By Ian Anderson (President, Smart + Strong)
Is former second baseman Roberto Alomar HIV positive? If so, did he hide his status to engage in unprotected sex with his wife? Yes or no, congratulations are still in order for becoming the newest member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Hall of Fame after being picked on a whopping 90 percent of the ballots (75 percent is needed to get elected).
He was a 12-time All-Star, won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base, hit .300 and helped the Toronto Blue Jays win titles in 1992-93. ESPN also called him smart, graceful and acrobatic on the field.
All of the stories about Alomar's induction also cover the players who didn't get in this year because of their ties to the "Steroid Era." These are the players with big numbers and even bigger muscles.
"We are asked to consider character when casting Hall of Fame votes, and I don't believe those who used performance-enhancing substances meet that standard," Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said in an e-mail to ESPN.
The only blemish mentioned on Alomar's record? He had an incident in 1996 where he spit on umpire John Hirschbeck. It received a lot of play in the media at the time and was amicably settled in a very public display early the following baseball season.
What is missing from most of the reports I've read so far is any mention of his more recent problems. The one where his wife accused him of hiding his HIV status in order to have unprotected sex with her.
Nothing has been proved when it comes to the case. But as Yahoo! contributor Ron Hart wrote: "The facts include that Alomar has denied the allegations, though did settle one out of court and [did] not countersue for slander...all of which would give anybody pause..."
So at a time when HIV-positive people like Willie Campbell are getting jailed for spitting on people, which has virtually zero chance of spreading the virus, the Hall of Fame voting committee is more worried about who did and didn't use steroids.
On the one hand, it is encouraging that Alomar's HIV status didn't factor into the committee's decision and the media reporting of it. On the other, you have to wonder what will happen if it turns out he is HIV positive--and if that was his status when he had that little spitting incident.
Is former second baseman Roberto Alomar HIV positive? If so, did he hide his status to engage in unprotected sex with his wife? Yes or no, congratulations are still in order for becoming the newest member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He was elected to the Hall of Fame after being picked on a whopping 90 percent of the ballots (75 percent is needed to get elected).
He was a 12-time All-Star, won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base, hit .300 and helped the Toronto Blue Jays win titles in 1992-93. ESPN also called him smart, graceful and acrobatic on the field.
All of the stories about Alomar's induction also cover the players who didn't get in this year because of their ties to the "Steroid Era." These are the players with big numbers and even bigger muscles.
"We are asked to consider character when casting Hall of Fame votes, and I don't believe those who used performance-enhancing substances meet that standard," Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said in an e-mail to ESPN.
The only blemish mentioned on Alomar's record? He had an incident in 1996 where he spit on umpire John Hirschbeck. It received a lot of play in the media at the time and was amicably settled in a very public display early the following baseball season.
What is missing from most of the reports I've read so far is any mention of his more recent problems. The one where his wife accused him of hiding his HIV status in order to have unprotected sex with her.
Nothing has been proved when it comes to the case. But as Yahoo! contributor Ron Hart wrote: "The facts include that Alomar has denied the allegations, though did settle one out of court and [did] not countersue for slander...all of which would give anybody pause..."
So at a time when HIV-positive people like Willie Campbell are getting jailed for spitting on people, which has virtually zero chance of spreading the virus, the Hall of Fame voting committee is more worried about who did and didn't use steroids.
On the one hand, it is encouraging that Alomar's HIV status didn't factor into the committee's decision and the media reporting of it. On the other, you have to wonder what will happen if it turns out he is HIV positive--and if that was his status when he had that little spitting incident.
I had read the story about him having HIV and having supposedly lied to his his ex girlfriend. What you failed to mention is that his then girlfriend (now his wife) was his biggest supporter at the time of the claims by the ex-girlfriend.. I have thought from the start that it was just a big money grab by the women. I don't think that his HIV status then or now should have any bearing on his being allowed into the Hall of Fame.
When I see an article stating that spitting "has virtually zero chance of spreading the virus," I'm frankly bewildered. It's zero chance, period. Adding "virtually" to the sentence is absurd. There's not a single documented case of HIV infection via spitting. The author here is president of Smart + Strong, so he should just know better. It's simultaneously unacceptable and unforgivable that he would casually continue to spread a falsehood about HIV like this in 2011.
I think that Maripily his wife has to be very dummy to have sex with him knowing already the posibility that Robert Alomar was HIV positive because another exgirlfriend accuse him before. If you know this I think you have to be just a little intelligent not to have sex without protection. She think she is wise but she isnt.
Poor Maripily, shame on you! Good for you Alomar you deserve to be in Hall of Fame for your great job in baseball.
She just want two things
Money and Fame
I feel that we should allow him to cone out about his status an stop the bullying him. As for him be honor into the all star he earn it. Saying he took steriod which was not proofing at all. He might be in denali having HIV like so many men are in the begin. What next are we going to say he was Bi sexual if so that his business not our. This is my opinon so I not judging him this is a I GOT YOU . I respect all comment
piabout this an that you own opinon
Steroids are not good for peoples who are hiv. It brings down the t-cel.
Roberto Alomor is a dying breed in baseball terms. He was a five tool player who excelled and took as much pride in his beutifull acrobatic defense as he did his offense which was also stellar. And he didn't get caught up in trying to steroid up to inflate HR totals like so many other's. if he had,his body would have got to big to play fast and speedy defense for so long. That is why I believe he did not take steroids.
He did a horrible thing to an umpire. Also making ugly remarks about the umpires mentally handicapped child when he spat in his face. The umpir had to be restrained and Robbie had to be taken to the clubhouse to be protected from him,where the umpire gave chase.
But he seemed genuinly remorsefull. And when he retired apologized again. Is he a Jerk? We don't know. But his HIV status is his private issue. He has to live with it if he is poz and that's difficult. I know. I am poz.
As an HIV positive man I don't feel he owes it to me to come out to frther the cause. If he is Poz,and wants to then great.
Anabolic steroids are prescribed for and used by many poz patients to treat wasting. There is absolutely no evidence that anabolic steroids reduce the CD4 (t-cell) count.
"has virtually zero chance of spreading the virus," I'm frankly bewildered. It's zero chance, period
What about bleeding sores?
Isn't it still a requirement to get HIV tested before getting married. Then his Wife should have know if he had or not HIV, and even if it is not a requirement she should have still asked to get tested before marrying him. This is all a Huge plot to get easy money. Famous people should be aware a these gold-diggers, they have been here for generations. I think that the idiot is Alomar for hooking up with these women, especially his now ex-wife Maria (Maripily) who is well know for her gold-diggin ways.