No HOF For McGwire in 2007

Former MLB player Mark McGwire swung and missed on his first try for the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF). Prior to the recent steroid scandals in baseball and McGwire’s subsequent embarrassing appearance before a congressional committee where he failed to deny illegal steroid use, he seemed to be a lock for the HOF. Needing 409 votes or 75% of the 545 votes cast to be voted in, McGwire only received 128 votes, equating to just 23.5% of approval by the HOF voters.

The day the votes were announced January 10, 2007, McGwire did not find many friends in the media, with the majority of pundits piling on the criticism of McGwire for his alleged steroid/performance-enhancing-drug use. Lost in rancor was that Mark McGwire was a great ambassador for the game of baseball. From his classy treatment of Roger Maris’ family when he broke the Maris record for single season home runs, to his community involvement, McGwire was gentleman and a credit to the sport. Sadly, the scandal overshadowed the gifts he brought to the baseball community.

Looking at the heliocentric (Sun centered) combined alignment chart (CAC or synastry) of McGwire and 1-10-2007 tells you all you need to know.

Transiting Saturn is applying with bi-level clash (opposition and contra-latitude) with natal Saturn and transiting Earth is applying in a clash quincunx with natal Saturn. These aspects foretell that the focus on McGwire at this time is negative, with people gravitating towards his shortcomings rather than his strengths.

Carmelo Anthony Suspended for 15 games

On the evening of December, 16 2006 Denver Nuggets basketball star, Carmelo Anthony participated in an on court brawl in the late stages of a game against the New Your Knicks. Specifically, Anthony punched New York Knick, Mardy Collins and for that transgression he was subsequently suspended by the league for 15 games as punishment. While a punch being thrown during a NBA always carries a suspension, a 15 game suspension was a very heavy penalty for an on court altercation.

However, this altercation had some extenuating circumstances. The initial altercation between Nate Robinson of the Knicks and J.R. Smith of the Nuggets had been contained and the situation was coming to a close. The authorities were very close to re-establishing control. Then, seemingly out of the blue Anthony delivered a roundhouse right to unsuspecting jaw of Collins who was somewhat restrained by another person at the time. Many considered Anthony’s punch to have been a cheep shot and his hasty retreat after the punch smacked of cowardice. Anthony’s punch was unnecessary (he was not being threatened at the time) and only served to re-escalate the confrontation between the two teams.

Anthony, while perhaps not a model citizen, is perceived as a friendly and affable competitor, who clearly enjoys playing the game of basketball. This incident was totally out of character and quite surprising to the entire league. Needless to say, this budding NBA superstar’s public image took a huge hit with the flood of negative publicity that followed.

Using Magi Astrology principles and we can see exactly what was influencing Anthony on the evening of the brawl, and why he exercised such poor judgment. One of the key principles of Magi Astrology is incorporating the use of heliocentric (Sun centered) astrology. In fact, to explain this incident you don’t even need the geocentric (Earth centered) chart.

Mars rules aggression, fighting and physical confrontations. As you might expect tracking Mars and Mars/Saturn will lead you to the answer in this heliocentric chart. The black planets represent Carmelo Anthony (May 29, 1984) and the red planets represent the transiting chart of 12-16-06, the evening of the brawl. Transiting Mars in longitudes is opposed Venus (applying by 0.5 degrees) which symbolizes the lack of cooperation (Venus) or having any interest in restoring harmony (Venus) by Anthony while the authorities were trying to restore order, and instead a desire to maintain the unrest (Mars). In addition, it also symbolizes a loss of money (Venus) due to aggressive behavior/fighting (Mars). The Mars opposed Venus is also in Magical Time (within three and half days of exactness) and therefore at its most powerful influence in the chart. In latitudes, transiting Mars is applying parallel to natal Mars (applying by 0.12 degrees) which serves to heighten and strengthen Anthony’s ability to get angry (Mars) and react in a physical way to conflict.

When you see overwhelmingly bad judgment and exaggerated inappropriate behavior, you can bet you last dollar that Saturn or a Saturn midpoint is in play. In this case, the transiting Mars/Saturn midpoint is the key element. In longitudes it is applying (by 0.3 degrees) sextile/trine the Anthony’s Earth while in latitudes it is applying contra-parallel (by 0.08) to his Mars. These alignments would symbolize a person (Earth) with impaired judgment during an athletic event (Mars/Saturn) inclined to be inappropriately aggressive and combative (Mars/Saturn) by fighting (Mars). The Mars/Saturn would also explain Anthony’s cowardly retreat (Saturn rules cowardice) when other Knick players charged him following his cheap shot punch to Collins.

Note: The Mars/Saturn midpoint is represented in the chart as “hm” and while the far midpoint is not shown, Magi Astrologers treat both the near and far (in this case 8.2 Libra and 8.2 Aries) longitudinal midpoints as being the same, which is why the Mars/Saturn midpoint is both sextile and trine the Earth in longitudes.