Ernie Banks To Sammy Sosa: "Come Clean"

Ernie will be 79 on Sunday.

over 2 years ago Al Yellon 57 comments 0 recs |

Comments

I highly doubt Cubs fans would be willing to embrace him again.

Even if Ernie was the one helping him.

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Jan 25, 2010 2:00 PM CST reply actions

depends on, in what capacity....singing 7th inning stretch, yeah....hitting coach, no. but that's just my opinion.

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Jan 25, 2010 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't want him as a hitting coach even if he was clean.

by TJ11 on Jan 25, 2010 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Struck out too much, only hit homers. I’d love to see him welcomed back to Wrigley though

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Jan 26, 2010 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

I still embrace him as a Cub

one week won’t destroy what he did for this franchise

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 2:56 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

we all have made mistakes

why cant Sosa? shit happens, lets move forward.

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 25, 2010 3:36 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with you. Just think some owning up should be done first.

People forgave ARod and Pettitte.

I just hope whenever Sosa comes clean, he does a better job than McGwire did.

Don’t hide behind lawyers or carefully worded statements. Just come out with it. Cub fans will come back to you.

by TJ11 on Jan 25, 2010 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

I frown upon him for using PED's

Yes, it is obvious that he used them. Look at his home run totals, and they are too bloated to be “normal.” But, he had a pretty solid year for a normal RF in 2004. If he had dressed to play that last game, then there would never be an issue of his immature move, and the fanbase would still love him (even though most still do). The issue was simply thrown into the Chicago media fire which caused it to explode.

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

+1

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jan 25, 2010 3:36 PM CST up reply actions

Even Ernie Banks thinks you are full of it with Sosa.

by TJ11 on Jan 25, 2010 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

plus I dont like the company I'm with :(

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Jan 25, 2010 4:10 PM CST up reply actions

That's so sweet!

by TJ11 on Jan 25, 2010 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

I hear what you're all saying...

…and I totally respect your opinion. :) Actually after reading about all this the past few days, the stone my opinion was carved in has softened quite a bit.

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Jan 25, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

well I think they shouldn't embrace the fact he most likely used PED's

but that one week (literally one game) in 2004 shouldn’t represent his tenure with the Cubs

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

Well I might be willing to forgive him, but I was under the impression....

…that the majority of you weren’t. I see I was wrong.

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Jan 25, 2010 8:35 PM CST up reply actions

I'd say there is a strong minority against Sammy Sosa

but I don’t think most of Cubsnation hates him..yet..

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

Not totally wrong.

I haven’t forgiven him yet for the corked bat. I think it would be safe to say I wouldn’t forgive him for steroids. I’m willing to bet there are many others like me who would not be embracing him anytime soon.

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Jan 26, 2010 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

Mythbusters says that cork actually saps power.

The bat is lighter, but the corck actually absorbs a lot of the impact, therefore, the ball doesn’t go as far.

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Jan 26, 2010 6:09 PM CST up reply actions

I always wondered about that

cuz i saw that and I understood their work on it, but Louisville Slugger shows it to be different with a slight increase but so minimal not worth it. I trust Louisville Slugger, as they would know how it is done more precise IMHO

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 26, 2010 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

which makes me think

it was even dumber on his part than I thought

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Jan 26, 2010 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

+ a lot

by LT on Jan 26, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions

most interesting thing ...

the Cubs sent Ernie to the DR to talk to Sosa.

Second most interesting thing: They did it without checking if Sosa was there first.

by elgato on Jan 25, 2010 2:17 PM CST reply actions

It's not clear to me...

…whether the Cubs sent Banks to the DR specifically to talk to Sosa or whether he was sent there for other reasons and Ernie sought out Sammy on his own. The latter circumstance might explain why Sammy wasn’t there at the time.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Jan 25, 2010 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

I did read the sentence twice in the linked article, but it reads as if Banks was sent there for some undisclosed reason, and he took it upon himself to seek out Sosa.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jan 25, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

ah

by elgato on Jan 25, 2010 4:05 PM CST up reply actions

Did I not read

that there was a Convention round 2 in the DR? Reason for the trip?

There goes one over the fence...a Tru-Link fence.

by truelinkfence on Jan 25, 2010 8:17 PM CST up reply actions

I know Ernie loves a good cause.

But I think he’s fighting a losing battle on this one. Sammy has nothing to gain by admitting anything, unlike McGwire, who I think was probably nudged by the Cardinals front office to make some kind of admission since he had been re-hired by the team. Ernie is simply betting that Sammy goes with his conscience, and if anyone else is betting on that, well, I’m not going to the track with them. However, if anyone will align himself with those odds, it’s Ernie. After all, he predicted a pennant every season he played with the Cubs and prior to 1967, the odds of that happening were somewhat comparable to finding the Holy Grail and catching the Loch Ness Monster with a fishing pole….in the same day.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Jan 25, 2010 2:26 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Disagree slightly that Sammy would have nothing to gain.

Essentially, the baseball world believes Sammy did do steroids. As such, his legacy in all forms is already tarnished. He has about a 1% chance of being a Hall of Famer if he doesn’t come clean.

I think there is a chance that years later some of these guys that do come clean will be forgiven. On the other hand, the ones who are assumed to have used (Bonds, Sammy, Clemens) and still deny, will simply be blackballed.

With Big Mac coming “clean”, even with a number of holes appearing in his explanation, this is the absolute PERFECT time for Sammy to come clean. While Big Mac is back in the game, Sammy might be able to slide a little bit if he comes out and is fully honest. It will be a rough patch after he comes clean, but IMO it is the best chance for him to be forgiven.

by fsuapollo on Jan 25, 2010 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

This couldn't possibly be true.

He has about a 1% chance of being a Hall of Famer if he doesn’t come clean.

Sosa isn’t McGwire, who was a borderline case for the Hall to being with. Sosa should be a shoe-in for the hall, and has nothing to gain from coming out until after he is either voted in or at least has a better idea of his chances.

by Wreckard on Jan 25, 2010 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Honestly....

I think all of the players associated with PED’s, the “poster boys” if you will (McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, Palmeiro, Oritz, maybe even A-Rod) will all have HOF results very similar to McGwire. Right in the 20-30% range, at least for a long time. And that’s whether they admitted or not. I think McGwire’s numbers will go down next year after admitting, so my guess is, you’re not going to see any of these other guys crack, especially the ones who are out of the game. My opinion? They all keep their numbers. But the numbers have a * (liked to PED use) next to them, and they are all out of the HOF. If they can keep Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe out, none of these guys belong.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Jan 25, 2010 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

We shall see.

IMO, there is way too big of a cloud over Sammy for voters to put him in… or even close to being in.

Simply stated, Sammy is perceived to be guilty… much like Bonds is perceived to be guilty.

If I were advising Sammy… I would tell him to come clean now for this reason: if he keeps quiet until after a year or two of not making the HOF, his level of forgiveness would be much lower as voters would believe he is only coming clean to try and reach the HOF. On the other hand, if he comes clean now… and voters still have a couple years to sit on it and see others come to light, there may be more of a sentiment that “well, he cheated, but so did most everyone else… and he was one of the best of his era” which might get him in.

And if McGwire were thought to be clean, he would be a sure fire HOF, not a borderline case. Please note, I’m not saying I would assuredly put him amongst the games all-timers, but IF he were clean, his 583 HRs would put him in, without a doubt.

by fsuapollo on Jan 25, 2010 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

In Bonds case however there are mounds of evidence against him

Sosa is simply guilty by speculation. He has never been tangibly linked to steroids.

I think if the HOF voters don’t vote him in it will say more about them than him.

McGwire’s treatment in the media has sent a message loud and clear to other players with syringe-shaped skeletons in their closets: admissions of steroid use will be met with outrage and condemnation, not forgiveness or understanding. What about McGwire’s coming out party would make anyone want to follow in his footsteps? What exactly has he gained?

by Wreckard on Jan 25, 2010 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

the size of Bonds head tells enough of the story IMHO

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 25, 2010 5:25 PM CST up reply actions

Like I said...

Of course things will be bad right around the time a player admits. But IMO, over time, perceptions will change slightly.

I believe eventually people, including HOF voters, will look at the era and figure they need to acknowledge who the best players of a dirty era were.

As for Sosa, most people seem to consider his “no hablo Ingles” performance to be evidence of a guilty conscious and his corked bat as evidence of a willingness to cheat. Whether those are reasonable conclusions probably doesn’t matter to voters.

by fsuapollo on Jan 25, 2010 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

I believe eventually people, including HOF voters, will look at the era and figure they need to acknowledge who the best players of a dirty era were.

See as how this has yet to happen with any steroid case I’ll just say I’ll believe it when I see it. Giambi has been forgiven due to his candor but he wasn’t a HOF case anyway.

by Wreckard on Jan 26, 2010 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

plus each era has a black eye of some sort

this era just happened to have internet to bring it to everyones attention a million times over

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 26, 2010 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

I'm thinking it is more like 20 years down the line.

We haven’t seen anything yet because McGwire is the only sort of legitimate case for HOF entry… and there hasn’t even been a vote since his admission.

I don’t think much will change in the short term… change will take time.

by fsuapollo on Jan 26, 2010 10:06 PM CST up reply actions

Sammy Sosa won't get 30% of the Hall of Fame vote

To suggest he is keeping quiet so as not to compromise his chances of getting into the Hall is ridiculously goofy.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Jan 25, 2010 5:50 PM CST up reply actions

Of course he's running silent to keep from skewing what

HOF chances he has.

Unless better “proof” than the test leak comes out, Sammy will say nothing until the first ballot results from his HOF eligibility are released. If he then believes he improves his chances of being inducted by coming clean, he will then come clean.

For a guy who can’t speak English, he’s very calculating on how he deals with the press.

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Jan 26, 2010 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

Um, ok. I said he has nothing to gain by coming out.

Please state what he has to gain.

by Wreckard on Jan 26, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

How about starting down the path of restoring CREDIBILITY and HONOR

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Jan 26, 2010 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

Am I the only one who wonders if Sammy is watching the reaction to McGwire to help him decide what to do.

Sammy has essentially disappeared off the face of the baseball earth. We don’t hear a peep from him. He apparently wants to live the rest of his life in the DR (and supposedly helping out people in Haiti) only coming here once in awhile to attend events like the one where he looked bizarre.

2/18/2010 B&B become a We

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 26, 2010 8:10 AM CST up reply actions

What...does he have a grown beard or something?

hey oh…

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 2:56 PM CST reply actions

Ernie is great...

… but he needs to keep out of the serious topics. He wants to be a happy go lucky guy and thats great, but he comes off in this article as naive and well, foolish.

“I would say just what Mark McGwire did,” Banks said. “Come clean with it. Explain it to them. … Just say: ‘This is what happened.’ It is hard to do, to admit this. Just admit it and live with it and understand it. I am sure a lot of people will forgive him.”

What? McGwire didn’t come clean. He set up a whole dog and pony show where he cried for the camera and had the gall to tell us that this didn’t help him and he didn’t take the steroids to boost his production. The village idiot can see this, so when Ernie tries to put a happy on face on this, he just comes out looking naive. I wish he would have kept his mouth shut on this one.

by dmlichte on Jan 25, 2010 4:32 PM CST reply actions

The Sam-ME Sosa apologists should take Ernie's words to heart

Even the great Ernie Banks is convinced Sammy Sosa was roided up. To come public with comments of this nature really, really magnifies the truth of the matter. When was the last time Ernie critiqued a current or former Cub? Answer is NEVER.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Jan 25, 2010 5:48 PM CST reply actions

Good point.

Smells like ownership and management are having Ernie dictate the terms of how Sammy can be welcomed back.

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Jan 26, 2010 9:59 AM CST up reply actions

You forget

Sammy has far too much to lose by coming clean. The Feds could ring him up on perjury charges. He’s better off just being persona non grata right now.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jan 25, 2010 8:50 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, though I'm not sure if the DR would extridite him

Start Sean Marshall!!

by Chanman25 on Jan 25, 2010 8:54 PM CST up reply actions

Political pressure always works

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jan 25, 2010 8:57 PM CST up reply actions

so does $$$$$$ which Sosa is to them. I doubt he would be extridited IMHO

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 25, 2010 9:07 PM CST up reply actions

you honestly think...

… anyone is going to waste political capital trying to get an ex-baseball player extradited?

by dmlichte on Jan 25, 2010 9:08 PM CST up reply actions

Wasn’t there something about the statue of limitations running out on the congressional testimony for perjury when McGwire came clean?

2/18/2010 B&B become a We

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 26, 2010 8:11 AM CST up reply actions

Not for perjury in McGwire's case

McGwire never perjured himself because he never admitted to anything. I don’t know what the statute of limitations is on perjury.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jan 26, 2010 9:28 AM CST up reply actions

How did he perjure himself?

He said he never took an illegal steriod. Note steriods are legal in the DR.

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Jan 26, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

and some are legal in the US and can be prescribed

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 26, 2010 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

EXTRIDITED FOR WHAT ??

First Sosa would need to be charged with a crime . Then the country he is located in would have to agree or disagree . Then there are the extradition hearings from another country . Sammy is not going to waive extradition . Nor will he be charged with anything but possession of a corked bat .

by cubs north on Jan 26, 2010 12:18 AM CST reply actions