Former Sen. George Mitchell delivers his remarks at the beginning of a New York news conference, Thursday Dec. 13, 2007, about his report on the illegal use of steroids in baseball. ( AP Photo/Richard Drew)
by Matthew Hay Brown
When unreasonably large baseball slugger José Canseco published his steroid-fueled memoir two years ago, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called Canseco, his former Bash Brother Mark McGwire and other hardball heroes to testify on drug use in the big leagues.
With the report by former Sen. George Mitchell this afternoon expected to detail a rampant and pervasive drug culture in Major League Baseball, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings wants to call a new witness: Commissioner Bud Selig.
“We got to remember why we started the investigations here in Congress,” the Maryland Democrat told CNN this morning. “It was mainly because children, young athletes, were trying to emulate their role models.
“And so that problem still remains, but we've got to look at this report and try to figure out everything that Senator Mitchell is recommending. Also, look at the things that maybe he was not able to get to, some questions that still may be out there. Bring Bud Selig before the Congress.”
On a day when lawmakers are trying to make progress on the spending bills that are keeping them in Washington, the Mitchell Report and the players it names are claiming more than their fair share of attention.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime fan of the San Francisco Giants, said she would not comment before seeing the report.
“I mean, we've heard about it and it seems quite stunning,” the California Democrat told reporters. “The regard that I have for Senator Mitchell is enormous, so I respect the product of his work. So I look forward to seeing it.
“But I think it speaks to the fact that what we are talking about here is far more pervasive than I think most people thought.”
Pelosi was asked about her past praise for career home run leader Barry Bonds, who was indicted last month for perjury and obstruction of justice for telling a grand jury that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
“What I said to you before is that the Bonds family have been an important part of San Francisco, and that his godfather, Willie Mays, is, of course, an important treasure to us,” Pelosi said.
“I think that the use of steroids and the example it sets for our young people in our country is an issue that must be addressed. And again, it's all about young people. They love the sport. It is the national pastime. And it attracts young people to it. And we want them to see good examples, good models of athletic performance.”
On the Senate side, the Democratic leadership ended its weekly press conference before reporters could ask about the Mitchell Report. Several attempted to ask, anyway.
“Who’s on steroids?” Sen. Dick Durbin demanded. When told that former Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa was a suspect, the Illinois Democrat feigned shock.
“No,” he groaned. “So it ain’t so, Joe.”
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Comments
Really, doesn't Congress have more important things to do than to keep holding stupid hearings, especially whether some dumb athlete took steriods or not?
Posted by: John D | December 13, 2007 2:20 PM
"BUSH LIFTS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON EMAILS, CONVERSATIONS, GRAND JURY TESTIMONY REGARDING BASEBALL"
BUT REFUSES TO ALLOW HIS STAFFERS TO ANSWER CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS.
WHAT IS THAT. AND SO WHAT IF A BASEBALL PLAYER USED SOMETHING TO HEAL HIS WOUNDS. THANK GOD HE IS A CHILD TAKING MERCK FLU SHOTS THAT MAY CAUSE THEM TO BE STERILE! RECALL THAT.
WHERE IS THE CONGRESSIONAL, SENATORIAL, HEARINGS ON THAT.
BUSH OWNED A BASEBALL TEAM, THEY DIDN'T USE STEROIDS THEN? SO IS BUSH INVESTIGATING HIMSELF OF COURSE NOT, AND WHEN DID CONGRESS OR SENATORS GET THE RIGHT UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE PUBLIC SOMETHING IN AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION?
AND WHERE IS THE PROOF. IT'S NICE TO WAKE UP AND JUST NAME NAMES.
WELL WHO KNEW ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11TH BEFORE IT HAPPENED. WHERE ARE THOSE NAMES!
SO WHAT, BIG DEAL. BIG DEAL.
MEANWHILE CHERTOF tells CONGRESS IT'S "organizational churn" and because they have refused to "CONSOLIDATE IT'S OVERSIGHT" DESPITE THE 911 COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHERE WAS THAT SPEECH DURING KATRINA HEARINGS. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT 9/11.
JOE LIEBERMAN.
Posted by: Roger Morris | December 13, 2007 3:16 PM
What's the big deal? I'll tell you,its Major League baseball, its Pro Hockey, its Pro Basketball, we're paying these hop heads millions and millions of dollars and their liars and cheaters. Anyone that did not cooperate with George Mitchell should be stripped of any records they set, fined heavily and removed from the game.
Then maybe we can bring back some respectablity to sports.
Posted by: Paul Jaeger | December 13, 2007 3:41 PM
Roger, is your caps lock key stuck, or do you SHOUT like that just to be a brass mole?
And with regard to your message:
Huh?
Posted by: Dave | December 13, 2007 4:16 PM
Baseball been very good to me! Can't we all just get along?
Posted by: Sammy Sosa | December 13, 2007 4:23 PM
especially whether some dumb athlete took steriods or not?
Posted by: John D | December 13, 2007 2:20 PM
Don't you call yourself a "law and order" Republican, little Johnny D. Taking steroids and HGH WITHOUT a prescription is ILLEGAL.
Posted by: janet | December 13, 2007 4:39 PM
Janet, if it's illegal, isn't it an enforcement matter (DoJ or local law enforcement) rather than a legislative one?
I think it's just more fun for these legislators to grandstand over steroid use than it is to tackle the really tough issues - social security, balancing the budget, illegal immigration, and so forth. They're just picking cherries.
Posted by: Dave | December 13, 2007 5:24 PM
Politicians all LOVE the steroid issue (on both sides of the aisle).
They get a lot of news coverage, get to pretend they are doing something and there are no "Pro-Steroid" groups so there is no downside.
It is a dream issue for a politician.
For once i actually agree with JohnD.
Posted by: Carl L | December 13, 2007 5:26 PM
The fact that McGwire is being mentioned as being implicated in this report is highly misleading. HE WAS EXONERATED BY THE MITCHELL REPORT! The only time his name is mentioned (and I've read all of the applicable portions), is regarding his andro use (something that wasn't illegal), and a discussion of the accusations made by Canseco (who can believe that guy?) It has never been proven that McGwire took steroids (something that has been proven about Bonds)...I mean, hey, wouldn't the guy who supplied McGwire have written a book by now?? He should be in the HOF in 2008, and the idiot sportswriters should apologize for leaving him off this year.
Posted by: Chris | December 13, 2007 5:39 PM
Let me guess when people were taking up environmental issues before it became popular to "go green," all of you said there are more important issues. Nothing but hippies and tree-huggers, they said. When people were taking up Dar fur issues before it became popular to "adopt babies form Africa", all of you said there are more important issues. Nothing but peace doves and missionaries, they said. When people people were taking up animal cruelty issues before it became a real serious deal to Michael Vick a few dogs, all of you said there are more important issues. Nothing but vegetarians, and a bunch of PETA's spraying down a few coats. When people were taking up the issue of hate crimes before copy cat nooses sprang all over the national news, all of you said there are more important issues. Nothing but self-important ombudsmen and sheeple still stuck on slavery. When peolpe are taking up the issue of prescription abuse amongst teenagers you all should say we have more important issues. When people take up the issue of obesity you all should say we have more important issues. When people take up the issues of steroids. We should all say there are more important issues.
Maybe after the first wave of concern you'll catch up with the tide. Certainly, I do not expect our government to over do itself on issues that are more representative of the times than of their core job component. However, it would be a shame if they only did their core job, and could not multi-task to raise the issues that are specific to each generation. Steroids are a problem. In terms of health, in terms of the meaning of sport, and most importantly because sport figures are role models. Especially to children who have one or no parents to look up to. So I would find it a bit odd that should we be talking about harsh rap lyrics and video's, violent video games, and violent movies "conservatives" who would be the "experts" on the ills of society (or where they come from) wouldn't even counter the issue of steroids with "I don't think it is Congress's job, or I think it will all just boil down to politics as usually, but I think the issue of steroid abuse by our athletes sets a bad tone." Certainly not "stupid hearings" and "dumb athletes." Or, "more important things to do."
Posted by: We can always go back to naming things. | December 13, 2007 7:02 PM
Some athletes in many sports have been lucky since their supplier has not been caught and has not finked on them. There are many more users of steroids in all sports. It does seem strange that none of those listed are showing any symptom of any dreadful result of taking steroids. Maybe the potential harm from steroids has been exagerated by those that cry wolf over everything. It seems to me that steroids are getting the "reefer madness" treatment and we will stay deliberately ignorant rather than make steroids useful.
Posted by: c. perry | December 13, 2007 7:27 PM
Oh, so it's STEROIDS.
That's why ROGER MORRIS writes the WAY HE DOES! He's JUICED!
And I think it's hilarious that some people are saying that certain athletes (like Sosa or Maguire) are "exonerated" by the Mitchell Report.
Yeah, sure... just because men suddenly balloon to cartoon-like proportions, or they suddenly get acne like 15-yr-olds, suffer muscle spasms and fly into irrational rages, there's no reason to suspect them of steroid use.
I just hope that the ownership, the Commissioner and the Players' Union do not escape blame in this.
Posted by: MJ | December 14, 2007 8:37 AM
Oh Dumb Dumb Janet, if law enforcement wishes to invetigate ballplayers using steriods or other substances, then let them investigate. And while steriods are not good substances when taken illegally (steriods are prescribed for many cancer patients for instance), this is not something Congress needs to waste time on and grandstand.
And to Mr. or Mrs. Naming Things, I would hardly compare baseball and steriods to the environment, Darfur or most other issues.
Posted by: John D | December 14, 2007 11:29 AM
Little Johnny D,
Congress is just following the orders of the President. After all he raised the issue in the State of the Union Address. You remember don't you? He talked about steroids and didn't mention New Orleans...ring a bell? Good night.
Posted by: janet | December 14, 2007 1:14 PM
Posted by: John D | December 14, 2007 11:29 AM
That's probably because you don't see these issues coming; becoming a concern. See you in a year or two when the steroids is more "comparable" to other "non-issues turned issues."
Posted by: joe | December 14, 2007 1:21 PM
Marion Jones, Barry Bonds possibly, was a success and Lance Armstrong, too. As a matter of fact the guy who followed Armstrong, too.
Nothing like a shot of steroids in US sport. Or the all American Sport, America's Favorite Pastime, Baseball....
Posted by: ps. | December 14, 2007 1:26 PM