The first in a two-part series profiling future candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, this article outlines five players who I think are going to waltz into Cooperstown in upcoming years—more than likely in their first year of eligibility.

Readers of this site know, or will come to know, that it lists 500 musical acts not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Buried among them is Randy Newman, who should not be listed anywhere among the 500—because Newman should be in the Hall of Fame already.

However, Newman is listed here—at Number 158. Behind Joy Division. Behind the Sonics. Behind Journey. Behind My Bloody Valentine. Behind Chuck Willis. Behind Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Behind Poison. Behind Blue Cheer. Behind Siouxsie and the Banshees.

I don't mean to make the case for Newman by comparing him to anyone, which is good for all of those listed above because they wouldn't measure up to Newman. Blue Cheer? Joy Division? My Bloody Valentine? Siouxsie and the Banshees? Their careers were too short, too marginal. Jonathan Richman? The Sonics? They might have a bit more legacy—Joan Jett covered "Roadrunner" (on the other hand, what hasn't Jett covered?) and the Cramps covered "Strychnine," respectively—but again we're talking about the margins. Journey? Poison? Commercially successful but musically derivative, fast-food rock that's disposable and forgettable. That leaves Chuck Willis, who popularized a 1950s dance craze, the Stroll, and recorded a number of pioneering songs before dying young. Hall of Famers the Band ("I Don't Want to Hang up My Rock 'n' Roll Shoes") and Eric Clapton ("It's Too Late," albeit as Derek and the Dominos) were hip to Willis, but while one could make a game case for Willis, a much stronger case can be—and should be—made for Newman.

Without trying to steal any thunder from my fellow blogger the Princess of Puck, I do have something to say about the Stanley Cup Finals—and it's not complimentary.

Last Saturday, May 28, came the announcement that musician Gil Scott-Heron had died at age 62. As of this writing, the cause of death is not known, although Scott-Heron disclosed in 2008 that he had been HIV-positive for some time. In addition, he struggled with drug addiction, which netted him prison time in recent years.