What's More American than a Home Run Hitter on Steroids?

The world awaits the words of George Mitchell. His report is expected before the end of the month. Were our baseball heroes really "junkies?" Did they do everything they could to improve their performance for our enjoyment and their financial gain? What could be more American than a home run hitter on steroids!

Mitchell's report on drug use in our National Pastime is unlikely to put an end to office discussions about how every one of those baseball players are phonies. Did you see that error he made at third base? He was paid millions of dollars to field the ground ball he booted. The ubiquitous criticism is normally reserved for the most highly paid stars as long as they are not on our team and our team is winning.

I must admit that I have some problems with a system that allows players to take cortisone shots to enhance their performance and high caffeine drinks to stay awake, but prohibits other substances that aid healing and amphetamines used after a red-eye flight from the west coast. The lines of permissibility, to use Justice Frankfurter's phrase, "are more nice than obvious." In any case, fans will bitch about almost anything, and they have for a very long time. With no real baseball in sight for months, the Mitchell Report is the only game in town.

Senator Mitchell is an honorable man who was asked to perform an impossible job. We should be kind about his report and take it for what it is - a management document produced without union or (with few exceptions) player input and not subject to cross examination. It is sure to be sensational.

Read more news and blog posts on the Mitchell report on steroids in baseball here.

Comments

[knosiswar]

Hasn't anyone told you that we live in a free country and that poeple are allowed to live as free as reality will allow without infringing on the rights or freedoms of others. And apparantly part of that freedom is protecting those who like to feel superior to others.

[mtgrizzlygrl]

Level the playing field (no pun intended) and dope 'em all up! That's fair!

[WIpatriot]

"What's More American than a Home Run Hitter on Steroids?"

After crossing home plate, he reaches down his neck to pull out a cross, kisses it, then falls to his knees with his hands clasped in prayer, eyes skyward.

Now, THAT'S American!

[GonzoBum]

While steroid use did and continues to compromise the game along with HGH, when is Bud Selig, the owners, and managers going to have to accept a large share of the blame for this epidemic. After the strike, no one complained when balls were flying out of the park and billions of dollars were being made, instead like so many other areanas of american life people simply have the mental capacity of alberto gonzalez and can't recall if they looked away in favor protecting corporate interests. This report may be a start but why doesn't someone invest the current group of thugs in Washington, like everything else they will go to any lenghts to try to distract the average american from the truth and real crime going on in this country.

[Aunt Shecky]

This well-written, cogentposting offers a different perspective on
the Steroid Scandal, however I disagree with some of the points.
What bothers me the most about the use of verboten substances in the Major Leagues is
that instead of giving the player who uses them an "edge," it casts a shadow on the authenticity of the Grand Old Game. What about the players who refuse to indulge? It puts them all at a disadvantage. If there's one thing Professional Sports -- indeed, the
entire Society -- DOESN'T need,it's more
unfairness!