Perusing the STLtoday.com sports forums is a luxury I wish I could enjoy more often. And when I do, I’m sure the forum faithfuls would rather I be out of there. Nonetheless, many of the posters do in the forums what I do in the blog: search for coverage beyond the STL Sports Nation borders and share it with the rest of the citizenry. It also reminds me now and then to see what the faithful are discussing, add my two cents and let the citizenry add two more cents — if they so choose — in a comment on the blog.

On Tuesday, I caught the McGwire/USA Today article thread started by Jwither in Cards Talk and could hardly refuse the chance to comment. Monday’s USA Today story, “McGwire maintains silent presence, quietly helps hitters”, by Bob Nightengale was solid reporting and a good read. Don’t know if it was to recall, rehash or celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Home Run Chase (where’s the Sammy Sosa piece?), but it still shows that reporters and fans still have a Big Mac interest, as demonstrated by the nearly 200 comments on the story, with many STILL coming down on him for alleged steroids use. That gets to me, and I’ve never made it a secret that it does.

Again, I’m an innocent-until-proven-guilty guy. The key being “proven” in what some may call tired, old rhetoric. Naysayers ALWAYS point to Andro. Hindsight, after-the-fact guilt isn’t justice. If it was important for baseball to ban it, they should have done so before, not after they let players take it without recourse. His 2005 St. Patrick’s Day testimony before Congress? Regrettable, but NOT proof!

Find me proof — REAL proof — then I’ll change my tune. Until then, remember the season, remember the career and remember the impact Mark David McGwire had on baseball in St. Louis and the game’s best fans.

* * * * * *

When June 2008 ended Monday, it signaled the Rams Training Camp countdown from months and weeks to weeks and days. Not lost on the fact was a pair of postings from chaos3430 on the home team with SportingNews.com articles to share with the Rams Talk fans. One post submitted a Vinnie Iyer blog article, “Rams’ burning question: A much better show on turf?”, reviewing and previewing the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The other post highlighting, “Camp Countdown ‘08: St. Louis Rams”, by Post-Dispatch Rams beat writer Jim Thomas, for the Sporting News Rams coverage.

Mr. Spock-type thinking leads to this logic: the Rams have nowhere to go but up. But in reality, there’s always the 2007 Miami Dolphins, they of the 0-13 start and 1-15 season. I think the ‘08 Rams have to be a playoff team, or a fan revolt will be in order.