Sunday afternoon found baseball?s finest huddled in Cooperstown to welcome Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg into their fraternity. Wait did I just say Ryne Sandberg got elected to the Hall of Fame and there is debate going on that Rafael Palmeiro might not be deserving? Speaking of debate how did I not make All-District Team my junior year but a girl from Halifax (a team we beat a collective 17-1 in three games) made second team on the men?s side? No offense to her but she wasn?t Kristine Lilly. Even so I think I would have made it over Lilly. Which might make me chauvinistic but I honestly think that I?d be able to roll out of bed tomorrow and start for the Woman?s National Team in any sport. Except for swimming I don?t know how to dive even though Nann spent an entire summer trying to teach me. And maybe softball because I?m afraid I?d find myself staring at Jennie Finch the entire time. Oh and the long distance track events because since I ?retired? from competitive sports I?ve taken up PS2 and have built my endurance by sitting on couches for long periods of time playing College Football. Which makes me wonder why T.J. can?t stop me when I play with the Hokies? I run the Hail Mary on every play and scramble with Vick. Yet he claims to have ?figured out my offense? even though as you?re reading this rant I?ve set yet another school record for rushing against him. There?s nothing to figure out T.J. I?m just better than you! But this isn?t about me not making All Conference, Kristine Lilly or even T.J.?s inept ability to stop me in Playstation. It?s about the Hall of Fame. Every player starts his career hoping to make it in the majors. Then after they realize that they?re in--they go for loftier goals. Some make them some don?t. If you?re great the Hall of Fame will be your final stop to baseball immortality. If you?re like Wade Boggs you get elected five minutes after you retire. If you?re Ryne Sandberg you wait three years to make it in. I?m assuming since the Hall first passed on Sandberg he?s laced up his cleats and belted a few more home runs and pushed the Cubs to the Playoffs? Apparently not. So Ryno went from not quite making the Hall of Fame to sharing the stage with arguably baseball?s best hitter since Ted Williams. All this by doing nothing more. Sounds like my career path. How is this possible? I realize it?s a great honor to make the Hall of Fame. But if you don?t make it the first time what makes you worthy three, ten, or twenty years later? It?s a slap in the face to the players already enshrined that someone can wait until a weak class emerges and sneak some extra votes. (NOTE: This does not apply to Don Mattingly or Shawon Dunston). If you don?t make the Hall the first time, you should say thank you and move on. Granted this might lead to one year when no one is elected to the Hall of Fame. GASP! Would baseball fans ever be able to live one summer without drawn out acceptance speeches that all sound the same? I tell you what if this happens call me up and I?ll tell the story of my dad who after seeing me swing and miss at ball four watched the ensuing pitch drill me in my elbow. As I?m wincing in pain on the ground he shook his head and said, ?See that?s why you don?t swing at a pitch in the dirt? and walked away. My father the originator of Keeping it Real. You gotta love him and baseball. -Craig Settimo is a contributing writer for realgm.com and can be reached at [email protected].