Sports
The Front Row: Steroids edition
By Nick Prevenas, Green Valley News
WHAT NOW? The wait is finally over.
After nearly two years of digging, probing, sleuthing and sifting, Sen. George Mitchell’s report on baseball’s drug problem has finally surfaced.
Now that the most anticipated piece of literature since the final “Harry Potter” book has been released, what are we to make of this 409-page epic?
On the one hand, it’s admirable to see Mitchell pull no punches when it comes to blaming not only the players, but more importantly, the culture that allowed this problem to spiral out of control.
There was virtually no plan in place to police the influx of performance-enhancing drugs, and Mitchell puts this issue at the forefront of his report.
However, there were some glaring problems with this report.
First, Mitchell’s probe is based entirely on hearsay from clubhouse attendants such as the Mets’ Kirk Radomski and the Yankees’ Brian McNamee, along with copies of checks and money orders.
The lesson here for major leaguers? Pay for your illegal drugs in cash.
Second, Mitchell—who has ownership ties to the Boston Red Sox—swore that he would be an impartial and independent investigator.
However, three of the biggest names in his report—Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada—each come from the Red Sox’s AL East foes.
The only big name from Beantown, Eric Gagne, was beyond terrible in his lone year with the Red Sox.
Seems like a pretty crazy coincidence, doesn’t it?
Third, there was a particularly strange phrase in his report regarding player discipline.
Mitchell urged Selig to hold off on punishing anyone who appeared in his report “except in those cases where he determines that the conduct is so serious that discipline is necessary to maintain the integrity of the game.”
Is this purposefully vague statement included simply for witch-hunt tactics?
In the end, Mitchell’s report might not shed any light on the drug problems that have plagued baseball, but it might be the loudest and most visible indictment.
If anything, yesterday’s events have proven that baseball—much like Mitchell’s investigation—has a long way to go before progress can be made.
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
After nearly two years of digging, probing, sleuthing and sifting, Sen. George Mitchell’s report on baseball’s drug problem has finally surfaced.
Now that the most anticipated piece of literature since the final “Harry Potter” book has been released, what are we to make of this 409-page epic?
On the one hand, it’s admirable to see Mitchell pull no punches when it comes to blaming not only the players, but more importantly, the culture that allowed this problem to spiral out of control.
There was virtually no plan in place to police the influx of performance-enhancing drugs, and Mitchell puts this issue at the forefront of his report.
However, there were some glaring problems with this report.
First, Mitchell’s probe is based entirely on hearsay from clubhouse attendants such as the Mets’ Kirk Radomski and the Yankees’ Brian McNamee, along with copies of checks and money orders.
The lesson here for major leaguers? Pay for your illegal drugs in cash.
Second, Mitchell—who has ownership ties to the Boston Red Sox—swore that he would be an impartial and independent investigator.
However, three of the biggest names in his report—Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada—each come from the Red Sox’s AL East foes.
The only big name from Beantown, Eric Gagne, was beyond terrible in his lone year with the Red Sox.
Seems like a pretty crazy coincidence, doesn’t it?
Third, there was a particularly strange phrase in his report regarding player discipline.
Mitchell urged Selig to hold off on punishing anyone who appeared in his report “except in those cases where he determines that the conduct is so serious that discipline is necessary to maintain the integrity of the game.”
Is this purposefully vague statement included simply for witch-hunt tactics?
In the end, Mitchell’s report might not shed any light on the drug problems that have plagued baseball, but it might be the loudest and most visible indictment.
If anything, yesterday’s events have proven that baseball—much like Mitchell’s investigation—has a long way to go before progress can be made.
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
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