If you’re a baseball fan who has never been to Cooperstown, it is a must atop your “bucket list.” This quaint, cozy little town in upstate New York will be abuzz this weekend, as tens-of-thousands of fans make the pilgrimage to baseball’s shrine – The National Baseball Hall of Fame.

And make no mistake, the sound of cash registers ringing along Main Street and in the Hall of Fame shop will be music to the ears of baseball’s sacred community. Induction Weekend is critical to the town and its baseball monument. And, whenever a Red Sox or Yankee great is inducted, the dollars usually flow in record numbers. So with Sox legend Jim Rice and 5-year Yankee Rickey Henderson being honored, everyone will be running to the bank this year.

The question is, what about the future of this American landmark?  What effect will the steroid-era have on the Hall of Fame and Induction Weekend?

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball needs to keep honoring its greatest assets. Like no other professional sport, baseball’s tradition is part of the game itself. So, with the likes of Bonds, Clemens, McGuire, Sosa, Palmeiro – and now Alex Rodriquez and Manny Ramirez all questionable future Hall of Famers – where does that leave the business of the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Could the steroid-era be the demise of this great baseball and American tradition and the beautiful town of Cooperstown?

Without great players being inducted on a yearly basis and those registers making music on Induction Weekend, where will the revenue be generated? How long would MLB and philanthropists keep the doors open at 25 Main Street?  And even if indefinitely – or, at least until we move away from this cheating era – what about the small, independent stores and vendors in this little community?  Who will save them?

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball need to make some tough decisions in the near future regarding the fraudulent numbers these great players allegedly perpetrated on baseball and its fans. The business of Cooperstown was looking forward to the induction of these great players. Without them, they could be doomed.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and MLB cannot leave these critical decisions in the hands of baseball writers who vote for players eligible for the Hall of Fame. That burden is not their responsibility – nor should it be.

It’s time for the leaders of the game to step up and set new guidelines to ensure the business of baseball and pilgrimage to Cooperstown continues for years to come.

It’s hard to believe the MLB All-Star break is upon us. With summer yet to arrive in the northeast, the weather here still feels like NBA playoff time. When do the Lakers arrive in Boston for yet another NBA Finals? Is Garnett’s balky knee good enough to play? What…you mean we have to wait another year to see that? The addition of Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace to the Lakers and Celtics, respectively, has all but assured that rematch in 2010. But that’s for another Blog.

So, I guess it really is MLB All-Star week. For some reason the lure of the game no longer exists for me. Is it my age, or has the steroid era dampened my enthusiasm for the game and its stars? Probably a little of both.

However, for me, the game of baseball, once filled with statistics that mattered and star players who gathered yearly to put on a “show” for baseball purists, no longer exists. Oh, sure, the All-Star game now “counts,” as the winner provides its league with home field advantage for the World Series. But that, too, is a joke. Why they allow an exhibition game to carry so much weight for its historic Fall Classic is mind-boggling.

I also wonder; do the names Pujols, Utley, Beltran, Teixeira, Longoria, and Bay bring as much excitement to today’s young fans as did Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Williams, Musial and Clemente did for my generation? I hate to sound like an old fart, but I think not.

Don’t get me wrong. Players of my youth were no angels. They drank and chased women with the best (or worst) of men. We just seldom heard about it. But there was a “star power” in those days that simply doesn’t exist today. I’m sure being a kid and only getting to see baseball games on TV on weekends helped make players larger than life during those innocent years, but I think it goes beyond just that. Times have changed – and so has the game of baseball. Sadly, for the worse.

How does that song go? “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio – a nation turns its lonely eyes to you.”

Do you think Albert Pujols and his fans know Simon and Garfunkel?

Manny Ramirez, called by many the greatest right-handed hitter of his generation (along with Albert Pujols), is the latest potential casualty to become a Hall of Famer. Hit with a recent 50-game suspension for violating the MLB drug policy, Manny joins the likes of McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, Palmeiro, and A-Rod who will be keenly scrutinized for possible entry in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

McGwire’s fate seems to be determined, as he has already failed to gain sufficient votes. We’ll soon find out about a few others, as their five-year retirement from baseball approaches. The wait on Manny and A-Rod could be to their advantage, as they are years from retirement. Time can deter memory. However, whether any of these cheaters get into the Hall of Fame, they have already ruined the fabric of the game. And who’s to know whether others who have been inducted weren’t also guilty of steroid use? I have my suspicions.

What made baseball so different from other major sports was its stats. Numbers have always been part of the game. As kids, we all knew 714, 61, and 2,130. Today, those numbers have been shattered. However, can you instantly tell me what the new numbers representing those records are today? Personally, those old numbers, along with 755, are the one’s I’ll forever remember.

Unfortunately, baseball stats have gone the way of basketball and football statistics. No one knows … and no one cares.

Since the announced retirement of Curt Schilling, the question du jour is whether or not he should be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. My initial, knee-jerk reaction was no. However, I’m now having second thoughts.

I am not a stat machine, so if you’re looking for all the numbers, you can look ‘em up on numerous sites. However, what I do know is that Schilling has 216 wins; six all-star appearances; one World Series co-MVP; one of the best post-season pitching records in baseball history; and three championship rings.

A friend and colleague of mine said, “He absolutely does not belong in the Hall.” However, my friend also thinks Schilling is a blowhard – and that the blood-soaked sock was really ketchup. So, his judgment may be influenced by his disdain for him, rather than analyzing his accomplishments.

Players need not win championships to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. See Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, et al. However, those who have accomplished the feat, especially multiple times, definitely deserve consideration.

Curt Schilling has been known for speaking his mind…and, in 2004, when he stated, “I’m going to Boston to break an 86 year-old curse,” he fulfilled his brash prediction. His memorable, bloody-sock, game-six win versus the Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever witnessed. He later repeated his bloody sock heroics in a game-two World Series win versus the Cardinals when doctors, in an unprecedented procedure, made a wall of stitches to keep Curt’s tendon in place. Even if it were ketchup on his sock, Schilling later had surgery on his right ankle to repair the ruptured tendon.

And, in 2007, Schilling was part of a second Red Sox World Championship.

So, whether you like him or not…you can’t deny his accomplishments. While his 216 regular-season wins might not be Hall of Fame numbers, his post-season record of 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA might get him over the hump.

And, oh yes, there’s also those three rings.

Quick…what is the current MLB record for home runs? Be truthful, did you instantly know that Barry Bonds has 762?

For years, the number 714 was embedded in our baseball brains. Babe Ruth held the home run record from 1935 until April 8, 1974, when Aaron hit #715. Hammerin’ Hank ended his career with 755. Most also remember that number, but I’m not sure Bonds’ record has resonated in the same manner.

Ruth’s single season home run record of 60 lasted 34-years until Maris hit #61 in 1961. Bonds currently owns the single-season record with 73. Since the inception of major league baseball until 1998, the 60 home run plateau had only been attained twice. From 1998 through 2001, 60+ home runs were accomplished six times. Welcome to the steroid era.

Steroids raise numerous questions about the Baseball Hall of Fame and its induction process. Should Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Sosa and –  now, Alex Rodriquez – be inducted into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown?  Rodriquez has time on his side, but McGwire has already been shunned the past two years.

We all wait for MLB to comment on the record book and if recent steroid admissions or upcoming court cases will alter its current holy grail. However, MLB does not control the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Unquestionably, the two organizations work closely to honor baseball excellence and preserve its history, but it is not the MLB Hall of Fame. MLB can dictate what its record book states, but it doesn’t control the eligibility status of Baseball Hall of Fame’s candidates. Influence, yes. Dictate, no.

So, should the Baseball Hall of Fame make a statement on the steroid era and how (or if) it will affect future induction processes? Or, should it just let it all continue to play out? Remember, loosing Bonds, Clemens, et al as Hall of Famers will be very costly, as revenue during induction week in Cooperstown, plus the marketing of inductee products, is very important.

The tag line for The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is: Preserving History; Honoring Excellence; Connecting Generations. They need to figure out how to connect the steroid generation, while preserving baseball history in a manner which does not compromise excellence.

Good luck!

SI.com has reported Alex Rodriquez tested positive for an anabolic steroid and testosterone in 2003.  Rodriguez chose not to comment to a SI.com reporter. He stated, “You’ll have to talk to the Union.”

Is anyone really surprised? It’s disappointing, but not surprising. The only negative is that we’ll now be talking steroids again rather than the enjoyment of Spring Training.

So, we now have the greatest home run-hitter of all time, arguably the greatest pitcher of all-time (at least of his time), and, now, possibly the best all-around player of all-time, all tainted by the steroid era. What does the future hold for inductions into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Is it time for Bud Selig to take a look at the record books? Should MLB begin thinking of restoring the records held by Aaron and Maris? Should there be an asterisk on Clemens’ 354 wins? These are questions that need to be asked and answered. MLB and Selig can no longer hide their heads in the sand.

Get ready… ESPN and your favorite sports talk-radio stations will be all-over this story in the coming days. If A-Rod thought Madonna was a magnet for the media, she has nothing on a good steroid story!

The Hall of Fame Industry is one of the most prestigious industries in the world. The mission of each Hall of Fame, no matter its category, is a responsibility like no other. Honoring greatness is important to history. Unfortunately, the definition of greatness is a subjective evaluation.

In the case of Jim Rice, recently elected into The National Baseball Hall of Fame (along with Ricky Henderson), he was selected in his 15th and final year on the ballot. Rice’s election is the ultimate example of the arbitrary nature of the selection process. How was it decided that Rice is a Hall of Famer in 2009, but he wasn’t in 1995, 2000, or 2008? A Hall of Famer is a Hall of Famer, no matter the year.

I’m not here to evaluate Rice or to suggest that he does or does not belong in the Hall of Fame. I watched him play his entire career in Boston and always considered him one of the most dangerous hitters of his time. My question is: How could selected members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (the voting body for the National Baseball Hall of Fame) name Rice on only 29.8% of their ballots in his first year of eligibility in 1995 and 76.4% of ballots in 2009? How many home runs or RBI did Rice get the past 15-years to heighten his status?

Halls of Fame have a responsibility to their mission statement and history. They need to constantly reevaluate their election process and to whom they provide the honor of being involved. They also need to better define their criteria so election is less arbitrary than it appears to be today. It’s obvious that The Baseball Writers’ Association of America needs better guidance.

Maybe our government should be going to MLB for loans rather than the Peoples Republic of China. I would feel more comfortable with a $1-trillion debt to them than China (which, frightfully, it will soon be). Giving my tax dollars to Mark Teixeira as apposed to a communist nation might not be an economically sound investment, but it would certainly be more entertaining.

Sarcasm aside, are MLB owners paying attention? They appear to be throwing money around with their heads in the sand. Are they not aware of the economy and the big-3 U.S. automaker problems? Don’t MLB executives see how the automakers’ Boards of Directors let their executives and the United Auto Workers dictate their demise? The game is the same, just flip the names. Replace Board of Directors with MLB. Change GM, Ford, and Chrysler to Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets. And call the UAW the MLBPA (players association). For years, auto executives couldn’t see the forest for the trees and spent their way to failure. They wouldn’t stand up to the union, thus payroll got out of control. Sound familiar?

We can talk about foolish baseball owners and the oft-used quote, “If they couldn’t afford it, they wouldn’t pay it.” That carries some truth. But when compensation to players are open books, which is precisely what unions want, contracts get out of control. If you’re not a union person, do you know exactly what the workers next to you are being paid?

Unions had their place in time, but times have changed. I’m all for buying American, however, many American products have become inferior due to the need to cut cost-of-goods to supplement payroll and hit competitive price points. However, Americans want both affordable prices and quality. Hence, they can’t buy American. They buy Toyota and Honda.

I recently read a column by a New York sports writer regarding the Yankees spending $161 million on C. C. Sabathia. He stated, “It’s a natural progression of the market.” What market is he looking at?  The only “market” I see grossly over-spending during these difficult times is MLB (and other professional sports leagues).

MLB has been riding a wave of success for a number of years. The league is more popular than ever. However, not so long ago, the real estate market was booming too.

I hope MLB and the owners have long-term fiscal planning in place, because I don’t think corporate America will be filling their wallets as in years past.

Two players appear to be keeping the hot stove cool. MLB’s Hot Stove season is waiting for this year’s two biggest free agents to make their moves. The word in Vegas, where another MLB General Manager’s meeting is taking place at the luxurious Bellagio, is once Teixeira and Sabathia ink new deals, the flood gates will open.

Sabathia, sitting on a six-year, $140 million offer from the Yankees, supposedly favors residence on the west coast. However, can the Dodgers, Angels, or Giants really compete with the Yankees in a bidding war? If the Yankees weren’t so desperate for pitching, they’d put a deadline on their offer and call Sabathia’s bluff regarding a Pacific Ocean view. But that won’t happen. However, can the Dodgers really let Manny Ramirez leave, and then sign C.C. to a long-term deal at Manny-money? Mannywood fans would be outraged. The Giants certainly can’t outbid the Yankees, so they would need a real hometown discount to sign him. The Angels can compete with the Yankees, but at the expense of loosing Teixeira? I doubt they can afford both.

It will be interesting to see which is more important to Sabathia – money or the California lifestyle. For what it’s worth, I’d take less dough and be “California Dreamin’” over the Bronx. After all, what’s a little less at these ridiculous numbers? Plus, I’ve been to both places…and there is no choice.

Regarding Teixeira, get ready for an A-Rod type contract. The Red Sox appear serious about pursuing the gold-glove, high OBP, slugger. And when you add the Yankees and Angels into the bidding war, he’s sure to break the bank. There will be no financial crisis conversation with Boros when it comes to negotiations about Teixeira.

So let’s get on with it already. It’s December, and the stove needs to get hot. Hell, spring training is right around the corner….at least that’s what the snowbirds are telling me.

It’s October, so when does the World Series begin? I’ve been fiddling with my remote for days, yet can’t find it anywhere. When do the Dodgers-Red Sox start? I’m anxious for Manny, Nomar, and Lowe to make their return trip to Fenway. Is MLB giving Beckett time to recover from his oblique problem?

I know FOX is foaming at the mouth for the LA-Boston match-up. They’re thanking their lucky stars the Phillies and Rays didn’t win. What nightmare TV-ratings that match-up would give. Other than the Florida Gulf Coast, Philly, and South Jersey, no one would watch. And, can you imagine what type of rating they’d get if a game in Philly had a rain delay, and the game didn’t begin until 10 pm? Ouch!

Whenever it begins, I’m picking the Sox in 5. Beckett and Lester will dominate. As for Manny, he better get ready for an earful when he gets to “Friendly Fenway.” Quitting on teammates was a big no-no in Red Sox Nation. His presence belongs in LA with all the other actors out there.

So, please, someone let me know when the World Series begins. I don’t want to miss it.