Berkman, who has been an outspoken critic against the role of performance-enhancing drugs, is not surprised regarding Mark McGwire's shocking (SHOCKING!) news that he took steroids (Note: Lance wasn't surprised when Sosa's name was leaked. Nor was he surprised when Manny was suspended. And he was pissed when A-Rod's name was leaked. Why don't we just ask Lance who else he thinks is on the juice?):
On McGwire
“That doesn't surprise me. I don't think it will surprise anybody. I think everybody knew that. I think it's good that he came out and admitted it. It's good for him and good for the sport. It hopefully will help us get over this steroid mess. It's been a black eye for the sport. Fortunately we've been able to move past it and it hasn't been held against the sport as a whole. It's certainly a regrettable era. Clearly the quicker you can move away, the better it will be for everybody."
And what about the Hall of Fame?
"The voters can do whatever they want. But if you're going to keep McGwire out of the Hall of Fame, then A-Rod can't be in the Hall of Fame. Manny Ramirez can't be in the Hall of Fame. If you don't put Mac in the Hall of Fame on the fact you feel his career was tainted by steroids, none of those can be in the Hall of Fame. They need to apply it evenhandedly. I'd hate to see Mac take the fall for the entire steroid era.”
I agree with the first part, and totally disagree with the second. And it doesn't sound like from the link dump at the top that Lance wouldn't really care if A-Rod and Manny didn't get in to the Hall.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
