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Do We Really Need Congress to Investigate the MLB?

chron.com — By the time Congress finishes with Clemens & Pettitte, we might all have a better idea about what they did or didn't do. But with a war raging and the price of oil soaring, should Congress really be that concerned about whether a couple of millionaire ballplayers cheated? Do we really need hearings to tell us that baseball had a drug problem?

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  • Bukowsky, on 01/07/2008, -2/+66As much as I love the game of baseball, and I don't want steroids anywhere near the game. I also realize that it's JUST A GAME! There are real issues that need to be discussed by the leaders of our country.... This just seems like a complete waste of time & taxpayers money.
    • simplenation, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3the Houston Chronicle has become a better publication recently
    • rolf, on 01/07/2008, -0/+5Sometime in the 1920s, government cut a deal where Baseball would be exempt from antitrust laws in exchange that the government could interfere as it wished:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Baseball_Club ...

      If a law was broken by a civilian (nonpolitician or nonFederal employee), it should be most likely taken up in the courts -- not Congress.
      • schotty, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1I agree to a point. But if the govt is going to bend over backwards to allow a true monopoly, and that said monopoly violates their end of the deal, then I want the feds to start holy wars and go on a crusade against this said company.
        Quite frankly, with the sheer amount of money that MLB teams and associated businesses make, there should be no reason that the illicit drug problem still persists. And if its the players' union that is the problem, then mass fire all the players and no longer hire from the union.
    • mjw2025, on 01/07/2008, -4/+1I agree in that steroids are wrong but disagree about it being "just a game". Baseball is a business and the employees are the players. No different than Toyota and Honda competing against one another. Baseball's product is a game but the bottom line is not to stand up, cheer, and feeling good about winning similar to a bunch of guys playing on a Saturday afternoon but to maintain or improve profits.
      • schotty, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2You are missing the point, that the government has its interest in there.
        For example lets replace Honda with GE or Siemens' medical divisions. They must answer to the EPA and FDA constantly. If any employee ***** up and violates a tenet of the laws that the EPA or FDA lay down (producing sterile materials but the employee actually lets contaminated product thru, lets say), GE/Siemens are obligated to discipline that employee. If that worker is not disciplined the FDA has the authority to end all outbound shipments. In effect, fix it or stop being in business.
        The same applies to baseball. If they are going to operate, there are certain ground rules that must be obeyed. If the players are going to be allowed to misbehave, its the MLB execs and owners that are going to pay the price first. Arrests, fines, and shutdowns will be imposed.
        I find it laughable that this is still an issue. Fire the union or force them to clean up. I for one am sick of the overpaid, thick headed, arrogant players of professional sports, and would much prefer if they are clean, to see the minor leaguers get a promotion to the MLB if the current crew is unwilling to step forward and play honest.

        [/end_rant]
    • Synova, on 01/09/2008, -0/+1Yeah my buddy came up to me and told me about this. When I told him I hadn't heard that he asked, "Why aren't you up on all the news like usual?" I told him sports aren't news.
  • swordedge, on 01/07/2008, -5/+45Nope, none of congresses business
    • Justice101, on 01/07/2008, -5/+4Let 'em do it. It keeps 'em from messing up the important things, and starting more wars. Like a toddler, you have to keep them occupied or they'll get into trouble.
    • biotch, on 01/07/2008, -2/+2agreed... perhaps they should revisit the Terri Schiavo case
    • Angirus, on 01/07/2008, -7/+4Perhaps you forget that these athletes are committing felonies and that the reason congress is getting involved is because the sporting organizations appear to have intentionally ignored and hidden the problem. If MLB cannot police itself then somebody must. If you want to make an argument that drugs should be legalized then that's another issue; but for the time being they are illegal and dangerous. Many kids have damaged or killed themselves due to drugs they felt pressured to take because organizations like MLB sent a message that you need to take these drugs to compete.

      That very much seems like Congress' business to me.
      • MacEnvy, on 01/07/2008, -1/+4If you honestly think that, you have no idea what Congress is for.
    • Chirp08, on 01/07/2008, -2/+2Phhhhs, are you kidding, what could be more important then this? Obviously this has gotten more attention then the blackwater rape case, so it clearly is more important!
  • tiga31328, on 01/07/2008, -4/+24Congress apparently needs these little press festival's to make themselves feel better and to pat one another on the back. Puh-lease, we are at freaking WAR, people are starving in our own country and they are having a meeting about some dumb ass baseball players doping-up.
  • gds923, on 01/07/2008, -2/+21Can we get a do-over on Congress? Please?
    • Kloud, on 01/07/2008, -0/+4Mulligan.
    • svtpete, on 01/07/2008, -3/+0I truly wish there was something in the constitution about this, but I guess our founding fathers couldn't have possibly foreseen how corrupt our politicians would get and how self-serving our government could become.

      Ron Paul '08
  • badwithcomputer, on 01/07/2008, -2/+11honestly- the idea of roided out super athletes running around the field and maybe ripping a few heads off seems like a much cooler sport. i'm all about these guys taking any and all drugs. cheaper beer prices would be nice too.
    • Bisquick, on 01/07/2008, -1/+6I would like to see a congressional hearing on price gouging at stadiums.
      • jmpeagle, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3it's legal, so a hearing would be rather pointless
        • MalenfantX, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0Congress could make it illegal (not that they should)
      • PeppermintPig, on 01/07/2008, -2/+1If you don't like it, don't go. Start a new league.
        • schotty, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Dumbass, nobody can. MLB has a monopoly in pro baseball. Thats why congress is involved in the first place. Their are special provisions that MLB gave Congress to get this privilege.
  • Emused, on 01/07/2008, -3/+27Nero fiddled, while Rome burned.
    • tomato3017, on 01/07/2008, -0/+4Very Appropriate comment! I am a firm believer that history repeats itself.
    • Chirp08, on 01/07/2008, -2/+3literally? Was he playing the final countdown? That would be sweet...

      (and dont digg me down because you think those were serious questions)
    • Masefield, on 01/07/2008, -0/+5Bread and circuses.
  • soupdawg30, on 01/07/2008, -3/+21Just another excuse for congress to not take care of the real issues.
  • TWGMichael, on 01/07/2008, -4/+7I, for one, am very interested in the World Little League investigations! I have heard rumors of kids mixing OJ and Apple Juice for a better sugar rush!
    • hxed, on 01/07/2008, -1/+10Ohhh. Is that what Jose Canseco's book "Juiced" is about?
  • barkingfrog, on 01/07/2008, -6/+5The thing that drives me crazy about cheaters in sports is that who really cares! I mean professional sports are designed so that people can watch the most amazing athleticism out there and if they take steroids then who cares, it makes for a more exciting game. And its really just about an exciting show, not like the Olympics where they are about exciting individualism, unlike "professional" sports...
    • Angirus, on 01/07/2008, -1/+3So you think that drugs should be allowed in sports? Are you aware of the potentially severely damaging effects that many of these drugs have? Do you think that others should risk death so you can watch them jump higher? Would you tell your kids what they need to do to become athletes in the world you are proposing?
      • lajaw, on 01/07/2008, -1/+3no, because hopefully my kids will do something meaningful in life.
      • MalenfantX, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0Do you seriously not think athletes are paid enough to take risks with steroids?
        This is a field where morons can make millions of dollars. I think they can take some risk to entertain their fans.
    • Supurcell, on 01/07/2008, -0/+5The thing about performance enhancing drugs is that, once they become legal, any player who wants to be able to compete with dopers will have to dope themselves.
      • Cerebral, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1That's not true. It'll be the lower and middle grade players that will suffer most. Also it still depends on the sport as using drugs will not make you any more able to "hit" a 98mph fastball. Only that it will have a chance at going further if you do. Guys like A-Rod and Ichero don't need roids and I believe would not use them other than for rehab purposes.
      • MalenfantX, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0Yes, or they can start a steroid-free league and let the market decide.
  • kuragami, on 01/07/2008, -3/+5They investigate this but not the state and federal government wide kiddie porn sex ring that lead all the way to the steps of Congress and the White House.

    Charming.
  • pedo, on 01/07/2008, -4/+7uh yes, because its a multi billion dollar industry that is subsidized by tax dollars.
    • The0neAndOnlyX, on 01/07/2008, -4/+0Yes! Finally a comment by someone who isn't a complete moron.
    • Cerebral, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Why/What is subsidized in Baseball? I honestly don't/didn't know and am curious why it needs it or has it.
      • Metman, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3Your tax dollars are what end up paying for the venues, not MLB franchises (in most cases).
        Not arguing with you, simply answering your question.
    • LordRedSnake, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Uh no, because as a tax payer I want my players performing at the top of their abilities and healing faster from their injuries.
  • skealoha86, on 01/07/2008, -5/+4NO.
  • ajwinder, on 01/07/2008, -1/+19As the voice of reason signing in, the MLB is a federally allowed monopoly, which alleviates it from worrying about anti-trust suits, but also requires the oversight of congress to ensure that it is not abusing its power. Additionally, some public taxes feed into the MLB, so its the job of congress to regulate how they're operating in order to protect the taxpayer's dollar.

    Beyond that, Congress just recently switched to a full workweek, so this at least gives them something to do. Its not really like Congress is full throttle work every hour of every day. The steroids scandal is something Congress is and should be responsible for, its not actually detracting from "real" issues, and its certainly pertinent that congress investigate allegations of widespread scandal in an industry they're overseeing.
    • ginsengbomb, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2You are correct, and your post would be better summarized as follows:

      Is it Congress or the media's focus on Congress' activities with regard to the MLB steroid "scandal" that is more obnoxious?
    • sstidman, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Who are you and what are you doing on this site? We don't want rational people here, only presumptious conspiracy theorists are welcome.

      Please get out.
  • dsnow77, on 01/07/2008, -6/+0***** no, it is a waste of time and money. move on. why don't they spend more time getting ball players to be faitful to their wives to stop destroying their families. Who gives a rats ass about steroids.
  • mehan, on 01/07/2008, -7/+2No, we really don't.

    And what the ***** is up with "World" Series if only the US and Canada are in it?
    • wssharp, on 01/07/2008, -2/+2i think it's mainly tradition, but there's logic behind it. the series started in 1903, billed on the program as "The World's Championship Games," because everything in the late 19th to early 20th century was dubbed "the world's something or other." but in the present day, the Major Leagues are still the leagues with the best talent, overall, in the world, and players from every country in the world aspire to play professionally in the Major Leagues, so what's wrong with calling it a World Championship?
  • ginsengbomb, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Foolish peons -- is it Congress that focuses so much effort on this issue, or is it the media?

    Or do you truly believe that the media focuses so much time on congressional action on this because it's all Congress is doing and not just because you're all clicking on the article links?
  • woofers07, on 01/07/2008, -1/+3Of course they do, because election fraud, impeachment hearings, and war crimes don't need to be investigated until we find out if these athletes who affect the lives of everyday american citizens so much, are using drugs.

    (I hope you picked up on the sarcasm)
    • gtsoundcrew, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0Yes I did and I agree!! This is a BS waist of time.. It's insulting to the kids over there dying right now. I think there are more pressing issues that should be discussed in D.C. these days. It's a friggin joke.
      • DephexTwin, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1At least it isn't a torso of time.
  • ginsengbomb, on 01/07/2008, -2/+1Right. And we know Congress doesn't look into any of these things because Congress is only actively involved in whatever is the #1 headline on CNN.com. Surely they don't do a ton of other things per year, just what is the #1 headline on CNN.com. That's all they're doing. Right.

    (I hope you picked up on the sarcasm)
  • SillyDigger, on 01/07/2008, -1/+2Simple answer...

    No.
  • BlueBarad, on 01/07/2008, -1/+2They are just pandering to us. No more reelections for this crop of politicians. Ron Paul has shown me the light.
  • Crossmenjeff, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1shhh, its just a media distraction.
  • Khast, on 01/07/2008, -1/+0If drug use, and cheating are so damn important to sports. Why not just make the games a free for all, remove all limitations, and restrictions, so that it just becomes a contest to modify the players the most.

    Better yet, 1st time a player is caught using drugs, give the player a lifetime ban from playing competitive sports as a career. No fuss, no mess, just a terminated contract and personal escort from the sport.
    • sjmorton, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Why not let MLB decide where to draw the line between these two extremes based on what the fans want? What business does the government have imposing itself here?
  • SavageBlackCat, on 01/07/2008, -1/+39/11 changed everything - including MLB.
    • DephexTwin, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Yeah, what many people don't understand is that these congressional investigations are primarily dealing with the fact that these drugs may have been transported in containers larger than 3 ounces.
  • AntiClimacus, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2"But with a war raging and the price of oil soaring, should Congress really be that concerned about whether a couple of millionaire ballplayers cheated?"
    I've been asking myself the same question. Though I disagree with the idea the congress needs to legislate laws to 'protect children from steroids', and agree with Clemens that the penalty of steroids is what it does to you, I have trouble wrapping my head around why congress should have anything to do with what is essentially an entertainment industry, let alone one with its own internal bureaucracy.
  • jayb1rd, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Dugg. This is what I've been saying all along.
  • str1fe, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2What?

    As much as I agree that baseball is meant to be fair and drug use should be investigated, this is NOT the role of the federal government. The investigation is the role of the MLB and whomever they hire.
  • ravage86, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3No. Congress isn't in charge of enforcing or investigating crimes. Next question please.
    • sjmorton, on 01/07/2008, -1/+1OK, but why should the use of performance-enhancing drugs by professional athletes be a crime? They are just entertainers.
      • ravage86, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Because its use requires a prescription and they don't have one. Talk to the FDA if you got a problem with it.
        • sjmorton, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Teams have doctors and doctors can prescribe drugs.
        • Beylan, on 01/08/2008, -0/+1Steroids also have very important medical uses, not just as performance enhancers. Mainly they are used to eliminate inflammation from injuries and illnesses, allowing much faster healing and reduced pain in certain cases like joint, muscle, or tendon damage.
  • BigKopp, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3I love how Congress ALWAYS finds a way to distract attention away from what the SHOULD be doing.
    Say, our economy isn't doing too well right now, what should we do?
    How about ban gay marriage!?
    or
    We have a war that's costing a ***** of money and providing very little, what should we do?
    Find those steroid users!?

    Everytime.
  • perkoff, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0They need to fist solve the steroid issue in major league baseball and when that is resolved they should move onto the more minor issues. Steroids in baseball is the biggest problem our great nation is facting these days.
  • moofer, on 01/07/2008, -1/+2A: No.
  • dalexandruz, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0We don't need any more old people put in congress or anywhere else in government anymore. these geezers have nothing to lose since death is near them and so why should they care about this country and it's citizens. they are living the high life day by day and thats all they care about. Instead of questioning the bush administrations about 9/11 and iraq or corrupt corporations about how they dump hazardous materials in back of ppls backyards causing cancer etc...., they go after the mlb. Like i said, they dont give a crap.
    • Metman, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1ROFL
      "these geezers have nothing to lose since death is near"
      Someone needs to buy you a helmet.
  • simplicityiskey, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Glad to see I'm not the only person wondering this. Are they holding Congressional hearings on Darfur? Or the AIDS epidemic? Or the modern-day slave trade? Or rampant poverty throughout the world? Maybe they are, at least I hope so if they're making time for baseball.
  • getsmartin, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0Major league baseball should "police" themselves and root out the cheaters. Next up? The NFL.
  • ukfoole, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0What you need is for congress to end the anti-trust laws that give your sports teams these walks-in-the-park.
    How much of your taxes went to build those stadiums? How much of a tax break did your city/state give them to build? Pissed off yet? And then the companies can go and sell exclusivity to television networks, video game companies, etc... Since your taxes paid for their facilities and existence, shouldn't you be getting a cut?

    This applies to the NFL as well as the MLBA.
    • Metman, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2In Seattle's case the public voted NO to a new baseball stadium and the city council (and the state legislature) went ahead and built it anyway with tax payer funding.
  • harry8227, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0This isnt even congresses buisness by like everything else they are doing everything but what they are suppose to
  • kiegh, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Answer: Absolutely not!
  • mchinsky, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Why is Congress sticking their noses in a private corporations business like this (MLB)? SHouldn't they be doing something useful visavis their 20% approval rating?
  • TimCadieux, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1God knows that there are not more pressing matters that require the time, effort and money putting into this stupidity. MLB is a business, if all the players want to dope, it's an internal matter.

  • frosted, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0What else would congress do with the whole 3 days a week they spend in office? Not like any bills will get passed, and they have to do something with all those billions of dollars we keep giving them. After all, tax season will soon be upon us, if they spend it all now, they get bigger kickbacks.
  • JMellissa, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1I think Congress has much more important issues to deal with than to waste time investigating steroid use in professional athletes.
  • IndianRivalry, on 01/07/2008, -3/+1***** BASEBALL. I HATE THAT SPORT.
  • sensibledriver, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Please read very carefully:

    YES. Congress HAS to investigate, as it oversees MLB by law due to the anti-trust exemption. This has been mentioned several times already and is dead on.

    Repealing MLB's exemption would be a great start.
    • GeneralLedger, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Just because it has a mandate to oversight does not mean it has to investigate suspected steroid abuse. I don't care if every player, they're wives, and their babies are injecting steroids. It is not worthy of oversight from the central government.
  • uptown, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Only if we each get an autograph.....
  • samdu, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3No. When steroids were not illegal, it was none of Congress' business. When they became illegal, it was a law enforcement issue. Congress should never have even thought about the issue.
  • GeneralLedger, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Good lord! War, Social Security Solvency, Health Care, Immigration, Abortion, Environment, etc... I'll stop there, but those are just of the few national debates taking place that are far more important than baseball.

    NO. Congress, get a clue!
  • railsroad, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Steroids helps people recover from exercise faster, that's it. It's helps people put on muscle mass and this can help in track and field, combat sports and collision sports.

    Baseball is for the most part a finesse game, you have to hit a fast moving ball with a bat. Being more muscular does not improve coordination.

    Outside of the psycho-somatic ( placebo effect ) idea of having a "Edge" on everyone else, I can't see how steroids or HGH could make someone a better baseball player. Anyone that has played baseball would know this.
    • Oofa, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Being able to recover from exercise quickly is hugely important in baseball. They play 162 games in a season, so a major part of a baseball player's life is being able to grind it out without becoming injured or tired.
    • stubear, on 01/07/2008, -0/+0"Baseball is for the most part a finesse game, you have to hit a fast moving ball with a bat. Being more muscular does not improve coordination."

      How many of Bonds home runs would have made it over the wall without the muscle strength steroids provided? I'll give him credit for being able to hit the ball but I don't doubt that his ability to hit home runs was a direct result of steroid use. Bat speed and power ARE derived from increased muscle mass. Sosa, McGuire and Bonds are proof of this(McGuire took androstene, not illegal at the time and not a steroid but does increase muscle mass). Home runs are actually mostly luck, hitting the ball at the exact moment the hitter will derive the most power and connecting the bat with the ball at the most optimal point to generate the arc required to get the ball over the outfield wall. Good home run hitters will obviously hit within this zone with more frequency then those who are not. Good hitters who can't hit home runs learn to hit the ball in the gaps to get runners on base or move them around if they are already on. Bonds would have had to become this type of hitter had he kept off the steroids because he would be hitting into fly outs all the damn time otherwise.
    • NotAChickenHawk, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1Sorry, but I have to disagree. What you say may be correct for hitters/position players, but A big part of being a major league pitcher is how fast you recover from outing to outing. If one team had starters who could all pitch consistently throughout the season on 4 days rest, whereas everone else's starters need 5 days rest, that's a big advantage. So too is it if your reliever can pitch 2 innings every day for a week and be just as effective on the last day as the first, especially if other team's relievers cannot. IMHO, steroids is a bigger scandal for the pitchers than the hitters because IMHO it seems like it would help themn the most, and it also seems like quite a few very successful pitchers were named in Mitchell's report - Clemens and Gagne etc.
  • bjs3171, on 01/07/2008, -0/+1nope.
  • bpapa, on 01/07/2008, -0/+3I'm a big pro wrestling fan in addition to baseball, and the WWE is another group that has been named for possible steroid investigation by congress in the wake of last year's Chris Benoit murders. But honestly, in both cases - who cares? It sucks that kids look up to these guys, and it sucks that they cheat, but there are a lot of things in this country and this world that suck more than athletes ruining their bodies by their own choice. I'd rather the government focus their time on that.
  • Vigilo, on 01/07/2008, -0/+2Congress itself, is what needs investigating. Elite globalist scum 90% of them.
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