Polticians Strike Out...

Major League Baseball Returns to D.C. for the Second Time in a Year

First it was the relocation of the Major League Baseball owned Montreal Expos to the Washington D.C. area. The new team now known as the Washington Nationals will be the third franchise to call our nation’s capital its home. The first two franchises were both known as the Washington Senators. Both of these organizations failed, with one relocating to Minnesota becoming the Twins and the other relocating to Texas, now known as the Rangers.

"Perhaps Senators failing in Washington is America’s true national pastime!"

Today Major League Baseball will return to our Nation’s Capital for a second time in the same year. Selected players subpoenaed by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform have been summoned to appear regarding steroid use in baseball.

Why has the Federal Government decided they must intervene in this matter?

One possible reason mentioned is due to the fact that steroids are now being used by High School athletes competing in sports for future scholarships and professional contracts. In addition to the direct health effects of steroid use, some parents have claimed that steroids have also led to their children/athletes committing suicide.

A second possible reason mentioned is due to the fact that baseball is considered America’s national pastime. A pastime measured by statistics, and the beliefs that players pumped up on steroids are now distorting these statistics.

The final possible reason given is the lack of governing by Major League Baseball regarding steroid use. The new ruling regarding steroid abuse is 10 days for a player’s first offense, 30 days for the second, 60 days for the third, a year for the forth and/or fines. These represent the majority of the reasons given by the U.S Government for their intervention on steroid abuse in baseball.

Now allow me to provide a “bird’s eye view” regarding these hearings.

I agree steroids are an issue among young High School athletes, however our nation’s public education system is failing and that is a true crisis. Where are the hearings regarding this fact? Where are the hearings regarding the over prescribing of Rittlen among our children? Where are the hearings regarding how FDA approved drugs like Zoloft that lead to children suicides? Where are the parents regarding their own responsibility of steroid use by their children?

Baseball Hall of Famer and Senator Jim Bunning said that when he played the game that "a 150 pound second baseman could not hit a baseball 425’, and only Mickey Mantle had the strength to hit a baseball that far." Mr, Bunning when you played baseball the pitcher’s mound was five inches higher and weight training was non-existent. Sure players like Mantle and Ruth were blessed with strength and the uncanny ability to hit a baseball, but they were also drunks. Another factor that may contribute to the fact of such an increase in power is that the baseballs used in today’s games are juiced more than the hitters.

Baseball is our national pastime and has always been a mirror that reflected the good and bad of our society. The same is true for today’s situation. Failed leadership in baseball is a direct reflection on the failed leadership in Corporate America and our political landscape. Baseball’s commissioner Bud Selig not only failed to put in place an effective plan for eliminating steroid use in baseball, but in 1994 he allowed the World Series to be cancelled by failing to negotiate with the players union. Not even World War II caused the World Series to be cancelled. Sure the players union are somewhat responsible for both of these issues, but as I stated earlier baseball is merely a mirror of society, the lack of leadership within ownerships and unions have been responsible for the negative impact on many aspects of our society for years. If Bud Selig were in the batter’s box his count would be NO BALLS and ONE STRIKE. If George Bush and the majority of America’s politicians were in the batter’s box the count would simply be NO BALLS.

Perhaps another reason for today’s hearings is Representative Tom Davis (R) of Virginia a driving political force behind today’s events was driven further by the greed of the former Expos relocating to D.C. rather than his home state of Virginia.

Players that use steroids are cheaters and should face harsher penalties, but this should be governed by baseball. Sure drug testing can be improved by Major League Baseball, but its current standards are substantial when compared to the NBA. Then again our government has a 250 year track record regarding its compassion toward minorities. In fact not one family testifying that their child committed suicide was a minority, they were all white. Whether it is smoking blunts by the NBA players, or MLB players taking steroids, the same arguement holds true that the habits of atheletic role models impact the habits of impressionable youth. Perhaps the only difference is steroids seem to impact young people with a lighter (whiter) skin pigmentation.

If our government wants to have hearings our nation faces many real crisis, and steroids are merely an issue.

I truly would like to see the players called before the hearing committee today exercise their rights and plead the 5th during the witch-hunts. Not based upon their guilt, but for the stupidity of such a forum, and the waste of taxpayer money.

When it comes to effective leadership in government, I believe it is time to PLAY BALL! Today's hearings only demonstrated that stupidity is bipartisan.