Opinion Corner: Jackson criticism off base

Talk about it

When it comes to the Yankees, it seems like you have to love them or hate them.

No matter where you live, you can find Yankee fans everywhere.

I actually admire the fact that they plow a lot of money into their team, while many of their fellow billionaire owners pinch pennies and pocket a sizeable portion of the revenues produced.

I will say the hot dogs at Yankee Stadium are the worst I’ve ever had, however. I’ve been to several ballparks, but the cold, soggy, tube of meat I was served wrapped in an equally damp slice of bread was a wreck. This was at old Yankee Stadium, although it happened on two separate occasions. Maybe in their new palace they’ve progressed to a more edible version.

Prior to Monday, there wasn’t anything to rail on the Yankees about, but it was spectacularly hypocritical when they gave legendary slugger Reggie Jackson a verbal spanking when his only sin was telling the truth.

In an interview last week, Reggie essentially said juicers like Alex Rodriguez should not be in the Hall of Fame, which is 100 percent true. Whether it’s A-Rod, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens or the hundreds of other confirmed cheaters, you don’t get both the cash and Cooperstown. The Hall of Fame is for players that did not ravage their bodies with illegal drugs.

Ironically, the Yankees currently employ admitted HGH user Andy Pettitte. Additionally, 20 Yankees were listed in the 2007 released Mitchell Report, MLB’s investigation into the steroid era — the early 1990s until 2007ish — during which time New York won four of its 27 World Series titles.

There was some conjecture in media circles Tuesday that Jackson should not be shooting his mouth off while collecting a reported $700,000 per year salary from the Yankees. But what the heck does that have to do with anything? Is it hush money?

First off, shooting off his mouth is what Mr. October often does, but this time he happens to be right. For the Yankees to penalize him for telling the truth while employing cheaters is quite the contradiction.

Jackson, of course, is not the type to be silenced even by the mighty Yankees, especially with The Boss — George Steinbrenner — no longer around.

If they really want to punish Reggie, they should make him eat a Yankee Stadium hot dog.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, baseball, mlb