Sports and the Question of Forgiveness
How will we feel if next summer in Cooperstown, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Carlos Beltrán receive Hall of Fame plaques? There's also speculation about whether the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will act if Chauncey Billups is convicted for his alleged involvement in gambling and money laundering.
Hall of Fame Expulsions and Forgiveness
Simpson was never removed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Alan Eagleson remains the only person expelled from any of the four major sports Halls of Fame. In 1998, Bobby Orr’s corrupt agent resigned from the Hockey Hall just before the board was to expel him.
Baseball's Current Climate of Forgiveness
Today, baseball appears to lean heavily toward forgiveness. Alex Cora, regarded as one of the best managers in Red Sox history, seems to have escaped lasting consequences for his involvement in the 2017 Astros' cheating scandal. Both Cora, then an Astros bench coach, and manager A.J. Hinch were suspended for a year by MLB, but they have returned to managing playoff teams without much public scrutiny.
"Alex Cora is one of the great managers in Red Sox history and his unfortunate role in the 2017 Astros’ cheating scandal seems to have gone away."
Additional Thoughts
This trend raises questions about how sports institutions handle ethical breaches and whether forgiveness might overshadow accountability in future Hall of Fame decisions.
Author's summary: Sports institutions seem increasingly forgiving of past controversies, raising concerns about ethics and accountability in Hall of Fame selections.