Stop Waving Your Piss Flaps!

By Pal

Former MLB all star Jack Clark

An attribute that is truly near and dear to my, as well as any journalist: Credibility- the line where one's opinion crosses over from keen observation to absurd careless remarks.

Behind the scenes of every media company small or large, executive types sit and ponder daily where the proverbial line in the sand is drawn. How far is to far? In the case of former MLB slugger Jack Clark, wild steroid accusations are out of bounds. 

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Clark recently made headlines for suggesting that 2012 AL MVP Justin Verlander was using PEDs, stating on his sports talk show that "Verlander was like Nolan Ryan, he threw 97, 98, 100 miles an hour from the first inning to the ninth inning, He got that big contract, now he can barely reach 92, 93. What happened to it? He has no arm problems, nothing's wrong. It's just the signs are there." If that wasn't enough, the former Cardinal went after another former St. Louis first baseman; Albert Pujols. Claiming to have inside information that Pujols juiced at one time. Clark went as far as to state he knew for a "fact" that this was true. 

As you might imagine Mr. Pujols did not appreciate this so called "fact," or even Clark's opinion.  In a statement released by Pujols to the St. Louis's KSDK TV, he said "I've said time and time again that I would never take, or even consider taking, anything illegal. I've been tested hundreds of times throughout my career and never once have I tested positive. It is irresponsible and reckless for Jack Clark to have falsely accused me of using PED's." But what about Clark's so called information? Well, hHe alleges that the information was given to him by a source who denies ever even discussing this with Clark. In fact, he denied any knowledge at all of Pujols taking anything. This left Clark looking foolish and embarrassed. 

Apparently WGNU felt the same way. Early Saturday morning they released word that Clark and his co-host Kevin Slaten would no longer be a part of their broadcast team.  As we argued here on WBOB Sports at length, you can not just assume a player is using or used. You may hope that they did or did not. You may have a good idea, a feeling, or even cautiously speculate. However, you must never under any circumstances accuse. Unless you have  knowledge from two creditable sources, that have been checked, rechecked and checked again. 

For ratings, attention or perhaps merely for entertainment, Clark and Slaten pushed themselves out of the "business" and into the loony bin. Having shredded all of their own credibility by wildly slinging mud without any proof.