The Steroid Scandal

Baseball and steroids. Goes together like Oreo cookies and milk, don't it?

All right, maybe not. But that's where the game has been for (at least) the last decade, and everyone's been tip-toeing around the issue for years like nothing's going on.

Get a clue. When a guy comes into spring trainiong having added 25 pounds of muscle, something's not kosher. And it's not like these guys are simply developing cartoon biceps -- take a look at a picture of Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire when they first started playing ball, and compare their pictures ten to twelve years later. Yes, they're older, but is it really normal to see a guy's jawline change like that?

Personally, I don't know that steroids are the reason Bonds stroked 73 homers in 2001, or that McGwire slammed 70 in 1998, or that seemingly everyone, his mother, and Brady Anderson spent most of the 1990's banging out 50 homers in a season. I think it adds to power, but does it really add to the quickness of the bat, which has been the key to Bonds' hitting? Hey, from the rumors going through baseball now, it sounds like pitchers are juicing too, mostly to allow them to return from injury quicker. Maybe this will also add three MPH to their fastballs, but I tend to doubt it.

In the end, I think media outlets will play this story to the hilt. It's bad now, but it will be even worse when spring training starts. And they may even be right -- most people are truly outraged by the whole thing, and justifiably so. There is is an easy column for anyone to write (as evidenced by the fact that I'm writing one) about this story. You can condemn the players as moral cretins for betraying the innocence and integrity of the game and shattering the hero-worship of kids who look up to them. Or you can muse about the unfairness of the situation and how the players are only indicative of our society's need to win at all costs. Or you can claim the press is blowing the story out of proportion.

Personally, since all those points will be made ad nauseum over the next few months, I'll say the following. First, Congress apparently wants to get involved in this mess, with folks like Sen. John McCain apparently stating that Congress would introduce legislation that would mandate drug testing in baseball. McCain even believes President Bush would sign the bill (and he's right, because it would idiotic politically to oppose the bill). This is a very bad idea on a number of fronts, which is why it has such widespread support -- when Nancy Pelosi and Bill Frist agree on something, you know you're in trouble.

Jokes aside, do we really want Congress getting deeply involved in baseball (or any professional sport)? I can see the need to drug test airline pilots, Amtrak engineers and nuclear power plant personnel. But baseball players getting tested for steroids is a little beyond what I think our legislators should tackle. Hey, it's an easy stand for a politician to take -- it's about as courageous as taking a stand against teenage alcoholism and infanticide. That doesn't mean it's worthy of federal legislation.

Second, regarding the integrity of the game, Barry Bonds will be inducted into the Hall of Fame someday, despite this black cloud. Anyone think Pete Rose doesn't deserve the same consideration?

Third, I find it surprising that people ahven't been quite as outraged about the fact that grand jury testimony leaked. If you're not a lawyer and don't know what this means, go ask one. I haven't got enough time to talk about why this is a huge problem, nor do I think anyone will discuss this issue nearly enough.

Fourth, does anyone else think that this is what they meant when they believed the apocalypse would occur in baseball if the Red Sox won the World Series?