The Self-Absorbed Hall of Fame

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And what of teammate Alex Rodriguez? Every time I see that poetic swing and supernatural power, I wonder how in the world he ever makes an out. But if I have to watch one more calculated hand-holding stroll with his Stepford wife and read about one more contrived public purchase of affection ($6,000 worth of jewelry at a hotel gift shop), I'm going to grab a bat and take matters into my own hands.

Then there's Rasheed (call me MeSheed) Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, who showed his true technical-colors in the defining moments of the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Or KoMe Bryant, who likely set an all-time sports talk radio – and personal pronoun -- record stating his I, I, I desire to live or die, stay or play, in L.A.

And how about Michele Mie? At a recent LPGA event, Wie Are Family withdrew after 16 holes, saying she had aggravated a wrist injury rather than face the real possibility of posting a score (88 or higher) that would have banned her from the tour for a year. Now there's a fine example for all you aspiring pros. I much prefer the story of 15-year-old MacKinzie Kline, who played in the same Ginn Tribute tournament at the special invitation of host Annika Sorenstam. Mac played all 18 and shot 89. Only she did it with serious heart defect that required use of oxygen and a cart.

Fifteen-year old MacKinzie Kline, who has a congenital heart defect, is as selfless as her teen counterpart Michelle Wie seems self-absorbed.

The No. 1 ranked 14-year-old girl in the world, Mac is so self-absorbed that five years ago she pledged to raise $1 million for the Children's Heart Foundation. When I met her and her remarkable mom and dad at a charity golf event she was hosting in New Jersey, she was within a 10-foot putt of doing it. Take that Michelle.

All of which brings me back to the picturesque village of Cooperstown and July's highly anticipated induction ceremonies.

Were Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn self-absorbed? You bet. You don't play a record-setting 2,632 straight games during17 consecutive seasons without putting yourself first on occasion or average, as in Gwynn's case, .338 over 20 years in the big leagues. But as first-ballot honorees they've already moved past the past, into second acts full of promise for others. At my alma mater, San Diego State, Tony has turned teacher, throwing himself full-time into the job of revitalizing a flagging baseball program. Cal has taken to becoming the next Jack Welch embracing a host of business opportunities, including Ripken Baseball, a youth program that now numbers nearly a million kids and counting.

Meanwhile, a baseball player of unimaginable talent who could have fans eating out of his hand goes out of his way to piss off the press and suck every last ounce of joy out of the chase to break baseball's most revered record. Does Barry Bonds belong in baseball's Hall of Fame? No telling at this point. I just know he and several self-indulgent others have already earned a Me First entry into mine.