The George Mitchell report is finally out, and it confirms what I've been saying for quite a while: If there should be an asterisk in the baseball record books, it belongs to this entire era, not just Barry Bonds. The report names Roger Clemens and a whole host of big names past and present. I'll wait to pass judgement on any of these players until all the facts are in, but it certainly seems clear that the use of steroids has been part and parcel of life in Major League Baseball for a long, long time.
As a side note, I'm curious to see how media and fans react to the outing of Roger Clemens. In my estimation, he has always been as hostile and arrogant in public as Bonds, but he has never been reviled the way Bonds has. If people don't turn on Clemens, there should be serious questions about why that is.
For the full report: http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/12/13/mitchell.report.pdf
Friday, December 14, 2007
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4 comments:
George Mitchell's report -- and the reactions to it -- caused me to wonder how professional baseball might be different if Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul withdrew from the race for the White House and, instead of serving as commander in chief, replaced Bud Selig as commissioner of baseball. What if Ron Paul was Commissioner of Baseball? >
The report, while underwhelming in regards to how many major stars were named, really shed a light on the saturation of steroids/hgh in baseball. Clemens' inclusion has to be considered the most interesting or provocative entry, and I think, more or less, just tarnished an already bruised legacy --considering his mercenary like philosophy and his violent outbursts, ala Mike Piazza. Andy Petitite admitting his usage of hgh probably sealed the deal, though.
-J
ps. Lost my contact information Chris, you should probably get ahold of me.
They are. As for Barry "I didn't knowingly take steroids" Bonds, he was a Hall of Fame player before he decided to whine about McGwire and Sosa's 1998 juiced home run chase and subsequently set himself in position to "surpass" Henry Aaron's record. If I had a vote, in other words, I would make Bonds wait a year past the initial five, but elect him on the basis of what he did between 1986 and 1997. In the same manner, I would vote for Clemens on the basis of his record between 1984 and 1996, but a year past the usual waiting period. I would not, however, vote for McGwire or Palmeiro. I'm ambivalent about Sosa.
Most ballplayers today are taking homeopathic growth hormone oral spray because it's safe, undetectable, and legal for over the counter sales. As time goes on it seems it might be considered as benign a performance enhancer as coffee, aspirin, red bull, chewing tobacco, and bubble gum.
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