A Historic Moment

This week we had the rare opportunity to take part in a historic event. Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration of the 44th President, Barack Obama, is one we will tell our children’s children about. Regardless of your political stance, it is important to reflect upon America’s desire for hope and change.  Americans as a whole can take pride knowing that no matter what walk of life someone comes from, they stand united in supporting the historic event.Â

It is not clear what  exact impact this changing of the guard will have on sports, but I hope and believe that we will see the same desire for unity. The sports world has come a long way  in breaking racial barriers and discrimination. However, I desire a day when we speak not of a player’s ability or character based on his nationality or race but on the individual himself.Â

Again, this week was truly a historical moment. As the festivities and hoopla wind down Americans, Canadians, and people around the world will be watching with a hopeful eye that the man behind the ever powerful words and glinting smile is truly the right person to lead the United States of America.

I wish you the best of luck in achieving the goals you have set forth. Remember, it is the peaks and valleys in life that reveal a person’s true character. With this said Mr. President, you face a tough task ahead, and the world waits in anticipation.

I will see you next week,

Thanks,Â

Spencer Miller

Congrats Rice and Ricky

This week I would like to talk about the baseball Hall of Fame class of 2009 that was just recently announced this week. Jim Rice, a Red Sox legend, who was finally inducted into the hall on his fifteenth and final ballot and the best leadoff man of all time, Rickey Henderson.Â
Congratulations to them both, they do in fact deserve it. However, I would be remissed if I didn’t mention how extremely pleased I am of the baseball HOF selection commitee for getting something as prestigious as this seemingly correct year in and year out; and not getting entirely caught up in the spectacle of the sport and some of its astonishments and focusing on the people truly deserving to be there.Â
The best example I can give to you is the omission of Mark McGwire. He has been eligible to enter the hall for the last three years and by all statistical accounts, havinbg 200 more home runs than the aforementioned Jim Rice, should be a no-brainer first ballot hall of famer. However, unfortunately for Mr. McGwire he did some things that were inexcusable to virtually all of baseball’s purists.Â
On a different note, you get no argument from me that Rickey Henderson is far and away the best leadoff hitter to ever be in the major leagues. Which begs the question, if Rickey Henderson can enter the hall on I believe his first ballot, why has there been such an argument over the years that Robbie Alomar not go in first time around when clearly he is the best modern day second basemen in league history? Think about that and see you next week.
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Outrageous Salaries

Hey guys happy new year! This week I would like to talk about how I believe something needs to be put in place to prevent teams like the Yankees from creating an unfair monopoly in baseball. You see, as I stated in an earlier article, I am all for doing everything you can to improve your ball club from year to year within reason.Â
However, over the last 12 seasons the Yankees have abused that philosophy. This is never more evident than in there now 440 million dollar payroll thanks to two signings of free agents C.C. Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Naturally one would think that major league baseball would have noticed the Yankees outright payroll defiance but no league office decided to make it look like they cared.Â
The league’s current luxury tax of 30% has only effected the middle of the road franchises with small budgets. Teams such as the Yankees have laughed at the 30% tax and have treated it much like pocket change.
At the end of the day, if Major League Baseball wants to even the playing field there must be a serious change in each team’s salary distribution.
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Thanks see you next week,Â
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Spence

Happy Holidays!!!

Hello everyone!
I just wanted to take a couple of moments this week, not to talk about anything specific really but to say on behalf of everyone here at RobertoAlomar.com and Robbie himself, we would like to wish each and everyone of you a healthy, happy and safe holiday season!
But remember, while enjoying some christmas cheer with eggnog amongst other alcoholic beverages, please be responsible with what ever you choose to do, because here we want all our readers to enter the year in the best of spirits and feel the best about themselves.Â
Finally, I know there are some of you that come to this website with hopes and aspirations to one day reach the greatness that Robbie and so many otherrs were able to able to obtain. Well after reading this I would like each of you to reflect and say to yourself, “in 2009 I will do everything I can to achieve the greatness that I want, and nothing or no one will be able to stop me.”Â
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Thanks, Merry Christmas, Happy holidays and see you next week!
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What exactly is the criteria for the Hall?

Hey guys this week I would like to take a minute and talk about the debate over the hall of fame. If you have all been following my posts then you all know my feelings about Robbie getting in to the hall once he becomes eligible first ballot in 2010.Â
However, over the last few days I have started to question the selection criteria used for baseball’s hallowed hall. Now over this great games history it has not mattered if your name is Ruth, Ryan, Dimaggio, or Clemente, one thing that remanined constant is that none of theese aformentioned players recieved 100% of a vote during there induction year.
Why after years of an almost flawless induction system have you started to entertain a new system of induction? Remember as long as the greats end up together in the end that’s all that matters.
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see you next week
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