Ick's Corner

On the day that Ken Griffey Jr, the best baseball player of the last 2 decades retires, a blown umpire call trumps all? Yes, I understand that it was a blown call to cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, but when a legend retires it deserves more than just a ticker across the bottom of Sportscenter.  Major League Baseball wonders what’s happening to the fan base? You guys keep missing the boat.  Not only was Ken Griffey Jr one of the best baseball players, if not pure athletes of the last 20 years.  He has NEVER been linked to steroids, or any other performance enhancing drugs.  Let’s think about that for a moment, NEVER been linked to steroids. He played in the 90′s right? Oh, every superstar was doing steroids in the 90′s right? Jose Canseco, Roger Clemmens, Barry Bonds, Mark Mcguire, Sammy Sosa, for christ sake Wally Joyner is even in the Mitchell Report.

No, while everyone around him was sticking themselves in the ass with a needle in a clubhouse somewhere,  Ken Griffey Jr. was doing it the right way.  If people want to make athletes role models, start with Ken Griffey Jr.  He missed roughly 4 years of his career due to injury, and is still considered to be the best center fielder to EVER play the position.  If you were going to make a highlight reel that would span his entire career, how many amazing catches would be left on the cutting room floor? How many times could Stuart Scott yell *BOO-YA* for a Ken Griffey Jr catch?  Oh, by the way, steroids and HGH probably would have really helped Ken Griffey Jr get back out on the field, but, instead of traveling down that path, once again, he did it the right way.  I mean, isn’t that the normal song and dance now when someone is caught using performance enhancing drugs? *I was trying to get back out on the field. I felt I was letting my team down by being on the disabled list. *shakes head*

Keep in mind that Ken Griffey Jr. missed roughly 4 years of his career due to injury while you’re soaking in these stats.

• 13× All-Star selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993,1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004,2007)
• 10× Gold Glove Award winner (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
• 7× Silver Slugger Award winner (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
• 1997 AL MVP
• 1992 MLB All-Star Game MVP
• 2005 NL Comeback Player of the Year
• 3× Home Run Derby winner (1994, 1998, 1999)
• Major League Baseball All-Century Team

Lifetime Stats

There is not a doubt in my mind, had Ken Griffey Jr stayed healthy, he would have been the one to break Hank Aaron’s record.  In my mind, Hank Aaron still holds the homerun record.  To me that one is not even up for debate. If you’re a Barry Bonds fan, we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

So while you powers that be are trying to figure out whats happening to all your fans,  just know, once again, you BLEW it by letting Ken Griffey Jr just disappear into the sunset. You should have made a big production out of his retirement.  One of your CLEAN superstars  just retired, and he barely got a mention.  I am not the baseball fan I used to be, but I was a fan when I was growing up.  As all the players I loved to watch as a kid started being linked to steroids, at least I still had one player to hold on to. Thank you Ken Griffey Jr.  I won’t be like Major League Baseball, I will say thank you.  Thank you for playing for the love of the game. Thank you for being one of the good guys.  Most of all, thank you for the memories of a time when I used to enjoy Major League Baseball.