What Can We Do?

If you have read anything at all about the "Mitchell" report in baseball regarding the use and distribution of steroids and HGH, then you probably have an idea of what should be done to deal with the issue.  In a nutshell, the Mitchell report mentioned that over the last decade of play the use of "Performance Enhancing Drugs" (PEDs) was widespread and pervasive in every aspect and organization of baseball including both past and present major league players, trainers and organizations.  In short, baseball players have been using steroids and HGH for years with the full knowledge and protection of the fans, owners, management and organizations.  The MLB Players Union has resisted any attempts to limit, discourage or investigate the use of PEDs during that time.  Baseball owners as represented by Bud Selig and the commissioner's office, have turned a blind eye and tried to ignore the issue each and every time someone presented evidence of use.

Top to bottom, baseball has tried very hard to pretend that there is no problem with PEDs and that all of its newly created records of success are "pure".  But how can that be?  Don't we have testing?  Hasn't there been a rash of books on the subject?  Isn't the Mitchell report itself proof that baseball wants to clean up the game?  Pretty much yes........and no... to all above.  Baseball as a whole never wanted the public to hear anything about drugs, from when the whispers of drug use began to appear in the late 80's and the fans began to chant. "STERRRR-oooids" whenever certain players came to the plate, to when a sports reporter noticed a large bottle of "Andro" in Mark McGwire's locker during his record breaking homerun season.  It was quickly hushed up, the reporters berated for accusing an icon of the game of looking for an edge.  Damage control included issueing statements that Andro and Creatine were not steroids, were "perfectly legal" and available at the local health food stores and did not help you play baseball, but were only used to recover from workouts.  Besides, the announcements went on to say, "Everyone used them" so the playing field was still level.  Let's move on, there's nothing to see there, ignore the man behind the curtain.

Records were broken, set, and boken again.  And again.  As the Mitchell report informs us, at this time baseball, the owners, the organizations and the players all knew that the big homerun hitters, i.e., Canseco, McGwire, Bonds and Sosa were taking steroids and HGH to increase their size and strength and hit more home runs.  Many others were as well.  Now the report says what was known all along.  And it names "names".  The same names that have been known by rumour for years.  Nothing new there.

So where are we now?

We're in quite a sports mess.  The game is suspect, the players have been cheating, and the owners and fans are only concerned with identifying and punishing players on teams other than the ones for which they cheer.  The OTHER guys are cheating, but not my guys.  Baseball doesn't want to catch anyone, its drug testing program is very weak.  Baseball doesn't want to punish anyone, McGwire, Bonds and Clemens have yet to be punished in any manner.  Worse, baseball works very hard to protect its star players, they hide and cover up evidence of drug use or knowledge until the player has completed his year or career.  McGwire, Bonds and now Clemens have been known to have taken PEDs for years now, yet baseball continued to protect them from investigation or interview.  None.......NONE of them were allowed to be interviewed by Mitchell for his report.  NONE of them testified to Congress committee several years ago when steroids began to cause concern.  McGwire was there, but he refused to comment.

What can be done?

Very little as it turns out.  Mitchell want to "put everything behind us" and recommends that baseball not punish past offenders and cheats in order to "mover on" with the game.  Bud Selig has indicated he will likely do that.  Does that mean the fans are screwed forever?  Will we never know how many homeruns a player can hit in a single year without steroids and HGH?  Probably so.  But I have a suggestion:  Re-commission Senator Mitchell to sit down and interview ALL current players and ANY former players going back at least 10 years.  Offer the players a simple incentive to speak truthfully and candidly, i.e., no punishment for past offenses to future playing careers and inclusion on Hall of Fame ballot for retired players.  Any players that refuse to cooperate are suspended for 100 games beginning now (whenever that is) and any retired players are simply BANNED from the HOF ballot just like Pete Rose.  Likewise, any player that testifies, but is found to be lying, is banned or suspended as well. 

I believe the players would start talking and clear this mess up in a hurry.  What do you think?