Why is congress wasting time on steroids and HGH in baseball?

Question

Even if the Mitchell Committee releases the names of these players, what will happen to them, nothing! The players aren't going to jail for it and besides it doesn't tell you anything. If players are tested negative then what is next? I feel that congress should be more involved in more pressing issues than wasting their time in some drug problem in baseball.

Answer 1

It is a witch hunt. Everyone wants to know names. For what? You can already have a good idea of who was on it or not. They aren't going to catch everyone and even some guys who were clean will have a finger pointed at them forever. Who cares! It is over and done with. They aren't going to make players pay back the millions of dollars they made. Jose Canseco didn't lose his MVP award for it. The only thing that may happen is some of these guys lose votes for the HOF. In my opinion, it was so widespread that it was still a pretty level playing field. Baseball, congress and the fans should just move on and look toward preventing drug use the best they can for the future. Drugs have, and always will be a part of all professional sports. It isn't going to change especially with the amount of money involved in the business. Get over it!
***Tom House admitted to steroid use in the 70's. This isn't new. It has been around. I'm sure even earlier than that. To all you people that are saying it is becoming an issue with younger athletes, it has been an issue there too. I can remember growing up and I knew of a lot of HS football players that were doing it. The only way to stop it is by getting this stuff off the street, testing (give a harsh penalty for being caught) and educating kids. They are still going to do it to try to get that college scholarship or to make it to the pros. They still drink, smoke, and do other drugs so why would the steroid issue be any different?

Answer 2

If you're going to play baseball, you need to play by the rules and play a fair game. That's what it's all about. Nobody is going to jail because it isn't against the law to use steroids. It's against MLB RULES to use steroids. Besides, I don't think this issue is taking up all of their time in congress. I'm pretty sure it isn't something they're sweating over day in and day out. But if players are cracked down on more than they have been in the past, perhaps we'll see much less of it in the future and the HOF won't house quite as many cheats.

Answer 3

Um, George Mitchell is no longer a Senator. His career in Congress lasted from 1983-95 and he then retired to do other things. Seligula hired him for MLB's own investigation. He retains his title by virtue of a rather silly convention that elected or appointed officials can continue using the honorific of their highest office held even after retirement, which is why we still read "President Clinton" and not "Governor Clinton". Mitchell WAS a senator; he is not one now.

Congress held one day of hearings on steroids in professional baseball in March 2005. It has nothing to do with Mitchell's investigation and impending report.

Answer 4

A controlled substance that can cause severe bodily harm if used improperly isn't an important issue? What about the fact that HGH and Steroid use is becoming more prevelant with younger athletes? This issue is more than a baseball issue, it's a health issue.

Answer 5

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

However, I do understand some of the thought process: Baseball is THE AMERICAN GAME. It is (to many Americans) the quinticential experience ... its what we're fighting for.

To destroy the fabric of baseball, the fairness, the whole ethos, etc ... is to destroy Americana - an attack on the American people.

Personally, I think that's BS. Personally, if there is any single thing that you can point to to define the US is its Constitution (no, not its flag). However, we CELEBRATE people who voice their opinion, we celebrate political activism, etc. The Constitution (despite Bush) is alive and well.

That doesn't make anywhere near as interesting a sound bite.