Thoughts on the Mitchell Report

What's the result of a former US Senator's 409 page “REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL USE OF STEROIDS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES BY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL”?

Eighty-nine names...

Tainted.

...and this is only the beginning of what is likely to be a massive probe into the steroid-baseball relationship, which is nothing new by now.

There in lies the problem...this is nothing new. Yet only on the home stretch of this 2007 calendar year was this report released, at least a decade if not more after the issue of steroid use and performance-enhancing drugs became known. Uhh…where were you during those 10+ years, Mr. Selig?

Too little too late, Mr. Commissioner. To me, this is a lame attempt to "catch up" after a mishap, or more fittingly, a nonchalant oblivion at the starting gate. It was the exact same Commissioner who let the steroid issue become rampant and now tells someone else to point the finger on others. Was he doing this just because Congress was on his tail and that his legacy would take a dramatic turn for the worst if he sat around any longer?

After briefly scrolling through the internet copy of this hyped report, I concluded that it was dumping sand onto the beach and spilling water into the ocean. That's to say much of the information in the anecdotes are already facts we know. For example, there is extensive coverage about past drug policies which are clearly ineffective and considerable information on the career history of those named. I'll admit this, I was surprised to see so many names appear in the report, but again, the main credits should go to former Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski as he was the primary witness/facts provider, not Senator Mitchell.

How will all this abbreviated information affect HOF voting, many ask. I reply to them, most of these people aren't worthy of Hall of Fame inductions anyway. For the odd few like Roger Clemens and reluctantly...Barry Bonds, the impact will be determined by each voting writer. If they choose to maintain Hall integrity, then so be it. The wisest decision is to wait. Wait for more thorough information to surface. Wait for the players' side of the story, for their teammates' accounts...wait for a more informed opinion to be formed.

The Mitchell Report or not, this political controversy is totally ruining the sport. It's suppose to be the national pastime! But how many players nowadays can honestly say they play baseball for passion? It's all because of money which has led to an ensuing downfall of baseball. Players crave for the greenback, so they do whatever they can to earn it. It's idiotic, moronic and has gotten utterly preposterous.

Yes, perhaps they were trying their legal best and I don't think they should be punished for that. However, that doesn’t make it exemplary in any way. They did a stupid thing and they are horrible role models. Children and teenagers look up to these men and the best they could do is to commit "long-term suicide" by ejecting stuff or popping pills?

Major League Baseball severely lacked strictness and is now putting on a production of political theatre to desperately try to tackle the issue. However, attempting to scare the bejesus out of the accused players without absolutely credible proof is not going to cut it. Sure there are dozens of cheques and other exhibits attached to the double-spaced report but at the end of the day, the report still lacks hard evidence to convict anybody. It does nothing to change my stance on Bud Selig's failure to control the rampant drug use in the early stages.

Senator Mitchell gets a "D-".

Major League Baseball gets a "D-"

The biggest losers are still those dumb, buck-hungry steroid users. They get an "F".

-D