ESPN Radio host and long-time Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard has admitted to giving away his Baseball Hall of Fame ballot to sports-blogging website Deadspin. According to Le Batard himself, Deadspin attempted to buy his ballot but he refused in an attempt to abide by the rules. (ESPN)
Upset with the voting process, Le Batard allowed Deadspin to poll its voters as-to which players they would elect to the Hall. The ten players who received the most votes in the poll were the ten he voted for.
The journalist's actions have left many astounded and with questions. Why does he think he knows best? Why couldn't he have raised his concerns in some democratic and less controversial? What does this mean about the integrity of the system?
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz made clear in a statement that Le Batard recieved his voting right while still at the Miami Herald, and that ESPN "wouldn't have advocated his voting approach". (ESPN)
In a statement posted on--of all sites--Deadspin.com, the "hero" wrote that he is aware of the likely consequences for his actions. He stated he knows his vote will likely be stripped but wouldn't want to vote in this system without its being "reformed". (Deadspin)
This scandal has personally angered me. It seems a narcissistic and immature jerk tried to play hero and single-handedly change a system which has regulated the greatest honor a baseball player could ever have. Dan Le Batard just showed the entire baseball world how highly he thinks of himself and how desperate for attention he is. While I'll admit the system has its flaws and needs to be changed, there are respectful and systematic ways to do that. Le Batard should've added his opinion to the plethora out there and found a different path to intense and legitimate debate.
No comments:
Post a Comment