HOF For Shoeless Joe...And Maybe That Other Guy?

Been thinking about this for awhile now, now MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred opened the doors to the Hall of Fame for those players with a lifetime ban.

Since lifetime indicates, at least to me, a living player...well, it's about time. Most of the players who received that lifetime ban included Shoeless Joe Jackson and others from the 1919 Black Sox gambling scandal. And they have been deceased for quite some time. In all 17 former players, coaches and owners are affected by this move.

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," said Manfred. "Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve."

The passing of MLB  Pete Rose last September may have finally put this ban back on a front burner. Hard to justify having the guy with the most hits (4,192) in the game not in the hall. Of course, if Ichiro Suzuki's total of hits while playing professionally in Japan were factored in with his MLB total, he would have 4,367 hits.

Have said for years -- and my friends will back me up -- that I had no problem with Pete Rose going into the HOF after his death. He gambled on baseball games, as a player and as a manager, and knew sit was forbidden. But now, as long as he doesn't benefit from a HOF selection financially (and let's face it, Pete would do anything for a buck)...well, let him in.

The guy who truly benefits from this is Shoeless Joe Jackson. He hit above .300 in the 1919 World Series and clearly wasn't throwing the games. He was know to be illiterate, so having him read and sign any sort of "confession" was bogus.

But having the ban lifted doesn't immediately mean these players will go in. They won't be eligible until 2028 and must be approved by a special committee.

Laughing at the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they endure a will he/won't he situation with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Seems they want him, but does he want them? Only time will tell.

Enjoy the upcoming NFL season, folks, as the end of the current CBA between owners and players will expire in March of 2031. Doesn't seem that far away, but anyone who has been involved in union disputes knows that negotiations take time.

Speaking of the NFL season, dear friend Charlie wondered what I thought of the Green Bay Packers and their success, or lack of it, in the upcoming season. Took some time to look it over, pondered what the Pack might or might not be able to accomplish. Thinking 12-5 or 11-6 if all goes according to plan with health, offensive development and defensive improvement.

Team was better against the run in 2024 but needs to improve the pass rush and in the defensive backfield. Will say that keeping Jaire Alexander on the field for 17 games would be helpful.

Green Bay Was Golden In More Ways Than One

 Saw that they are still doing clean-up in Green Bay following last week's NFL draft. Thought the Packers came out strong with taking wide receiver Matthew Golden with their first pick.

Seems like Green Bay -- and the Fox Valley as well as the state -- was golden thanks to the spending of the 600,000 fans who attended the three-day event. Mild Bill, from his perch in Sonoma, CA, wondered if there were enough hotel rooms in Green Bay to accommodate the masses. I pointed out that the whole Fox Valley was booked. Hotel rooms within a 60 mile radius were probably filled, and I saw that there were shuttle busses running from Wausau, Minoqua and Appleton...

The opening day crowd of 205,000 exceeded all expectations. Hell, the TOTAL for the three days was expected to be 250,000. Weather helped snap that easily.

Had no desire to head to Lambeau Field myself, mind you. A friend (and neighbor) and his son, big on the draft, drove up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"It was amazing," noted Chad. "But they severely underestimated the number of porta potties they needed. It was like an hour-long wait no matter where you went.

"Parking was at a premium. We paid $60 to park at a school a mile away and walked over, but I heard people say they paid $100 to $150 to park in people's driveways and on lawns. We got up there about 11 in the morning (the first round started at 7 p.m.) and by the time we left, my legs were killing me from standing that long on concrete.

"But I wouldn't trade it. Cael and I had a great time being part of something we'll probably never experience again. People were great, everyone was having a good time and enjoying it. Presented Green Bay and the Packers in a great light."

Speaking of the draft, Green Bay broke with "tradition" in taking a wide receiver with the first pick, the first since 2002. And taking two in the first three rounds? Unreal, but necessary. Yes, the Packers have some talent in the wide receiver room, but keep in mind that Christian Watson is coming off knee surgery and may or may not get back this season, while Romeo Dobbs has had concussion issues that might shorten his career.

Can't have too many weapons over there for quarterback Jordan Love to play with.

The Milwaukee Bucks are done for this season, suffering a heart-breaking overtime loss to Indiana and getting bounced out of the playoffs in the first round yet again.

Losing guard Damian Lillard to a torn achilles' in game three didn't help. Injuries just seem to cripple (no pun intended) this team come playoff time. Last year it was Giannis, the year before Khris Middleton. Lillard could well be out until March of 2026, IF he comes back at all. A 34-year-old athlete bouncing back from this severe injury won't be easy. His surgery was deemed successful, so not it's a matter of time.

The big question, from pundits to fans, is whether the Bucks should trade Giannis and get lots of players & draft picks for him, or keep him for the next three years of his contract even though the team can't afford to put much talent around him.

Think you keep one of the best players on the planet, a guy who WANTS to be in Milwaukee, for as long as you can.

So Wisconsin high schools have voted to support NIL (Name-Image-Likeness) money for Wisconsin athletes. Of the 513 WIAA members, nearly 70% voted in favor the move, according to executive director Stephanie Hauser. Caught her being interviewed on a local sports talk show recently.

Seems like WIAA members are trying to get out front of the NIL issue and have some say and control in the measure -- unlike the NCAA at the college level.

The issue will likely be more challenging for rural high school athletes. We'll have to wait and see.