Congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

Just a few minutes ago, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Shilling and Frank Thomas gave their opening statements in the hearings on steroid use in baseball.

This thread can be used as a talkback and as a way to catch up on the latest news regarding the hearings.

[EinBebop]

I've got months of pent-up political fervor to release if this thread is allowed to stay open. :)

[Weatherman]

Oh joy, more Congressional grandstanding. They'er only, what, about 15 years too late? :rolleyes:

[Spongebrain2.0]

Why is Congress getting involved with the MLB. Shouldn't this be a thing left to the MLB rather than Congress:confused:

[NickWhiz1]

You know, I would be watching this, except there's this other sports-related event on...

Hmm...what was it? Oh yeah, I remember now...

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Now, if the tournament wasn't on, I'd definitely be watching.

[Stewie]

I've got months of pent-up political fervor to release if this thread is allowed to stay open. :)Stand clear everyone. This could be the big one.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

Just to recap in case people missed it, here are some short summaries of what was said in the players' opening statements:

Jose Canseco: Focused a lot on his inability to be completely candid. Lots of legal mumbo jumbo having to do with him being on probation and such. They tried to get him immunity so he could be completely candid, but didn't have enough time.

Sammy Sosa: His opening statement was read by his lawyer, but then he spoke himself. He talked about how he grew up poor and baseball was a dream. He said he has never used steroids in his career, as did all those that appeared (except Canseco, of course).

Mark McGuire: Very outspoken and emotional, especially when speaking about kids that could be affected by the drugs. Says his youth foundation will focus more attention than ever on educating youth on the dangers of steroids.

Rafael Palmeiro: Spoke about the privilege of playing and basically called Canseco a liar and that the allegations directed at himself are ridiculous.

Curt Shilling: He gave the most detailed statement of all of them, especially as concerns the current testing system. Said that some view it as a joke, but brought out figures that show it's working. Says he believes in the punishments given, stating that making positive tests known, thus making the athletes involved subject to public humiliation and doubt can be a great deterrent to being a user.

Frank Thomas: Very short statement, done by satellite hookup, basically saying he has never used steroids and wants to join people like Shilling to help educate and stop this drug abuse.

One telling point that was brought out (by Shilling or McGuire; I forget who) was that now a player who denies using won't be believed and one who admits to it will be a joke. Too bad this hurts everyone, including the "clean" guys, because everyone is under scrutiny now, especially big guys. I wonder if we'll be hearing more about guys like Ken Caminiti and Jason Giambi during these hearings, too?

I can't help but think of Futurama at this time, with its jazzed-up version of baseball called Blernsball, featuring mandatory steroid use. :p

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

Why is Congress getting involved with the MLB. Shouldn't this be a thing left to the MLB rather than Congress:confused:
Well, it also has to do with kids who have used steroids. I know one case being brought up is of two kids who started using, one of whom has quit after his friend committed suicide. (story on those involved (http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-17-voa7.cfm)) Their families are at the hearings, I believe.

[Fan of Sponge]

Why is Congress getting involved with the MLB. Shouldn't this be a thing left to the MLB rather than Congress?:confused:
Well first off MLB is a large organization in America and Canada which involves a union and the MLB has sort of slacked off of drug testing lately. Some people think that some players are cheating. Which is a bad way to show kids the only way to succeed is to cheat. Not very good especially with the use of drug which can have bad effects. I think the new drug test policy is rigged and they should have subpoena Barry Bonds. He's the center of attention right now. They better get on Barry Bonds' back before another kids dies from steriods because Barry Bonds did it do so that's my excuse.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

Well, I watched as much as The Score (Canadian sports network) would show, which was a few hours worth of coverage.

I think the most interesting point brought out, which the players had no idea existed, was a certain way in which the current penalty system works in the MLB. Basically, each time a player is caught, the suspension and fine goes up incrementally. However, what they didn't know is that a player could take the fine instead of the suspension, which is ridiculous (the first offense, for example, incurs a $10,000 fine, which is pocket change). I'm sure that's one of the points that critics point to when they call the system a joke. And congress said they should not have had to subpoena players in order to get answrs, because that's what it took before they got accurate details on it. In every case, however, their offense is made public, which is a great deterrent.

In every case where the active players are concerned, they believed that the MLB can police itself and wipe out the steroid problem. Canseco completely disagrees, saying it will go on forever if congress doesn't step in. The Olympic method was also discussed and was generally met with favor, especially by Palmeiro, who says he'd play under any system because he's clean anyway.

The one part of it that will be most talked about, I'm sure, is Mark McGuire's unwillingness to talk about anything in the past. I would have run out of fingers counting the number of times he said "I'm not here to talk about the past." :p I understand why he doesn't want to talk about it, as I'm sure he's sick of the old andro stuff, and so are a lot of others. Several members of congress said that something like that has to be discussed at some point. He also never denied that he used steroids at any point in his career, whereas all the others denied it up and down. So it seems that the spotlight is still on him, which is too bad, really.

After the players were done, commissioner Bud Selig came in and read a statement explaining all the positives that have come about as a result of their testing system. Numbers of users are down in all levels of the sport and they will continue to work on making it better, blah blah... (that's where they stopped the footage :)).

Congress harped on the players quite a bit near the end, saying they were disappointed at the vagueness of a lot of their answers. To be fair, there was not a lot that could be said to many of the questions, but overall, the meetings didn't really accomplish much. They recognize the problem and will work with Congress if necessary to get the sport cleaned up. Not the most insightful of meetings, really.

I think my favorite part was how they brought out some of the inconsistencies of Canseco's book. He seemed to be dead against steroids there, but pretty much embraced them in the book and said he hoped the MLB will someday, too. His excuse was that the book took two years to write and in that time, he has seen and talked to those who've had steroid wreck their lives and now he's against them. He still feels they were great for him, though, as they made him stronger (he had several ailments, such as scoliosis and arthritis from an early age). Kinda danced around the question of whether he would have done as well in baseball if he had been healthier and not needed steroids.

All in all, it was interesting to watch, but not a great indication of big things to come.

[Duke]

They tried to get him immunity so he could be completely candid, but didn't have enough time.Which is sad considering they spent 12 hours in that damn court room.

Also, I completely agree with everything Micheal Wilbon says on PTI regarding these court hearings.

I must say that if I was one of these players, I wouldn't be nearly as formal and restrained as these guys are.

[Lucky Bob]

Just some quick hits:

1. Still don't get why Congress is "all up ons" this. I mean, it's not like we've eliminated every other problem in America. But meh.

2. Heh, Curt Schilling testifying. Of course a pitcher is not going to juice, or admit to it. They're not exactly expected to win any home run derbies.

3. One thing I can't get in the controversy as a whole (and not just the hearings) is all of these vague semi-apologies and such from the players. Sheesh, it's worse than a league of professional girlfriends. "I'm sorry, people!" "For what?" "*sniff* YOU know what, I...just...WAAAAAH." *eats chocolate*

4. I'm still waiting for Mark McGwire to apologize for his "wardrobe malfunction" to Jose Canseco.

That is all this disinterested observer has to opine.

[Stewie]

Just some quick hits:

1. Still don't get why Congress is "all up ons" this. I mean, it's not like we've eliminated every other problem in America. But meh.

2. Heh, Curt Shilling testifying. Of course a pitcher is not going to juice, or admit to it. They're not exactly expected to win any home run derbies.

3. One thing I can't get in the controversy as a whole (and not just the hearings) is all of these vague semi-apologies and such from the players. Sheesh, it's worse than a league of professional girlfriends. "I'm sorry, people!" "For what?" "*sniff* YOU know what, I...just...WAAAAAH." [i]*eats chocolate*1. Agreed. I think their excuse is, as stated earlier, "it's for the children". Also, baseball has an antitrust exemption that makes Congress say that they can stick their noses in it.
Besides, these drugs are already illegal. What more can Congress do?

2. That's what I always thought. But since this latest flap started, a lot of EPSN-type sports people have been saying that they think pitchers won't have an easier time now even though hitters aren't juicing. They're saying that pitchers (may) have been using just as much as hitters. Of course, I never heard "them" say this before. I thought an increase in pure strength would not help pitchers as much.

3. That's all we need, girlfriends forming a union. At least with baseball players we know what they're apologizing for, even if they don't have the cajones to admit it. With girlfriends, they're usually upset at the fact that we don't know why they're upset. "If you don't know then I won't tell you." But that's off topic.