[skydriver]

Everyone make some good points....BUT, Skunky hit the nail on the head.

His comments, in my opinion, are the most pertinant and should be sent to every senator or congressman.

This whole issue is just a waste of time, and unfortunatly no one really and truly gives a damn, otherwise it would have been settled years ago.

[RockJock]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I think the question should be "Why is congress wasting their time (which = our money) pursuing this matter?"...Is this the most important thing they really have to do?...Our economy's in the dumps, we're mired in a war in which we seem to have no way out, and there are people out here who are literally having to make a choice as to whether they want to eat or keep their houses warm, and they act as though somehow the matter of Roger Clemens and his alleged use of steroids is a threat to our health, welfare and national security.

They don't even plan to take any action if they do find what they're looking for! (what would they do?)..This is the exact same dog and pony show they put on a few years back with Maguire, Sosa and Palmera, and nothing came out of that witch hunt either...

What is this obsession they seem to have with going after overpaid, fat, spoiled prima donnas?..Could it be that they just want to take our minds off the fact that some six and a half years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is still running around free out there, and this will make us feel as though they're working hard doing something to keep us safe?

I just don't get it....

In my opinion Clemens took the steroids but Skunky you have a good point. Does anyone really know why Congress is pursuing this? If so please enlighten us. I've had people ask me this same thing and I really can't give them an answer.

[djjeffhall]

Congress is pursueing this since President Bush mentioned it in the State Of The Union 3 years ago. (I think it was three years ago?) The American public voted him into office and they are reaping their rewards. (Irony alert!)

[RockJock]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Congress is pursueing this since President Bush mentioned it in the State Of The Union 3 years ago. (I think it was three years ago?) The American public voted him into office and they are reaping their rewards. (Irony alert!)

What did he mention in his speach? That congress was going to investigate steroid use in baseball?

[wmosner]

baseball is supposedly the national past-time

ballplayers paid exorbitant wages for playing a game

winning or losing can mean big bucks for cities involved not to mention the emotional involvement many have with sports

yes, cheating should be investigated

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by RockJock

What did he mention in his speach? That congress was going to investigate steroid use in baseball?

Not specifically, but it did go a little something like this,,,,

To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message -- that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now.

[djjeffhall]

Cruver,
Thanks for providing the quote.

RockJock,
Since President Bush was the owner of the Texas Rangers at one point Baseball was clearly what he was referring to. The baseball/steriods thing had been brewing under the surface at the time with presure building to add tests into the (at the time) upcoming labor negotiations. President Bush took the State Of The Union to make it a national priority.

[Old Crow]

Congress is investigating because Major League Baseball, like the NFL and NBA, has an antitrust exemption which gives Congress both the jurisdiction and mandate to investigate. It also is within the realm of a national policy, endorsed on both sides of the aisle and by all administrations before and including Bush, to stop illegal drug activity.

I do not fault the decision to investigate because I happen to believe in the benefit to the country- financially and emotionally- of the major professional sports. One need only think back to the Yankees appearing in the World Series after 9/11 to appreciate this fact.

I do, however, think it was a bad decision for MLB to hire Mitchell to investigate. The barn door was already open. Would have been better, imho, to move on with the new drug policy.

[parsig9]

Still seems like too much government paternalism for my stomach.
How about the government can off out of it and leave the people who buy the tickets to decide what to do?
Government telling athletes to be moral

Antitrust laws How about competition and free enterprise?

Bush advising me that there are no shortcuts to success..........like what, taking advantage of Dad's connections to ____________?

[djjeffhall]

Old Crow,
Hey there.

Are you sure that sports other than baseball have the anti-trust exemption? I thought that the anti-trust exemption was one of the things that Kennislaw Mountain Landis insisted he get if he became the first commissioner after the Black Sox scandal? Congress put a kaboosh on it after that and baseball has remained above and beyond since. It was an implied threat of removing the anti-trust exemption that has Selig agreeing with whatever moves Mitchell/Congress/Whomever suggests?