywhere in the nation.
Unfortunately, LDS Church members prefer to sweep any issues under the rug; presumably so their families don't look bad to other church members. The ONLY thing this accomplishes is allow the drug abuse to escalate and possibly even spread within the family; further damaging every family member--in some way--in the process.
Addressing substance abuse, in whatever form, is vital to the battle. Acknowledgement, addressing it and productively dealing with the problem are the best ways to tackle any abuse issues. As parents, you must stand up and protect the other children in your household; while standing up to the abuser. It's not fun; but hiding from the problem does NOT make it simply go away.
Forget the embarrassment you might face at church. The well-being of your family is vastly more important than denying such abuse exists. So do what you MUST do in order to save yourself, your child or your family from the devastating effects of drug abuse!"
~16 Oct 13 Follow-up~
I only got one response to the comment above and, typical for this area, the respondent denied the scope of the drug problem here in Utah County. His comment:
"Utah county's drug problem is as bad as anywhere in the nation? You've clearly never been to Detroit or Baltimore or pretty much any other metropolitan area in this country. We do have a drug problem in Utah, no doubt, but you're crazy if you think it compares to some of the worst areas in this country. We actually have it pretty good compared to them."
Of course, with that kind of a comment, you know I had to respond; so, here is my follow-up to the reader:
"Sorry...your argument is hollow. I've spent considerable time in Chicago, LA, Seattle, Tampa and Detroit, and have been a medic on the streets of Atlanta. The drug problem in Utah County IS as bad here as anywhere; we simply don't see it so openly displayed as in other cities.
Denial of the problem by individuals such as yourself does not help anyone address the issue. Drugs are here, they've been here for years, and the problem will only continue to grow on our streets and in our homes if everyone sits around saying, "We actually have it pretty good compared to...[those other cities]."
So bury your head in the sand--like so many others in this area--and continue to deny the scope of illicit drugs in our community. Maybe the drugs will just go away...
...after all, we live in Happy Valley where nothing bad goes on... (right?)"
"And by the way AP, Thank you for perfectly illustrating my point that I placed in the first two lines of my original comment. Love it when others do that for me! Have a wonderful day!"
All in all, the article was fairly well-written, and did an OK job at educating the public on the dangers of huffing in general. The responses that followed the article were not really intelligent, and failed to address the issue in our community.
Here is me response:
"Anyone who believes there isn't a drug problem in Utah county is either an idiot, or in heaps of self-denial. Whether it's illegal drugs, or readily available OTC items, the drug problem is as bad here as anywhere in the nation.
Unfortunately, LDS Church members prefer to sweep any issues under the rug; presumably so their families don't look bad to other church members. The ONLY thing this accomplishes is allow the drug abuse to escalate and possibly even spread within the family; further damaging every family member--in some way--in the process.
Addressing substance abuse, in whatever form, is vital to the battle. Acknowledgement, addressing it and productively dealing with the problem are the best ways to tackle any abuse issues. As parents, you must stand up and protect the other children in your household; while standing up to the abuser. It's not fun; but hiding from the problem does NOT make it simply go away.
Forget the embarrassment you might face at church. The well-being of your family is vastly more important than denying such abuse exists. So do what you MUST do in order to save yourself, your child or your family from the devastating effects of drug abuse!"
~16 Oct 13 Follow-up~
I only got one response to the comment above and, typical for this area, the respondent denied the scope of the drug problem here in Utah County. His comment:
"Utah county's drug problem is as bad as anywhere in the nation? You've clearly never been to Detroit or Baltimore or pretty much any other metropolitan area in this country. We do have a drug problem in Utah, no doubt, but you're crazy if you think it compares to some of the worst areas in this country. We actually have it pretty good compared to them."
Of course, with that kind of a comment, you know I had to respond; so, here is my follow-up to the reader:
"Sorry...your argument is hollow. I've spent considerable time in Chicago, LA, Seattle, Tampa and Detroit, and have been a medic on the streets of Atlanta. The drug problem in Utah County IS as bad here as anywhere; we simply don't see it so openly displayed as in other cities.
Denial of the problem by individuals such as yourself does not help anyone address the issue. Drugs are here, they've been here for years, and the problem will only continue to grow on our streets and in our homes if everyone sits around saying, "We actually have it pretty good compared to...[those other cities]."
So bury your head in the sand--like so many others in this area--and continue to deny the scope of illicit drugs in our community. Maybe the drugs will just go away...
...after all, we live in Happy Valley where nothing bad goes on... (right?)"
"And by the way AP, Thank you for perfectly illustrating my point that I placed in the first two lines of my original comment. Love it when others do that for me! Have a wonderful day!"
China on the US Debt Crisis
From today's News...
"BEIJING –With days to go before the United States debt default deadline, Beijing aired its frustrations with the shutdown Sunday, saying it was time to consider a “de-Americanized” world order.
With $1.28 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, China is easily the biggest foreign holder of American debt.
China has also funneled billions of dollars into private American investments – to the tune of an estimated $54 billion in 2012 alone.
“As U.S. politicians of both political parties are still shuffling back and forth between the White House and the Capitol Hill without striking a viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanized world,” according to a stinging op-ed article by state news agency, Xinhua.
The article, published Sunday, conveyed Beijing’s frustration with the spending and debt impasse that has paralyzed Washington for more than two weeks.
"Days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated, and a new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing,” the piece added.
Should Congress not come to an agreement by Thursday’s deadline on a new raised debt ceiling – the upper limit set by Congress on the amount of money the Federal government may borrow – China’s potential losses stand to be devastating.
Prior to Sunday’s commentary article, Chinese officials had been more measured in their analysis of the U.S. budget impasse. Last week, Vice-Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao noted only that “we have to see that the clock is ticking.”
To many in China, the restraint on the part of China’s ruling Communist Party over its second-largest trade partner’s government problems was perhaps based in the belief that neither party, Democrat or Republican, would allow the U.S. to not honor its financial obligations.
“If we are really rational, I cannot imagine why someone would dare to bear this kind of responsibility because any real default will have a huge impact not only on the U.S. and China, but on the global economy,” said Professor Zhao Longkai, a dean at the Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University. “It’s hard for us to imagine anyone can be that crazy to push the limit to that level.”
Zhao said the patience China had shown until recently was rooted not only in Beijing’s confidence in America’s ability to deal with the budgetary crisis, but also its own burgeoning self-confidence.
“For average Chinese people [the budget crisis] is a show there and we’ve seen it before… we also know that it's not only the United States that we are relying on, we have a lot of other investments,” Zhao said.
The Xinhua commentary may raise eyebrows in Washington, but Beijing’s frustration underscores a key point: Despite a desire to diversify its holdings, the Chinese government continues to buy U.S. Treasury bonds out of political and economic necessity.
As long as China’s domestic growth and stability are boosted by American debt, the deep ties between the two countries will likely endure.
Here is my response:
"The statement from the Chinese government sounds like the rhetoric so often heard during the Cold War with the then Soviet Union. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.
China IS right in one regard, though; that the US has far to large a presence on the world stage. The Founders never intended for the United States to have a world wide military; never for us to exert our beliefs on other countries; never for us to poke our noses in everyone else's business and internal affairs.
Yes, we have done a lot of good over the last 75 years; but at what cost to America? Our manufacturing base is nearly gone, the dollar is at the weakest point it has ever been, the middle class is shrinking--along with its majority tax base--millions of jobs are now on foreign soil, resentment amongst the world community towards the US is at an all time high, the politics in Congress have become an embarrassment to any democratic nation, the last two Presidents (current one incl.) have openly trampled on the very Constitution they both swore to uphold and defend and our national debt is so vast that we will never get it balanced again.
So yeah, China is right about a few things. However, their statement today could be a headline from thirty years ago. In spite of all the change, the Cold War is still going strong...at least in China's overreaching view of the world."
"BEIJING –With days to go before the United States debt default deadline, Beijing aired its frustrations with the shutdown Sunday, saying it was time to consider a “de-Americanized” world order.
With $1.28 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, China is easily the biggest foreign holder of American debt.
China has also funneled billions of dollars into private American investments – to the tune of an estimated $54 billion in 2012 alone.
“As U.S. politicians of both political parties are still shuffling back and forth between the White House and the Capitol Hill without striking a viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanized world,” according to a stinging op-ed article by state news agency, Xinhua.
The article, published Sunday, conveyed Beijing’s frustration with the spending and debt impasse that has paralyzed Washington for more than two weeks.
"Days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated, and a new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing,” the piece added.
Should Congress not come to an agreement by Thursday’s deadline on a new raised debt ceiling – the upper limit set by Congress on the amount of money the Federal government may borrow – China’s potential losses stand to be devastating.
Prior to Sunday’s commentary article, Chinese officials had been more measured in their analysis of the U.S. budget impasse. Last week, Vice-Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao noted only that “we have to see that the clock is ticking.”
To many in China, the restraint on the part of China’s ruling Communist Party over its second-largest trade partner’s government problems was perhaps based in the belief that neither party, Democrat or Republican, would allow the U.S. to not honor its financial obligations.
“If we are really rational, I cannot imagine why someone would dare to bear this kind of responsibility because any real default will have a huge impact not only on the U.S. and China, but on the global economy,” said Professor Zhao Longkai, a dean at the Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University. “It’s hard for us to imagine anyone can be that crazy to push the limit to that level.”
Zhao said the patience China had shown until recently was rooted not only in Beijing’s confidence in America’s ability to deal with the budgetary crisis, but also its own burgeoning self-confidence.
“For average Chinese people [the budget crisis] is a show there and we’ve seen it before… we also know that it's not only the United States that we are relying on, we have a lot of other investments,” Zhao said.
The Xinhua commentary may raise eyebrows in Washington, but Beijing’s frustration underscores a key point: Despite a desire to diversify its holdings, the Chinese government continues to buy U.S. Treasury bonds out of political and economic necessity.
As long as China’s domestic growth and stability are boosted by American debt, the deep ties between the two countries will likely endure.
Here is my response:
"The statement from the Chinese government sounds like the rhetoric so often heard during the Cold War with the then Soviet Union. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.
China IS right in one regard, though; that the US has far to large a presence on the world stage. The Founders never intended for the United States to have a world wide military; never for us to exert our beliefs on other countries; never for us to poke our noses in everyone else's business and internal affairs.
Yes, we have done a lot of good over the last 75 years; but at what cost to America? Our manufacturing base is nearly gone, the dollar is at the weakest point it has ever been, the middle class is shrinking--along with its majority tax base--millions of jobs are now on foreign soil, resentment amongst the world community towards the US is at an all time high, the politics in Congress have become an embarrassment to any democratic nation, the last two Presidents (current one incl.) have openly trampled on the very Constitution they both swore to uphold and defend and our national debt is so vast that we will never get it balanced again.
So yeah, China is right about a few things. However, their statement today could be a headline from thirty years ago. In spite of all the change, the Cold War is still going strong...at least in China's overreaching view of the world."
Friday, August 23, 2013
Baseball Mediocrity Rewarded
A report surfaced yesterday out of Seattle that the Mariners Execs had extended the contract of GM Jack Zduriencik as his initial five year contract is set to expire at the end of the current season.
JackZ--as he's known to Mariner fans--inherited a franchise in disarray following a GM who basically destroyed the club from the inside out. JackZ promised to build the Mariners into a World Series team; but espoused patience in the process. After an initial break even season, the Mariners have had three successive campaigns of sub-500 ball; and this season is headed for a fourth straight losing season. Yes, some things have improved; but other things have not. Bad Free Agent signings, unequal trade results, and poor on-field play have all been recurring issues for the GM.
When CBS News reported the [JackZ] signing, I responded with the following brief, but incredibly valid observation...
If true, then the M's Upper Mgmt. should be awfully proud that JackZ built a sub-500 team from the ground up. Mediocrity as a measure of success...this could rewrite the book on underachieving!
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it...I'm a lifelong Mariners fan; have been since their inaugural season. But aside from the Lou Pinella years, Seattle really IS the greatest farm team in the Major Leagues! And with yet another sub-500 season well under way, I really don't see this changing anytime soon. Go sub-Mariners!
In the hours since I commented, not a single respondent alluded to, attacked, negated or assailed my observation. Once again, it seems I have a point.
JackZ--as he's known to Mariner fans--inherited a franchise in disarray following a GM who basically destroyed the club from the inside out. JackZ promised to build the Mariners into a World Series team; but espoused patience in the process. After an initial break even season, the Mariners have had three successive campaigns of sub-500 ball; and this season is headed for a fourth straight losing season. Yes, some things have improved; but other things have not. Bad Free Agent signings, unequal trade results, and poor on-field play have all been recurring issues for the GM.
When CBS News reported the [JackZ] signing, I responded with the following brief, but incredibly valid observation...
If true, then the M's Upper Mgmt. should be awfully proud that JackZ built a sub-500 team from the ground up. Mediocrity as a measure of success...this could rewrite the book on underachieving!
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it...I'm a lifelong Mariners fan; have been since their inaugural season. But aside from the Lou Pinella years, Seattle really IS the greatest farm team in the Major Leagues! And with yet another sub-500 season well under way, I really don't see this changing anytime soon. Go sub-Mariners!
In the hours since I commented, not a single respondent alluded to, attacked, negated or assailed my observation. Once again, it seems I have a point.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Whining Pro Golfers
This morning the British Open [Golf] Tournament opened at Muirfield, a R & A (Royal and Ancient) course just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. Like and R & A course on the British Open circuit, Muirfield is extremely challenging in many aspects of its layout and overall course conditions.
After completing his opening round of golf, Phil Mickelson, the media hog that he is, began complaining to the press corps about what he felt were unfair course conditions for any professional golfer to have to deal with. He stated that the directors of the tournament need to "let go of their egos and just set up the course so that the best players can win.;" inferring that the R & A had unfairly made the course harder--I don't see how they can do that--in an effort to penalize the players.
Here was my response:
"These professional golfers need to just keep their opinions to themselves and play golf to the best of their ability. After all, they're supposedly the best golfers in the world, right? So start playing like a pro and stop expecting the perfect course every time they tee off. There are hundreds of regular R & A members who play this course every week who likely have no problem whatsoever with the hole setups. What makes the pros so special that they need to have an easier course to play on?
I used to work at a course that was a stop on the Senior PGA Tour. The course was very difficult under normal conditions. Without exception, every year a majority of the players would whine that the setup wasn't easy enough, as if they expected the easiest pin placements, optimum watering conditions, etc. I played that course hundreds of times, and rather than whine about it, I worked on bettering my game to try and beat the layout.
Why pros like Mickelson think they have the right to complain about a course rather than improve their game is mystifying. These guys just need to suck it up and perform their job better. To do otherwise only decreases my respect for these supposed professionals."
After completing his opening round of golf, Phil Mickelson, the media hog that he is, began complaining to the press corps about what he felt were unfair course conditions for any professional golfer to have to deal with. He stated that the directors of the tournament need to "let go of their egos and just set up the course so that the best players can win.;" inferring that the R & A had unfairly made the course harder--I don't see how they can do that--in an effort to penalize the players.
Here was my response:
"These professional golfers need to just keep their opinions to themselves and play golf to the best of their ability. After all, they're supposedly the best golfers in the world, right? So start playing like a pro and stop expecting the perfect course every time they tee off. There are hundreds of regular R & A members who play this course every week who likely have no problem whatsoever with the hole setups. What makes the pros so special that they need to have an easier course to play on?
I used to work at a course that was a stop on the Senior PGA Tour. The course was very difficult under normal conditions. Without exception, every year a majority of the players would whine that the setup wasn't easy enough, as if they expected the easiest pin placements, optimum watering conditions, etc. I played that course hundreds of times, and rather than whine about it, I worked on bettering my game to try and beat the layout.
Why pros like Mickelson think they have the right to complain about a course rather than improve their game is mystifying. These guys just need to suck it up and perform their job better. To do otherwise only decreases my respect for these supposed professionals."
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Fourth of July
Due to having dialysis today, I just want to sat to everyone,
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
237 years ago, this great Nation was formed; and the world was forever changed by its inception.
I hope that you can take just a few moments to quietly ponder on those incredible events and offer your supplications of thanks to the brave men who risked their very lives in order "to form a more perfect Union."
Have a fun, safe Fourth of July!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
237 years ago, this great Nation was formed; and the world was forever changed by its inception.
I hope that you can take just a few moments to quietly ponder on those incredible events and offer your supplications of thanks to the brave men who risked their very lives in order "to form a more perfect Union."
Have a fun, safe Fourth of July!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Violating Bolivia's Sovereign Rights
Earlier today the plane carrying the President Evo Morales, of Bolivia, was illegally detained and searched by Austrian authorities for fourteen hours in the search for US fugitive Edward Snowden, the man responsible for NSA leaks that show a covert, and illegal surveillance of US citizens by the NSA (National Security Agency) and other Federal Law agencies.
When I read this I immediately responded with the following:
"A Head of State's plane was searched?
What happened to Diplomatic protocols? How would the US Govt respond if a nation decided to search Air Force One on suspicion of espionage or whatever else? There would be outrage! It would be a major international incident. But because it is just the President of Bolivia, it's OK? Seriously?!
How is searching the plane of a Nation's President any different? Protocols were breached, basic respect of a Head of state was missing, the Sovereign rights of Bolivia were violated, and the commenters on here can only make fun of Bolivia and condemn Snowden. President Obama went way beyond his Office by seemingly strong-arming other governments into joining this witch hunt and ignoring the sovereign rights of another country.
How does Congress stand by and watch this abuse of power and not say a word?
I just don't get it."
I posted that commentary earlier this morning and hours later, there isn't a single comment to what I wrote. How can people fail to understand what happened today? If I were the Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations, I'd be throwing a fit to any other Ambassadors who would listen. This breach of Sovereign rights is outrageous! President Obama has gone too far in his ridiculous quest to "bring to justice" the man who revealed to the American people that they were being implicitly spied on by order of the current Administration.
I am appalled that Congress says or does nothing to reign in this President from his constant abuse of Constitutional protections and international law, let alone international diplomatic protocol.
We have no right to violate the sovereign rights of any other nation. The President has numerous diplomatic tools at his disposal in order to find and detain Snowden. Strong-arming other nations to commit unlawful searches definitely isn't one of them.
When I read this I immediately responded with the following:
"A Head of State's plane was searched?
What happened to Diplomatic protocols? How would the US Govt respond if a nation decided to search Air Force One on suspicion of espionage or whatever else? There would be outrage! It would be a major international incident. But because it is just the President of Bolivia, it's OK? Seriously?!
How is searching the plane of a Nation's President any different? Protocols were breached, basic respect of a Head of state was missing, the Sovereign rights of Bolivia were violated, and the commenters on here can only make fun of Bolivia and condemn Snowden. President Obama went way beyond his Office by seemingly strong-arming other governments into joining this witch hunt and ignoring the sovereign rights of another country.
How does Congress stand by and watch this abuse of power and not say a word?
I just don't get it."
I posted that commentary earlier this morning and hours later, there isn't a single comment to what I wrote. How can people fail to understand what happened today? If I were the Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations, I'd be throwing a fit to any other Ambassadors who would listen. This breach of Sovereign rights is outrageous! President Obama has gone too far in his ridiculous quest to "bring to justice" the man who revealed to the American people that they were being implicitly spied on by order of the current Administration.
I am appalled that Congress says or does nothing to reign in this President from his constant abuse of Constitutional protections and international law, let alone international diplomatic protocol.
We have no right to violate the sovereign rights of any other nation. The President has numerous diplomatic tools at his disposal in order to find and detain Snowden. Strong-arming other nations to commit unlawful searches definitely isn't one of them.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Supreme Court Overturns DOMA
This morning, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a divided Court to overturn The Defense of Marriage Act, the Federal Legislation, passed in 1996 and signed into law by the-President Bill Clinton, which mandated that the Federal Government only recognized marriages that were between one man and one woman, and supporting the definition of a traditional family. DOMA was endorsed by numerous churches and other national entities.
After the ruling was announced, the message boards were aflame with support (by the gay community) for the decision. Anyone with the temerity to disagree was attacked with voraciousness, vehemence, intolerance and hatred; as if having a contrary opinion was a horrific and unconscionable thing.
Here's my response:
"According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to decide this case. The SCOTUS was created and designed by the Founding Fathers to interpret the law ONLY, then to send to Congress their ruling; and Congress would then draft and legislate the law to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. That's it. Unfortunately, Lawyers and Special Interest groups have changed the basic role of SCOTUS into the law-making entity it is today.
Justice Scalia was entirely correct when he stated [in the dissenting opinion], "We have no power to decide this case. And even if we did, we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation. The Court's errors on both points spring forth from the same diseased root: an exalted conception of the role of this institution (SCOTUS) in America."
Right, or wrong, the issue of gay marriage is an issue that should be up to the people as a whole to decide. Let Congress fight it out--as it should! Legislation through legal action only undermines the Constitution and the foundation of democracy that the Republic of the United States was founded upon.
Today's Supreme Court decision will forever alter the check's and balances system that was designed to assure that our Government never had too much power to dictate how Americans should live. Instead, the Supreme Court, the top-tier of Constitutional interpretation, has literally stripped the checks and balances system and bypassed Congress, the law-making entity of the United States Government. And ultimately, that is just plain unconstitutional."
*As of about one hour after posting my opinion, the only comment I had was related to a single typo I had in the text; a single apostrophe placed where it shouldn't have been. There was no addressing my opinion, just an attack because I had an apostrophe in the wrong place.
I love it when I can state my point well enough that no one can tear it down!
After the ruling was announced, the message boards were aflame with support (by the gay community) for the decision. Anyone with the temerity to disagree was attacked with voraciousness, vehemence, intolerance and hatred; as if having a contrary opinion was a horrific and unconscionable thing.
Here's my response:
"According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to decide this case. The SCOTUS was created and designed by the Founding Fathers to interpret the law ONLY, then to send to Congress their ruling; and Congress would then draft and legislate the law to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. That's it. Unfortunately, Lawyers and Special Interest groups have changed the basic role of SCOTUS into the law-making entity it is today.
Justice Scalia was entirely correct when he stated [in the dissenting opinion], "We have no power to decide this case. And even if we did, we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation. The Court's errors on both points spring forth from the same diseased root: an exalted conception of the role of this institution (SCOTUS) in America."
Right, or wrong, the issue of gay marriage is an issue that should be up to the people as a whole to decide. Let Congress fight it out--as it should! Legislation through legal action only undermines the Constitution and the foundation of democracy that the Republic of the United States was founded upon.
Today's Supreme Court decision will forever alter the check's and balances system that was designed to assure that our Government never had too much power to dictate how Americans should live. Instead, the Supreme Court, the top-tier of Constitutional interpretation, has literally stripped the checks and balances system and bypassed Congress, the law-making entity of the United States Government. And ultimately, that is just plain unconstitutional."
*As of about one hour after posting my opinion, the only comment I had was related to a single typo I had in the text; a single apostrophe placed where it shouldn't have been. There was no addressing my opinion, just an attack because I had an apostrophe in the wrong place.
I love it when I can state my point well enough that no one can tear it down!
More Border Fencing?
An article in this morning's MSN Homepage tells of additional funding for another 700 miles of US Southern border fencing. The 1500 or so comments were all predictable in their pro and anti rhetoric. Here was my response:
"With as much $$ as the illegals pay the coyotes (guides), they could be applying for and securing legal green cards, then cross the border without endangering their lives. Why isn't the Federal Government pushing programs to emphasize this avenue for those wishing to come to the US?
As a result, there would be fewer deaths, fewer illegals, and the drug cartels would have fewer unwilling and very reluctant drug mules with which to smuggle drugs across the border.
Instead, we erect an [ineffective] isolation fence costing billions of dollars, increase border security which costs billions of dollars, and fill our prisons with illegals which costs the American taxpayers billions of dollars. Anyone see the pattern and insanity here?"
*I literally just posted the comment on MSN, but if I get any responses, I'll add them below:
In the hour since my post, I have gotten zero responses. What a surprise...
"With as much $$ as the illegals pay the coyotes (guides), they could be applying for and securing legal green cards, then cross the border without endangering their lives. Why isn't the Federal Government pushing programs to emphasize this avenue for those wishing to come to the US?
As a result, there would be fewer deaths, fewer illegals, and the drug cartels would have fewer unwilling and very reluctant drug mules with which to smuggle drugs across the border.
Instead, we erect an [ineffective] isolation fence costing billions of dollars, increase border security which costs billions of dollars, and fill our prisons with illegals which costs the American taxpayers billions of dollars. Anyone see the pattern and insanity here?"
*I literally just posted the comment on MSN, but if I get any responses, I'll add them below:
In the hour since my post, I have gotten zero responses. What a surprise...
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Utah Liquor Laws
In this year's version of the Utah Legislature--a ridiculously insignificant forty five days of completely ineffective "leadership" by the State's governing body--the Houses of Senate and Representatives are again tackling the issue of the so-called Zion Curtain, restrictive liquor laws that are intended to shield families from certain alcohol routines in restaurants and all such establishments.
This year there has been a movement to annul the antiquated laws as the Hospitality industry is growing larger, and year-round tourism increases. Then two days ago, a State Sen (John Valentine--R) from Orem decided that the laws had to stay because--and I quote--"Restaurants should be restaurants, and Bars should be bars." His ill-spoken remarks, meant to distinguish between family-friendly restaurants and non-family restaurants, came across as sanctimonious and with a 'I know what's best for everyone' attitude, regardless of personal choice.
Anyhow, here's the article (by Bill Hesterman) as it appeared in the 12 March 2013 edition of the Daily Herald:
SALT LAKE CITY -- The so-called Zion Curtain won't fall for at least another year.
On Tuesday Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, introduced an omnibus liquor policy bill that brings together multiple liquor-related bills and removes the portion of one bill that sought to tear down the walls erected in restaurants to keep the public from viewing a bartender mixing a drink.
The new bill that will run through the Legislature in the final days of the session will contain language dealing with Valentine's plan to create a master liquor license for restaurant chains and stiffen the enforcement fines for restaurants that serve alcohol to minors.
"This represents a compromise between the House and the Senate for the alcohol bills this session," Valentine said.
While members of the House overwhelmingly approved the provision to tear down the wall, Valentine explained the move gave some members of the Senate heartburn. Those differences forced Valentine to create the omnibus bill to so the Legislature could pass a bill that does contain items both houses can come to terms on this session.
"I'm concerned about the culture of alcohol. And I'm concerned about changing of the atmosphere in our restaurants into bars," Valentine said.
Valentine went on to state that he feels Utahans want family-friendly restaurants and that a removal of those separate preparation areas will hinder restaurants being family-friendly.
House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, who has in the past characterized the Zion Curtain as weird, stated that she was disappointed in the Senate's decision to keep the wall. Lockhart stated that she expects the issue will return to the Legislature in the next session.
Valentine's new alcohol bill has been given early approval in the Senate. The Senate will take a final vote on it on Wednesday.
And here is my response:
"This is ludicrous.
I'm LDS, don't drink, and I see no sensible reason for the restrictions. You can't tell me that because a minor sees drinks being mixed this will lead that child to drinking. Additionally, these senseless and antiquated serving laws only stifle tourism and the increased economic benefits and tax dollars that follow.
Just because we live in Utah, don't think for one second that we don't already have an alcohol problem in our midst. Children, teens, adults...it's already here whether our leaders want to acknowledge it or not.
Time for the Utah Legislature to get is head out of the proverbial sand and join the rest of the country in the 21st Century. Instead of enforcing what are essentially stupid laws, how about focusing on prevention, communication and education about issues related to alcohol. It makes a lot more sense!
Then again, in my eleven plus years living in Utah, I have yet to see the Legislature tackle anything difficult; always going with the easiest, least effective solutions available. So really, this news comes as no surprise. Legislative inaction at its finest!
In the responses that followed, no one directly referred to my comments, but made in-kind remarks that amounted to a universal support of what I was saying. Both LDS and non-LDS see the Utah liquor laws as outdated. I just wish the State Legislature would listen to their bosses once in a while.
This year there has been a movement to annul the antiquated laws as the Hospitality industry is growing larger, and year-round tourism increases. Then two days ago, a State Sen (John Valentine--R) from Orem decided that the laws had to stay because--and I quote--"Restaurants should be restaurants, and Bars should be bars." His ill-spoken remarks, meant to distinguish between family-friendly restaurants and non-family restaurants, came across as sanctimonious and with a 'I know what's best for everyone' attitude, regardless of personal choice.
Anyhow, here's the article (by Bill Hesterman) as it appeared in the 12 March 2013 edition of the Daily Herald:
SALT LAKE CITY -- The so-called Zion Curtain won't fall for at least another year.
On Tuesday Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, introduced an omnibus liquor policy bill that brings together multiple liquor-related bills and removes the portion of one bill that sought to tear down the walls erected in restaurants to keep the public from viewing a bartender mixing a drink.
The new bill that will run through the Legislature in the final days of the session will contain language dealing with Valentine's plan to create a master liquor license for restaurant chains and stiffen the enforcement fines for restaurants that serve alcohol to minors.
"This represents a compromise between the House and the Senate for the alcohol bills this session," Valentine said.
While members of the House overwhelmingly approved the provision to tear down the wall, Valentine explained the move gave some members of the Senate heartburn. Those differences forced Valentine to create the omnibus bill to so the Legislature could pass a bill that does contain items both houses can come to terms on this session.
"I'm concerned about the culture of alcohol. And I'm concerned about changing of the atmosphere in our restaurants into bars," Valentine said.
Valentine went on to state that he feels Utahans want family-friendly restaurants and that a removal of those separate preparation areas will hinder restaurants being family-friendly.
House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, who has in the past characterized the Zion Curtain as weird, stated that she was disappointed in the Senate's decision to keep the wall. Lockhart stated that she expects the issue will return to the Legislature in the next session.
Valentine's new alcohol bill has been given early approval in the Senate. The Senate will take a final vote on it on Wednesday.
And here is my response:
"This is ludicrous.
I'm LDS, don't drink, and I see no sensible reason for the restrictions. You can't tell me that because a minor sees drinks being mixed this will lead that child to drinking. Additionally, these senseless and antiquated serving laws only stifle tourism and the increased economic benefits and tax dollars that follow.
Just because we live in Utah, don't think for one second that we don't already have an alcohol problem in our midst. Children, teens, adults...it's already here whether our leaders want to acknowledge it or not.
Time for the Utah Legislature to get is head out of the proverbial sand and join the rest of the country in the 21st Century. Instead of enforcing what are essentially stupid laws, how about focusing on prevention, communication and education about issues related to alcohol. It makes a lot more sense!
Then again, in my eleven plus years living in Utah, I have yet to see the Legislature tackle anything difficult; always going with the easiest, least effective solutions available. So really, this news comes as no surprise. Legislative inaction at its finest!
In the responses that followed, no one directly referred to my comments, but made in-kind remarks that amounted to a universal support of what I was saying. Both LDS and non-LDS see the Utah liquor laws as outdated. I just wish the State Legislature would listen to their bosses once in a while.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Seattle-- A "Loser" Sports Town?
In conversations this afternoon about possible Super Bowl teams, a comment from one respondent caught my attention when he called Seattle a "...wet, soggy loser" of a sports town; followed by general denigrations of the pro teams in Seattle. I absolutely HAD to defend my hometown, so I wrote up the following response...
"(Respondent), You need to get your history straight. Seattle had a hugely successful minor league club for decades called the Rainiers who played at Sicks Stadium. They were replaced by the Seattle Pilots, a MLB club whose owners moved them after one and a half seasons to become the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mariners came to be from the litigation that followed the sudden departure of the Pilots. The Mariners struggled, to be sure. But they fostered future HoFers Griffey, Jr, Randy Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki, HoF Deserving Edgar Martinez and possibly, depending on steroid use, Alex Rodriguez.
In 2001 the Mariners won 116 games to tie the record for most wins in a season. For three years they led the leauge in attendance, topping three million each year.
Sure the team has struggled. So what? They are far from losers, as you claim.
The Seattle Supersonics played for the NBA Championship in back to back years in the late 70's , winning the league title in 1978. They were coached for years by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkins. They competed at the top of the league for years, and their last attempt at the NBA title was stopped by Chicago. Then, Clay Bennett, the college buddy of Commish Stern came riding into town with grandiose promises of winning, all while secretly working to move the team from the then 13th largest market to the dead-last smallest market in ALL of pro sports. So tell me just how the Sonics are "losers."
The Seattle Seahawks, like every other NFL team in existence, has had their ups and downs. For a "loser" of a team, they sure have passionate, loud and emphatic fans. They came within a few bad officiating calls of winning the Super Bowl--calls which league officials would later admit shouldn't have been made. They consistently are amongst the league leaders in attendance, and have one of the most exciting young QB's in the NFL. As for Hofers, let's only start with Steve Largent and Cortez Kennedy.
And you forgot their other teams... the Seattle Sounders, league leaders in attendance for every year they've existed as a pro-level team, and who played in a bygone era for the NASL Cup twice in the early 80's. No, they haven't won the MLS Cup...yet. But hey, they've only existed in their current form for four seasons.
Then, there's the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. They are consistently amongst the top teams in the league and have won the WNBA title in 2004 and 2010 and have fostered Hofers Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. But...they're losers, too...right?
Finally, time for a history lesson. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first US-based team to win the Holy Grail of hockey, Lord Stanley's Cup. But they were also losers, weren't they?
You never know which team from any sports league will win the championship. So please, get off your rocking horse and give the fans--and their teams--in Seattle a little respect. Have an awesome day!"
"(Respondent), You need to get your history straight. Seattle had a hugely successful minor league club for decades called the Rainiers who played at Sicks Stadium. They were replaced by the Seattle Pilots, a MLB club whose owners moved them after one and a half seasons to become the Milwaukee Brewers. The Mariners came to be from the litigation that followed the sudden departure of the Pilots. The Mariners struggled, to be sure. But they fostered future HoFers Griffey, Jr, Randy Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki, HoF Deserving Edgar Martinez and possibly, depending on steroid use, Alex Rodriguez.
In 2001 the Mariners won 116 games to tie the record for most wins in a season. For three years they led the leauge in attendance, topping three million each year.
Sure the team has struggled. So what? They are far from losers, as you claim.
The Seattle Supersonics played for the NBA Championship in back to back years in the late 70's , winning the league title in 1978. They were coached for years by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkins. They competed at the top of the league for years, and their last attempt at the NBA title was stopped by Chicago. Then, Clay Bennett, the college buddy of Commish Stern came riding into town with grandiose promises of winning, all while secretly working to move the team from the then 13th largest market to the dead-last smallest market in ALL of pro sports. So tell me just how the Sonics are "losers."
The Seattle Seahawks, like every other NFL team in existence, has had their ups and downs. For a "loser" of a team, they sure have passionate, loud and emphatic fans. They came within a few bad officiating calls of winning the Super Bowl--calls which league officials would later admit shouldn't have been made. They consistently are amongst the league leaders in attendance, and have one of the most exciting young QB's in the NFL. As for Hofers, let's only start with Steve Largent and Cortez Kennedy.
And you forgot their other teams... the Seattle Sounders, league leaders in attendance for every year they've existed as a pro-level team, and who played in a bygone era for the NASL Cup twice in the early 80's. No, they haven't won the MLS Cup...yet. But hey, they've only existed in their current form for four seasons.
Then, there's the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. They are consistently amongst the top teams in the league and have won the WNBA title in 2004 and 2010 and have fostered Hofers Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. But...they're losers, too...right?
Finally, time for a history lesson. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first US-based team to win the Holy Grail of hockey, Lord Stanley's Cup. But they were also losers, weren't they?
You never know which team from any sports league will win the championship. So please, get off your rocking horse and give the fans--and their teams--in Seattle a little respect. Have an awesome day!"
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Jihadists and Hypocrisy
British Prince Harry recently returned from a military assignment in Afghanistan, serving as a gunner on a helicopter gunship. He apparently has a number of enemy kills to his credit for which the Prince has come under condemnation by the Taliban, with the usual death threats by this murderous group. An article in today's Seattle Times highlighted this aspect of the ongoing conflict. Here is my response to that article:
"What I don't get is the hypocrisy by these jihadists when it comes to killing people. They murder with impugnity anyone they claim is against Allah (God)--which of course changes as new enemies come up-- but then throw a temper tantrum in front of the international media when anyone kills even one of their fighters and call opposing military personnel sinners, pigs, dogs, a disease, etc.
At least these groups could leave religion out of the discussion and call their efforts what they really are...a power grab with repercussions for anyone who would dare oppose them.
As far as British Prince Harry is concerned, as a soldier he was doing his duty. So he killed Taliban fighters while on field duty; yeah, well how many British troops were killed by the Taliban while Harry was stationed in Afghanistan?
Wait...I'm sorry...it goes back to that same hypocrisy I was talking about earlier. It isn't how many soldiers the Taliban killed; it's all about how many of these jihadists were "martyred" by the imperialist dogs of the West.
Sorry...my bad."
"What I don't get is the hypocrisy by these jihadists when it comes to killing people. They murder with impugnity anyone they claim is against Allah (God)--which of course changes as new enemies come up-- but then throw a temper tantrum in front of the international media when anyone kills even one of their fighters and call opposing military personnel sinners, pigs, dogs, a disease, etc.
At least these groups could leave religion out of the discussion and call their efforts what they really are...a power grab with repercussions for anyone who would dare oppose them.
As far as British Prince Harry is concerned, as a soldier he was doing his duty. So he killed Taliban fighters while on field duty; yeah, well how many British troops were killed by the Taliban while Harry was stationed in Afghanistan?
Wait...I'm sorry...it goes back to that same hypocrisy I was talking about earlier. It isn't how many soldiers the Taliban killed; it's all about how many of these jihadists were "martyred" by the imperialist dogs of the West.
Sorry...my bad."
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Future of College Athletes Leaving College Early
An article today in the Seattle Times highlighted the news that a record 73 college athletes were approved for early entry into this year's NFL Draft. In other words, these athletes were leaving college early in order to play pro sports. Now, these 73 athletes will be competing against all the other graduating Seniors who completed their educations. (This number, I'm sure, probably runs into the hundreds, if not thousands--though not all college athletes apply for draft status. As to an actual statistic for this...I do not have access to that information.)
Anyhow, the responses to the article ranged from supportive [of these 73 athletes] to unsure. The following is my response:
"I once heard a young sports draftee (who played in a total of 11 college games) tell the press, "If you stay in college long enough to graduate, then you ain't talented enough to play pro sports."
What a narrow minded, self-serving, short-sighted opinion. Athletes who graduate from college usually are looking towards their post-sports life; and education is the key.
The average NFL "career" for all players entering the draft is now at about 4.5 years. That's it. So an athlete who leaves college early at say, twenty years of age, and plays for the league career average, means that by age twenty six, they will most likely be out of sports. What then?
Without the money, many of their so-called 'friends' go away, and the connections the athletes were told they have disappear. The athlete is left out in the cold, with little or no money, and no foreseeable financial future because they failed to finish the opportunity that was literally given to them..the completion of their free-ride education.
Yes, it is completely within the individual athlete's right to leave college early. However, with that choice also comes the long-term financial consequences of an unfinished education. True, there ARE athletes who will buck the stats and become successful financially despite leaving early. But these are the exceptions and certainly NOT the norm.
While it may be hard to wait, with family financial pressures, "friends" constantly whispering in their ears to leave college early, etc, completing their education is vital to their post- sports "career" life. Anyone who tells an athlete any different has their own agenda in mind."
As of writing this blog, in the time since I wrote this article response, there have been zero dissenting comments or disprovals on the newspaper site. Maybe I have a point.
Anyhow, the responses to the article ranged from supportive [of these 73 athletes] to unsure. The following is my response:
"I once heard a young sports draftee (who played in a total of 11 college games) tell the press, "If you stay in college long enough to graduate, then you ain't talented enough to play pro sports."
What a narrow minded, self-serving, short-sighted opinion. Athletes who graduate from college usually are looking towards their post-sports life; and education is the key.
The average NFL "career" for all players entering the draft is now at about 4.5 years. That's it. So an athlete who leaves college early at say, twenty years of age, and plays for the league career average, means that by age twenty six, they will most likely be out of sports. What then?
Without the money, many of their so-called 'friends' go away, and the connections the athletes were told they have disappear. The athlete is left out in the cold, with little or no money, and no foreseeable financial future because they failed to finish the opportunity that was literally given to them..the completion of their free-ride education.
Yes, it is completely within the individual athlete's right to leave college early. However, with that choice also comes the long-term financial consequences of an unfinished education. True, there ARE athletes who will buck the stats and become successful financially despite leaving early. But these are the exceptions and certainly NOT the norm.
While it may be hard to wait, with family financial pressures, "friends" constantly whispering in their ears to leave college early, etc, completing their education is vital to their post- sports "career" life. Anyone who tells an athlete any different has their own agenda in mind."
As of writing this blog, in the time since I wrote this article response, there have been zero dissenting comments or disprovals on the newspaper site. Maybe I have a point.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Post-BBWAA HoF Vote: My Response
Yesterday, the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Assoc. of America) released their voting tally for players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Due to the cloud presented by notable steroid users being up for the vote, the writers collectively decided to elect NO ONE into this years class induction. Edgar Martinez, the finest Right-handed batter of his generation, garnered just 35.9% of the vote; well short of the required 75% to gain induction. Martinez was NOT a steroid user; his biggest obstacle to overcome was that he mainly played DH (Designated Hitter) for the bulk of his career.
An article linked to the Seattle Mariners website clearly illustrated why Martinez deserves to be in the Hall. Here is my response:
"With his numbers, Martinez should have already been elected. If he had played in NY, Boston or LA, the fans and sportswriters would be clamoring for his induction.
"Martinez is one of just 10 players in Major League history to have put up 300-plus home runs, 500-plus doubles, 1,000-plus walks and post a batting average over .300 and on-base percentage over .400. The others are Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams..."
And he ISN'T in the HoF? Why? Because he didn't hit hundreds more HR's? Or because he was the DH? Seriously?
Just how many HoFer's are in the Hall without hitting volumes of homers? Edgar was a contact hitter. And boy did he make contact! He is the best right-handed hitter I have seen in my 40+ years of watching baseball. Who cares about homers when you are getting singles, doubles, triples, sac flies, etc and helping your team win games? The whole notion of "power" being essential to get into the HoF is a ludicrous assertion, at best.
As for the DH thing, this position has been entrenched since the mid-70's. Time for voters to toss the notion that it isn't a real position. DH's hit just as often as any other player on the field. As we see every year, not all DH's are created equal. Many are terrible, or over the hill. Martinez set the standard for what the DH position is.
As far as Character, show me a better man, a better teammate, a better human being than Edgar Matinez. He exemplifies the very best of what a great man is, and he's an extraordinary role model for any young player.
Baseball Commissioner Selig thought so highly of Edgar and his accomplishments as a batter that he renamed the DH award The Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter of the Year Award. How often does such a thing happen?
Martinez may yet be elected. But while he waits, the notion that he wasn't good enough, or doesn't deserve induction is a hollow argument. As a third baseman, Edgar was spectacular. When injuries forced him from being a position player, he accepted the role as DH and defined that role in superlatives that no one since has been able to match. Show me another player that has been able to define a position like Martinez did, and I will show you a Hall of Famer.
Edgar Martinez earned the right to be called one of the games very best."
I received numerous responses to my opinion, ALL of them 100% supportive of what I had written. Too bad the baseball writers won't see it. If they do, maybe...just maybe, it might sway them to go with Martinez...but I doubt it; cuz Edgar was "only" a DH.
An article linked to the Seattle Mariners website clearly illustrated why Martinez deserves to be in the Hall. Here is my response:
"With his numbers, Martinez should have already been elected. If he had played in NY, Boston or LA, the fans and sportswriters would be clamoring for his induction.
"Martinez is one of just 10 players in Major League history to have put up 300-plus home runs, 500-plus doubles, 1,000-plus walks and post a batting average over .300 and on-base percentage over .400. The others are Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams..."
And he ISN'T in the HoF? Why? Because he didn't hit hundreds more HR's? Or because he was the DH? Seriously?
Just how many HoFer's are in the Hall without hitting volumes of homers? Edgar was a contact hitter. And boy did he make contact! He is the best right-handed hitter I have seen in my 40+ years of watching baseball. Who cares about homers when you are getting singles, doubles, triples, sac flies, etc and helping your team win games? The whole notion of "power" being essential to get into the HoF is a ludicrous assertion, at best.
As for the DH thing, this position has been entrenched since the mid-70's. Time for voters to toss the notion that it isn't a real position. DH's hit just as often as any other player on the field. As we see every year, not all DH's are created equal. Many are terrible, or over the hill. Martinez set the standard for what the DH position is.
As far as Character, show me a better man, a better teammate, a better human being than Edgar Matinez. He exemplifies the very best of what a great man is, and he's an extraordinary role model for any young player.
Baseball Commissioner Selig thought so highly of Edgar and his accomplishments as a batter that he renamed the DH award The Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter of the Year Award. How often does such a thing happen?
Martinez may yet be elected. But while he waits, the notion that he wasn't good enough, or doesn't deserve induction is a hollow argument. As a third baseman, Edgar was spectacular. When injuries forced him from being a position player, he accepted the role as DH and defined that role in superlatives that no one since has been able to match. Show me another player that has been able to define a position like Martinez did, and I will show you a Hall of Famer.
Edgar Martinez earned the right to be called one of the games very best."
I received numerous responses to my opinion, ALL of them 100% supportive of what I had written. Too bad the baseball writers won't see it. If they do, maybe...just maybe, it might sway them to go with Martinez...but I doubt it; cuz Edgar was "only" a DH.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Edgar Martinez for the BB HoF!
A guest editorial in today's Seattle Times, written by Arne Christensen, talks about former career long Seattle Mariner player Edgar Martinez and his accomplishments that have earned him the right to be inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. Here's the article:
"Reconsidering Edgar Martinez and the Hall of Fame"
The case that Edgar Martinez fans have cumulatively assembled to argue for him as a Baseball Hall of Famer almost exclusively mentions only his statistical accomplishments as a hitter, gauged by both traditional metrics and the advanced, sabermetric kind. But, of course, people, not assemblages of statistics, stand as candidates for the Hall of Fame, and that seems to be part of Edgar’s problem.
As an unassuming player who never reached the World Series and played far from any media hothouse, in the most remote major-league city, Edgar’s a deep underdog in the charisma category of Hall of Fame qualifications. (I think it’s obvious that personality and a résumé of myth-making material help any player make it to Cooperstown: see Dizzy Dean, Enos Slaughter, Bobby Grich, and Bob Johnson for four examples on both sides.) Even in the Seattle area, Edgar didn’t attain the heights of fame (or notoriety) that Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, and Ichiro did.
Mario Lanza, a friend who’s written a long story about being a Mariners fan in the 1980s and early ‘90s, saw Edgar's anonymity firsthand.
“Even in Seattle people didn’t really know who he was," Lanza said. "I saw him in Crossroads Mall (in Bellevue) with his family, just sitting there eating dinner outside of the food court. Here he was, one of the greatest players in Mariners history, and people just walked by him like he was nobody special.
“He used to go there with his family, and I’d see him reading newspapers right outside the Daily Planet newsstand. I must have seen him five times there and nobody ever recognized him. Even in Seattle he was anonymous. How are the writers in Boston or New York supposed to feel any differently about him?”
To remedy the mistaken impression that Edgar was a routinely, even boringly, efficient player, I’ve gathered some anecdotes, lore, and oddball trivia about his career, presented in chronological order. Most are taken from the Mariners’ 2002 media guide. You’ll be surprised by some of the pure heroism this compilation reveals:
Edgar began his pro career in Bellingham in 1983, hitting .173 in 32 games, which gave him some early adversity to overcome.
In 1985, he led Southern League third basemen in putouts, 94, assists, 247, double plays, 34, and chances.
In 1986, he led Southern League third basemen in fielding percentage, .960.
In 1987, The Seattle Times said “he is regarded a brilliant fielder” with the Calgary Cannons, the Mariners' Class AAA team. Edgar said: “I think I can play utility, third, second, wherever they want to play me, I try to do it.”
Edgar’s first major-league hit was a triple. It was hit off Reggie Ritter of the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 14, 1987. The Times reported that in the second inning of that game, “on consecutive plays, he dived to his left to take base hits away from Jay Bell and Andy Allanson.” The triple came in the bottom of the second.
Despite the fine glove and hitting .372 in 43 Mariner at-bats in ’87, in 1988 he was back with Calgary, was named the player of the year, and led the Pacific Coast League with a .363 average.
He spent the offseason after ’89 by hitting .424, or (56 for 132), in Puerto Rican League winter ball: it was good enough to outpace the second leading hitter by 82 points.
In 1990, Edgar stole home on August 25 as part of a double steal with Ken Griffey Jr. It was his only steal of the season, which was his first, at age 27, spent entirely with the big-league team.
Despite playing with a sore right shoulder throughout 1992, Edgar was the American League Player of Month for July and August. He was the third player to record that feat in back-to-back months: the Yankees' Don Mattingly in August and September of ‘85 and the Twins' Kirby Puckett in May and June of ’92 preceded him.
Edgar hit .343 to lead the AL in batting average in ’92. He was the first Mariner to win a batting crown, only the second AL player to do it for a last-place team, and the first right-handed hitter since Harvey Kuenn in 1959 to lead the AL in that category. Edgar also stole 14 bases in ’92, out of 18 tries.
After missing most of 1993 with three different left hamstring injuries - which helps explain his lack of mobility in later seasons - Edgar started ’94 by getting hit on the right wrist by the Indians’ Dennis Martinez in his first at bat, at the first game at Cleveland's Jacobs Field.
In 1995, Edgar became the first AL right-hander since Luke Appling to win two batting titles, and his .356 was the highest average for an AL righty since Joe DiMaggio in 1939. He was the first Latino with 100 walks, hit .433 vs. lefties, and reached base in 137 of the Mariners’ 145 games. His .479 on-base percentage (OPB) ranks 48th all-time in a season, and he's one of 12 right-handers in the top 50 for season OBP. The .479 ranks second-best for a season from 1963 to 2000.
Edgar’s AL Division Series performance against the Yankees included a playoff-record seven runs batted in in Game 4, hitting .571 for the five games, with an OBP of .667, and hitting “The Double” to win Game 5 and the series and, according to some, keep the Mariners in Seattle.
After doing all this in ‘95, he still made time to play Puerto Rican League winter ball for San Juan.
Before suffering four fractured ribs when catcher John Marzano ran into him chasing a pop-up on July 20, 1996, Edgar was on pace to hit 75 doubles, which would have been the MLB record by eight. The injury stopped his streak of 293 straight games played, a Mariners record.
Despite playing only 139 games in 1996, Edgar still hit 52 doubles for the second straight year (he’d only played 145 games in ’95 because of the strike-shortened season). He was the fifth hitter to get 50-plus doubles in back-to-back seasons.
In 1997, he had to get stitches twice within five days in September. The first time was on Sept. 8 in Kansas City, when Royals DH Chili Davis swung his bat in the sixth and it landed on Edgar’s head inside the dugout for a five-stitch cut. Edgar stayed in the game and went 2 for 4 with two singles, getting his 100th RBI along the way. A quote from Edgar: “I lost sight of it in the lights. I knew it was coming, and I ducked to the left. I must have ducked right into it. It was scary, lots worse than having a pitch come at your head.”
Then, on Sept. 12, came the coup de grace: playing Toronto at the Kingdome, Edgar slid into home, and into catcher Charlie O’Brien’s mask, trying to score in the sixth inning. He got eight more stitches on his chin. Of course, he stayed in the game, and of course, he hit the game-winning, three-run homer in the eighth, breaking up a 3-3 tie. Edgar hit it off Roger Clemens, who was 21-5 at the time, and on his way to the ’97 AL Cy Young and a 2.05 earned-run average while giving up nine homers in all of 1997. Here’s the kicker: Edgar also had two infield singles, for a 3-for-4 night, with two runs scored to go with his three RBI.
Edgar’s quote: “I never have been to a hockey game. But I’ve watched and seen the fights and the cuts. I guess you could say my week has been like a hockey game.” Lou Piniella called Martinez “a tough kid, a professional. It was his night.” Over the seven games that began with getting five stitches on the 8th, Edgar hit .400, with four walks and a .483 OBP.
After right knee surgery following the ’98 season, Edgar managed to hit .394 in 41 games at Safeco Field in 1999. His five homers in two games, on May 17 and 18 of ‘99, tied the MLB record and set a Mariners record for two straight games. The homers were capped by three in a row on the 18th vs. the Twins. Edgar’s 1,500th hit came on August 14 at Fenway, off Pedro Martinez.
On the night of July 29, 2000, Edgar was scheduled to be grand marshal of Seattle’s Seafair Torchlight Parade, but first there was a game to play. It ran late: 13 innings, and 5 hours, 4 minutes. But Edgar had a parade to catch. So he hit a walk-off single for a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays, showered, dressed, didn’t say a word to the press – too busy – and went off to the day’s second job. The Torchlight Parade’s theme: “Heroes of Our Hearts.”
His 145 RBI in 2000 was the best ever in the majors for a player 37 or older.
In 2001, Edgar reached base in 43 straight games in May and the first half of June. He was ejected on Oct. 1 in Anaheim when he charged Lou Pote after the pitcher hit him. The Seattle Times reported:
“Angels reliever Lou Pote was struggling in the sixth, with two on and one out when a fastball rode in on Martinez, hitting him in the right arm before ricocheting up and hitting him on the bill of the helmet. The DH fell hard, as if hurt or stunned.
“Then suddenly Martinez got up, seemingly much faster than he usually moves, and headed for Pote, who seemed stunned in turn. The young pitcher backed away from the angry veteran as players converged en masse.
“Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina and third baseman Glaus grabbed Martinez. Jay Buhner came out of the dugout and grabbed Pote, who had been entirely non-threatening.
“Benches and bullpens emptied, but the only one showing emotion was Martinez, who had to be held by teammates, including Javier and Piniella. ... Martinez declined to comment after the game.”
On Oct. 4, after he was suspended for two games for charging Pote, The Times added:
“‘It hit him in the chin, then the eye, then the forehead,’” trainer Rick Griffin said. ‘He was pretty upset.’
“Martinez reportedly was upset after being hit several times this year by Angels pitchers and having several other pitches just miss him.
“Asked if he wanted to talk yesterday, he smiled and shook his head and said, ‘No comment.’”
Edgar ended 2001 with 116 RBI, matching the Mariners' win total for the year. At the time, he had a .425 career OBP, second among active players with at least 2,000 at-bats, behind only Frank Thomas’ .438. For the seven years from 1995 through 2001, he never dropped below 93 walks in a season, a .306 batting average, a .423 OBP, or a .543 slugging percentage. For 2000 and 2001, he had 261 RBI in 285 games.
He was named AL Player of the Month, for the fifth and final time, for May 2003, and made the All-Star team that year for the seventh and final time. The 2003 season was the last in his nine-year streak of on-base percentages above .400.
Finally, here are a few items from his overall career:
Edgar hit .579, 11 for 19, off Mariano Rivera, with three doubles, two homers, six RBI and three walks.
He hit .444, 8 for 18, off Roy Halladay;
hit .571, 8 for 14, off Rick Sutcliffe,
.480; hit 12 for 25, off Dave Stewart;
hit .370, 20 for 54, off Andy Pettitte;
hit .429, 6 for 14, off Dennis Eckersley. ...
Edgar hit four homers each off Roger Clemens, Erik Hanson, and David Wells, and five homers and two triples off Mike Mussina.
Edgar hit at least .500 off 243 different pitchers, and 1.000 off 75 different pitchers.
He had the third most doubles in the majors in the 1990s, with 358, six behind Mark Grace, the MLB leader for the decade.
He had at least a .400 OBP in 11 of his 13 full seasons.
And here is my response to the article:
"As I have stated previously, if Edgar had played in NY, Boston or LA, with those numbers he would be a shoo-in first ballot nominee.
I have read articles by national sportswriters extolling Edgar's accomplishments, hoping to sway voters to cast him on their ballots.
Just because he doesn't have the magic 3000 hits, or 400+ homers doesn't mean he isn't worthy of being in the HoF. His career stats tell voters everything they need to justify his induction.
As the player that defined superlative at the DH position, a player who is named on the DH of the Year Award, and a player who was the very best right-handed hitter I ever saw in my 40+ years of watching ball, Edgar Martinez has earned the right to be called Hall of Famer."
"Reconsidering Edgar Martinez and the Hall of Fame"
The case that Edgar Martinez fans have cumulatively assembled to argue for him as a Baseball Hall of Famer almost exclusively mentions only his statistical accomplishments as a hitter, gauged by both traditional metrics and the advanced, sabermetric kind. But, of course, people, not assemblages of statistics, stand as candidates for the Hall of Fame, and that seems to be part of Edgar’s problem.
As an unassuming player who never reached the World Series and played far from any media hothouse, in the most remote major-league city, Edgar’s a deep underdog in the charisma category of Hall of Fame qualifications. (I think it’s obvious that personality and a résumé of myth-making material help any player make it to Cooperstown: see Dizzy Dean, Enos Slaughter, Bobby Grich, and Bob Johnson for four examples on both sides.) Even in the Seattle area, Edgar didn’t attain the heights of fame (or notoriety) that Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, and Ichiro did.
Mario Lanza, a friend who’s written a long story about being a Mariners fan in the 1980s and early ‘90s, saw Edgar's anonymity firsthand.
“Even in Seattle people didn’t really know who he was," Lanza said. "I saw him in Crossroads Mall (in Bellevue) with his family, just sitting there eating dinner outside of the food court. Here he was, one of the greatest players in Mariners history, and people just walked by him like he was nobody special.
“He used to go there with his family, and I’d see him reading newspapers right outside the Daily Planet newsstand. I must have seen him five times there and nobody ever recognized him. Even in Seattle he was anonymous. How are the writers in Boston or New York supposed to feel any differently about him?”
To remedy the mistaken impression that Edgar was a routinely, even boringly, efficient player, I’ve gathered some anecdotes, lore, and oddball trivia about his career, presented in chronological order. Most are taken from the Mariners’ 2002 media guide. You’ll be surprised by some of the pure heroism this compilation reveals:
Edgar began his pro career in Bellingham in 1983, hitting .173 in 32 games, which gave him some early adversity to overcome.
In 1985, he led Southern League third basemen in putouts, 94, assists, 247, double plays, 34, and chances.
In 1986, he led Southern League third basemen in fielding percentage, .960.
In 1987, The Seattle Times said “he is regarded a brilliant fielder” with the Calgary Cannons, the Mariners' Class AAA team. Edgar said: “I think I can play utility, third, second, wherever they want to play me, I try to do it.”
Edgar’s first major-league hit was a triple. It was hit off Reggie Ritter of the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 14, 1987. The Times reported that in the second inning of that game, “on consecutive plays, he dived to his left to take base hits away from Jay Bell and Andy Allanson.” The triple came in the bottom of the second.
Despite the fine glove and hitting .372 in 43 Mariner at-bats in ’87, in 1988 he was back with Calgary, was named the player of the year, and led the Pacific Coast League with a .363 average.
He spent the offseason after ’89 by hitting .424, or (56 for 132), in Puerto Rican League winter ball: it was good enough to outpace the second leading hitter by 82 points.
In 1990, Edgar stole home on August 25 as part of a double steal with Ken Griffey Jr. It was his only steal of the season, which was his first, at age 27, spent entirely with the big-league team.
Despite playing with a sore right shoulder throughout 1992, Edgar was the American League Player of Month for July and August. He was the third player to record that feat in back-to-back months: the Yankees' Don Mattingly in August and September of ‘85 and the Twins' Kirby Puckett in May and June of ’92 preceded him.
Edgar hit .343 to lead the AL in batting average in ’92. He was the first Mariner to win a batting crown, only the second AL player to do it for a last-place team, and the first right-handed hitter since Harvey Kuenn in 1959 to lead the AL in that category. Edgar also stole 14 bases in ’92, out of 18 tries.
After missing most of 1993 with three different left hamstring injuries - which helps explain his lack of mobility in later seasons - Edgar started ’94 by getting hit on the right wrist by the Indians’ Dennis Martinez in his first at bat, at the first game at Cleveland's Jacobs Field.
In 1995, Edgar became the first AL right-hander since Luke Appling to win two batting titles, and his .356 was the highest average for an AL righty since Joe DiMaggio in 1939. He was the first Latino with 100 walks, hit .433 vs. lefties, and reached base in 137 of the Mariners’ 145 games. His .479 on-base percentage (OPB) ranks 48th all-time in a season, and he's one of 12 right-handers in the top 50 for season OBP. The .479 ranks second-best for a season from 1963 to 2000.
Edgar’s AL Division Series performance against the Yankees included a playoff-record seven runs batted in in Game 4, hitting .571 for the five games, with an OBP of .667, and hitting “The Double” to win Game 5 and the series and, according to some, keep the Mariners in Seattle.
After doing all this in ‘95, he still made time to play Puerto Rican League winter ball for San Juan.
Before suffering four fractured ribs when catcher John Marzano ran into him chasing a pop-up on July 20, 1996, Edgar was on pace to hit 75 doubles, which would have been the MLB record by eight. The injury stopped his streak of 293 straight games played, a Mariners record.
Despite playing only 139 games in 1996, Edgar still hit 52 doubles for the second straight year (he’d only played 145 games in ’95 because of the strike-shortened season). He was the fifth hitter to get 50-plus doubles in back-to-back seasons.
In 1997, he had to get stitches twice within five days in September. The first time was on Sept. 8 in Kansas City, when Royals DH Chili Davis swung his bat in the sixth and it landed on Edgar’s head inside the dugout for a five-stitch cut. Edgar stayed in the game and went 2 for 4 with two singles, getting his 100th RBI along the way. A quote from Edgar: “I lost sight of it in the lights. I knew it was coming, and I ducked to the left. I must have ducked right into it. It was scary, lots worse than having a pitch come at your head.”
Then, on Sept. 12, came the coup de grace: playing Toronto at the Kingdome, Edgar slid into home, and into catcher Charlie O’Brien’s mask, trying to score in the sixth inning. He got eight more stitches on his chin. Of course, he stayed in the game, and of course, he hit the game-winning, three-run homer in the eighth, breaking up a 3-3 tie. Edgar hit it off Roger Clemens, who was 21-5 at the time, and on his way to the ’97 AL Cy Young and a 2.05 earned-run average while giving up nine homers in all of 1997. Here’s the kicker: Edgar also had two infield singles, for a 3-for-4 night, with two runs scored to go with his three RBI.
Edgar’s quote: “I never have been to a hockey game. But I’ve watched and seen the fights and the cuts. I guess you could say my week has been like a hockey game.” Lou Piniella called Martinez “a tough kid, a professional. It was his night.” Over the seven games that began with getting five stitches on the 8th, Edgar hit .400, with four walks and a .483 OBP.
After right knee surgery following the ’98 season, Edgar managed to hit .394 in 41 games at Safeco Field in 1999. His five homers in two games, on May 17 and 18 of ‘99, tied the MLB record and set a Mariners record for two straight games. The homers were capped by three in a row on the 18th vs. the Twins. Edgar’s 1,500th hit came on August 14 at Fenway, off Pedro Martinez.
On the night of July 29, 2000, Edgar was scheduled to be grand marshal of Seattle’s Seafair Torchlight Parade, but first there was a game to play. It ran late: 13 innings, and 5 hours, 4 minutes. But Edgar had a parade to catch. So he hit a walk-off single for a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays, showered, dressed, didn’t say a word to the press – too busy – and went off to the day’s second job. The Torchlight Parade’s theme: “Heroes of Our Hearts.”
His 145 RBI in 2000 was the best ever in the majors for a player 37 or older.
In 2001, Edgar reached base in 43 straight games in May and the first half of June. He was ejected on Oct. 1 in Anaheim when he charged Lou Pote after the pitcher hit him. The Seattle Times reported:
“Angels reliever Lou Pote was struggling in the sixth, with two on and one out when a fastball rode in on Martinez, hitting him in the right arm before ricocheting up and hitting him on the bill of the helmet. The DH fell hard, as if hurt or stunned.
“Then suddenly Martinez got up, seemingly much faster than he usually moves, and headed for Pote, who seemed stunned in turn. The young pitcher backed away from the angry veteran as players converged en masse.
“Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina and third baseman Glaus grabbed Martinez. Jay Buhner came out of the dugout and grabbed Pote, who had been entirely non-threatening.
“Benches and bullpens emptied, but the only one showing emotion was Martinez, who had to be held by teammates, including Javier and Piniella. ... Martinez declined to comment after the game.”
On Oct. 4, after he was suspended for two games for charging Pote, The Times added:
“‘It hit him in the chin, then the eye, then the forehead,’” trainer Rick Griffin said. ‘He was pretty upset.’
“Martinez reportedly was upset after being hit several times this year by Angels pitchers and having several other pitches just miss him.
“Asked if he wanted to talk yesterday, he smiled and shook his head and said, ‘No comment.’”
Edgar ended 2001 with 116 RBI, matching the Mariners' win total for the year. At the time, he had a .425 career OBP, second among active players with at least 2,000 at-bats, behind only Frank Thomas’ .438. For the seven years from 1995 through 2001, he never dropped below 93 walks in a season, a .306 batting average, a .423 OBP, or a .543 slugging percentage. For 2000 and 2001, he had 261 RBI in 285 games.
He was named AL Player of the Month, for the fifth and final time, for May 2003, and made the All-Star team that year for the seventh and final time. The 2003 season was the last in his nine-year streak of on-base percentages above .400.
Finally, here are a few items from his overall career:
Edgar hit .579, 11 for 19, off Mariano Rivera, with three doubles, two homers, six RBI and three walks.
He hit .444, 8 for 18, off Roy Halladay;
hit .571, 8 for 14, off Rick Sutcliffe,
.480; hit 12 for 25, off Dave Stewart;
hit .370, 20 for 54, off Andy Pettitte;
hit .429, 6 for 14, off Dennis Eckersley. ...
Edgar hit four homers each off Roger Clemens, Erik Hanson, and David Wells, and five homers and two triples off Mike Mussina.
Edgar hit at least .500 off 243 different pitchers, and 1.000 off 75 different pitchers.
He had the third most doubles in the majors in the 1990s, with 358, six behind Mark Grace, the MLB leader for the decade.
He had at least a .400 OBP in 11 of his 13 full seasons.
And here is my response to the article:
"As I have stated previously, if Edgar had played in NY, Boston or LA, with those numbers he would be a shoo-in first ballot nominee.
I have read articles by national sportswriters extolling Edgar's accomplishments, hoping to sway voters to cast him on their ballots.
Just because he doesn't have the magic 3000 hits, or 400+ homers doesn't mean he isn't worthy of being in the HoF. His career stats tell voters everything they need to justify his induction.
As the player that defined superlative at the DH position, a player who is named on the DH of the Year Award, and a player who was the very best right-handed hitter I ever saw in my 40+ years of watching ball, Edgar Martinez has earned the right to be called Hall of Famer."
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