Editorial: Out of juice, out of luck

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.

M ark McGwire's snub by electors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame hopefully sends a message to Major League Baseball and professional athletes: America doesn't like cheaters.

Baseball's steroid scandal torpedoed McGwire's bid because neither he, nor baseball, has provided a convincing argument as to whether the behemoth sluggers, who in the past 20 years have put up astronomical numbers, did so by using juice.

Ranking seventh on the all-time home run list with 583, McGwire certainly has the numbers to get in on his first try this year, but failed to garner even a quarter of the votes. The electors take integrity and character into account as well as statistics.

Integrity and character have been lacking in the sport. Take McGwire's 2005 testimony before a congressional panel investigating steroid use in baseball. Asked about former teammate Jose Canseco's accusation that he took steroids, McGwire - who had admitted to using a once-legal substance that was a precursor to anabolic steroids - wouldn't directly answer, saying, "I'm not here to talk about the past."

Another star who testified, Rafael Palmeiro, jabbed a finger in the air and denied using steroids. Five months later Palmeiro tested positive, although he said he did not "intentionally or knowingly" take them - the same defense used by slugger Barry Bonds.

The bottom line is this: Fans want someone to remember the sandlot plea, "Cheaters never win!" The Hall of Fame voters did.