(Site note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game here. To read Loyal Homer’s argument about Manny being banned from the All-Star game should he be voted in, click here.)
Welcome to Week 2 of The Sports Debates. Thanks for checking back, or for visiting the first time. If you are a first time visitor, you lucky devil, then you may want to check out our first two debates: The Jake Peavy Debate, and The NBA Championship Debate. You can also follow us on Twitter, and check out our Overtime blog where we can all rant or rave (mostly rant) about anything sports related.
Before we move on to today’s debate, I must regretfully inform everyone that Loyal Homer has won a debate, moving his record to 1-1. Loyal Homer’s argument that the LA Lakers will win the NBA received the most votes, a whopping 61% compared to 14% for Bleacher Fan’s (0-1) Cavs argument (whoops) and 25% for Sports Geek’s (1-1) well-reasoned, likely prescient breakdown of why the Orlando Magic will win it all. Let’s pay special attention to this, so we can all make fun of Loyal Homer and Loyal Homer’s Mom (who likely made up the majority of his votes… besides the voters from SilverScreenAndRoll – best blog name ever!).
Now, onto today’s debate, The Manny Ramirez All-Star Debate.
LA Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez is currently suspended for 50-games due to a positive test for performance enhancing drugs. He’s due to return July 3 – a week before the MLB All-Star game. Usually that doesn’t matter because rational thought would seem to dictate that a steroid-using player doesn’t stand a chance of getting voted into the All-Star game by the fans. Unless that steroid-using player is Manny Ramirez. He’s currently fourth in voting for the outfielders in the game (fellow roid-user and Milwaukee Brewer center fielder Mike Cameron, is fifth. He was suspended for 25 games at the beginning of the 2008 season.). This raises a number of compelling questions to debate. The most important question however, is this:
If Manny Ramirez is voted into the All-Star game, does he have a legitimate right to play in the game?
How close is Manny to getting in? Currently, he has 442,763 votes, just 34,080 votes behind New York Mets ourfielder Carlos Beltran. There’s even a Vote For Manny website devoted to ensuring he gets into the All-Star game.
This debate can, and should, go in a number of different directions. You may discuss the viability of the fans determining who gets in to the All-Star game. You may discuss the sordid steroid past (present??) of Major League Baseball. You may discuss Manny being Manny. You may wish to make dreadlock jokes (though I’d advise against it). Nothing is off limits provided it is relevant to the core question – would Manny’s potential inclusion in the All-Star game be legitimate?
I flipped a coin, and it landed with the side that has a picture of Bleacher Fan on it facing up. Therefore, side 1 is the Bleacher Fan, who will argue that Manny’s inclusion in the game would be legitimate. Side 2 is the Loyal Homer, who will argue that Manny’s inclusion in the game would be illegitimate.
May the best debater win.
Read Bleacher Fan’s first post here.
the-manny-ramirez-all-star-debate
I think they should make a rule where players suspended that season as a result of performance-enhancing substances are banned from the All-Star Game. However, since they don’t have that rule now I don’t see how they can overturn the fan vote.
I don’t agree with it, but I don’t see where they would have the grounds to shut out Manny at this point
Cool debate, by the way.
Hey Matt, great comment and interesting opinion. Should Bud Selig have the authority to intervene here? Can a rule be made and applied retroactively? Should that be the case?
I’m curious about where the debaters will take this topic.
If I was the commissioner I would let him play. I mean it was just a little juice! How many other guys out there are jazzed up that haven’t been caught yet (David Ortiz, Bud Selig, Joe Torre, Slider). If he can’t go then how will he be able to hook up with all the lady news reports from ESPN and get to play in the celebrity game?! I personally have voted for him several times and have encouraged all my co-workers at the Los Angeles Avoiders (we lay cable) to vote for him too. So visit the Vote for Manny website and do the right thing.
I’m not sure how to respond to that, other than to say… “Interesting Take”
Sammy, I love this comment, especially as the judge for this debate. I can start to get a clearer picture of why folks are voting FOR Manny. I like the reasoning.
Haha, Selig on roids!
Sammy, you just gave us all a good laugh!!!
Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny being a legit participant in the All-Star game is live! http://thesportsdebates.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/the-manny-ramirez-all-star-debate-–-he-should-playsanjaya’s-back/
Jump over and comment!
[...] a Cheater, Selig Should Step In (Site note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game [...]
[...] Should Play!/Sanjaya’s Back (Site note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game [...]
All you Brewers fans are stuffing the ballot box! I am impressed!!!
Who knew there were enough Brewers fans leftover from Ryan Braun to vote for Cameron??
[...] note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game here. To read Loyal [...]
[...] note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s first argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game here, the second [...]
[...] note: to read the judge’s intro to this debate, click here. Read Bleacher Fan’s first argument in favor of Manny’s inclusion in the game here, the second [...]
Hello, can you please post some more information on this topic? I would like to read more.
What would you like to know?