Sports43 FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016 Griffey Jr, Piazza elected to Hall of Fame

NEW YORK: Ken Griffey Jr was considered Mr Clean during 22 years in , untainted by accusations of drug use as he climbed the home-run list during the height of the Steroids Era. He nearly made a clean sweep in the Baseball Hall of Fame voting, too. Griffey received 437 of 440 votes in his first appearance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, a record 99.3 percent. “It’s real simple,” he explained after Wednesday’s announcement. “I’ve always said that I’ve got to look my kids in the eyes and you want to play fair.” , the top offensive in MLB history, was elected, too, and will be inducted along with Griffey in Cooperstown, New York, on July 24. Among the many muscled sluggers whose accomplishments were ques- tioned during a time when chemists preyed on clubhouses, Piazza was made to wait to be induct- ed until his fourth appearance on the ballot. After falling 28 votes shy last year, he was selected on 365 votes.

‘You can say these things’ He wouldn’t say whether he was upset about being sullied by suspicions. “That’s the freedom we have,” Piazza said. “You can say these things, and that’s the country we live in.” Griffey topped the previous high voting percentage of 98.84, set when appeared on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992. A player needs to appear on 75 percent of bal- lots to gain election. missed by 15 votes and by 23. , sec- ond on the career saves list and appearing on the ballot for the first time, was 34 short. Total ballots dropped by 109 from last year after writers who NEW YORK: In this Aug 26, 2000, file photo, ’ Jay Bell is tagged out at home plate by have not been active for 10 years were eliminated under a rules change by the Hall’s board of direc- catcher Mike Piazza in the fourth inning of a baseball game. — AP tors. With a younger average electorate, Roger MLB in 2003, should eliminate the possibility of and became the first No 1 to make the Hall. father’s old team and the area he grew up in- after Clemens rose to 45 percent and to 44 stigma for the current generation of players. Piazza was taken by the with the 1999 season. But slowed by injuries, he never percent, both up from about 37 percent last year. “There won’t be any questions and you’ll know the 1,390th pick on the 62nd round in 1988; since reached 100 RBIs again after his first season with Clemens has denied using performance-enhanc- from here on out,” he said. Some players who the MLB draft started in 1965, the lowest draft pick the Reds, and he moved on to the Chicago White ing drugs, and Bonds said he never knowingly admitted using steroids claimed they chose the elected to the Hall had been , taken Sox in 2008 before spending his last season with took any banned substances. needle because of pressure to compete. Griffey with selection 574 on the 22nd round in 1985. the Mariners. Piazza made his MLB debut with the “They were Hall of Famers before all this stuff said he never was tempted. “It crystallizes how special this game is,” Piazza Dodgers in 1992 before being dealt to Florida in started,” Griffey said. Mark McGwire, who admit- said. “It separates it from other sports. Athletic tal- 1998 and then traded to the Mets. ted using steroids, received 12 percent in his 10th Special game ent definitely helps, but it’s not the only thing that He played for the Mets’ 2000 and final ballot appearance. Half of MLB’s top 10 “I also had a dad that said you’re never going can make you successful.” Griffey was known sim- championship team and remained with New York home-run hitters are not in the Hall of Fame: to be the biggest, you’re never going to be the ply as “Junior” by many as a contrast to his father, through 2005, hitting a memorable go-ahead Bonds (762), Alex Rodriguez (654), strongest and you’re never going to be the three-time All-Star outfielder Ken Griffey, who in the first game in New York following (612), Sammy Sosa (609) and McGwire (583). fastest,” he said. “There’s always going to be played alongside him in Seattle during 1990 and the 2001 terrorist attacks. He better than .300 Rodriguez, who served a yearlong drug suspen- someone in each of those categories, but the one ‘91. The younger Griffey became a 13-time All-Star in nine straight seasons and finished with 427 sion in 2014, remains active. Thome’s first appear- thing they can’t do is outwork you.” Griffey and outfielder and finished with 630 homers, sixth on home runs, including a record 396 when he was in ance on the ballot will be in 2018. Piazza had contrasting paths to stardom. Griffey the career list. Wanting to play to his home the game behind the plate. A 12-time All-Star, Griffey believes drug-testing, which began in was selected first in the 1987 amateur baseball in Florida, he pushed for a trade to Cincinnati - his Piazza had a .308 career average. — AP Buccaneers fire coach Smith after two losing seasons

TAMPA: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tripled their victory total from Winston joining Andrew Luck and Cam Newton as the only players the previous year, and new quarterback Jameis Winston had a since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to throw for 4,000 yards as rookies. strong rookie season. Still, it wasn’t enough to coach Lovie But they lost five of their last six games, including the final four to fin- Smith’s job. Smith was fired Wednesday after going 6-10 this season ish last in the NFC South for the fifth straight season. and 8-24 overall in two years running a team that has missed the “You’d like to have a quick fix, but that just wasn’t part of the NFL playoffs eight consecutive years. process,” Smith said earlier this week. “When you get to 6-6 in a sea- The late-night announcement came as a surprise because son, it makes you think that maybe you’re a little bit further along Smith’s job was not considered to be in danger after the Bucs and we can get it done. But in the end, we weren’t quite there.” For improved from two wins last season and briefly contended for a the first time, the Bucs ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in total wild-card playoff berth with Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the offense and defense, but they struggled to get the ball into the end draft, starting every game. zone, ranking 20th in total points scored. They were also 26th in “This decision was difficult on a variety of levels,” Buccaneers co- scoring defense, allowing 24 or more points 10 times. The Bucs chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. “I am disappointed that we gained over 500 yards twice and averaged a team-record 375.9 were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are com- yards per game. Martin finished second to Adrian Peterson for the mitted to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team NFL rushing title, and Mike Evans had another big year with 74 they deserve. “ General Jason Licht will oversee the search receptions for 1,206 yards, but only three TDs. for a new coach. Nevertheless, Smith reiterated his belief that the team is headed TAMPA: Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith in the right direction. “Our football team isn’t a finished product yet, walks off the stage after his end of the season news con- ‘Quick fix’ but I think it’s safe to say that we’re in pretty good shape going for- ference. — AP Smith led the Chicago Bears to the NFC title in 2006 before losing ward with (Winston) leading us, on and off the field,” he said. But the to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. He was 84-66 in nine seasons with Bucs will move ahead without Smith, the team’s third coach since to its only Super Bowl win; none of his successors have had an over- Chicago. The Bucs showed some improvement this season with Jon Gruden was fired after the 2008 season. Gruden led Tampa Bay all winning record in Tampa. — AP