Can We Say Grandstanding?
In sometimes emotional and occasionally testy statements before a House committee, current and former Major League baseball players today pledged to help fight steroid use among America's youth and blasted former player Jose Canseco's charges that some of the sport's brightest stars -- including three appearing with him -- used the performance-enhancing drugs.
In later testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform, Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig strongly defended baseball's policy on steroids, insisting that players who test positive will be suspended and publicly identified. A copy of the policy that was obtained by a committee subpoena had indicated that the commissioner could impose fines instead of suspensions and keep the penalties quiet.
"I will suspend any player who tests positive for an illegal steroid," Selig told the committee. "There will be no exceptions. "The [Major League players] union is aware of that, and they accept it."
Selig said baseball's steroid-testing policy, first implemented in 2002 and recently strengthened, is showing results. He said first-time offenders "will be suspended for 10 days without pay and will be publicly defended." The suspensions, he said, would cost the average player $140,000 in lost salary.
"No player wants to be identified to his peers and the public as a cheater," Selig said.
In earlier testimony, Mark McGwire, who once held the record for single-season homeruns and is a major target of Canseco's allegations, fought back tears as he extended condolences to the families of young ballplayers who committed suicide as a result of depression brought on by steroid abuse. He expressed admiration for parents who testified before the committee earlier about the loss of their sons, saying, "I hope that these hearings can prevent other families from suffering."
But McGwire, a former star with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals, also denounced Canseco, a former teammate, for a recently published tell-all book and said he would refuse to identify other players who might have used steroids.
McGwire later came under sharp questioning from some committee members, who noted that he had not denied having used steroids during his playing career.
Asked if he favored a zero tolerance policy on steroids in baseball, McGwire refused to comment, and he rebuffed questions about his use of a steroid precursor that was seen in his locker during his record-setting season in 1998, when he hit 70 home runs, breaking the record of 61 then held by Roger Maris.
"I'm not here to discuss the past," McGwire said. It was a mantra he repeated often during the two and a half hours that the players spent testifying before the committee.
The statement brought a rebuke from Rep. Mark E. Souder (R-Ind.), who said that talking about the past in hearings on such matters as political or financial scandals is "what we do."
McGwire said in response to a question at another point in the hearing that his message about the drugs is, "Steroids are wrong. Do not take 'em. It gives you nothing but false hope."
With Canseco sitting nearby on the same panel with him and three other players, McGwire earlier said he did not want to "dignify Mr. Canseco's book" and that members of Congress should "consider the source" in evaluating his allegations.
The testimony was given before the House Committee on Government Reform, chaired by Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). Before hearing from the baseball players, Davis announced the formation of an advisory panel on ending the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports and said two of the players testifying today, Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, would serve as co-chairmen. Thomas was appearing via a satellite hookup.
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I sure as hell do not see the point in parading Baseball players in front of Congress!
Why not have football players up there?
Hockey players?
Professional wrestling?
There was no point today in parading former MLB players and current MLB players in front of Congress of all peopele, for the point (Only) to let Congress get thier opinions out for the next vote of the people!!!!
The FBI couldnt fit this issue into thier schedual?
Congress had nothing better to do at this moment?
I mean there are players that werent able to attend todays' grandstand meeting of the Congress because they are ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY MLB FOR STEROID USE!!!!
This matter can and will police itself without being drug infront of the Major League Grandstanders in Congress!
What a waste of taxpayer dollars.
They (Baseball) already had this problem under control, Congress is ready to shut itself down because they are to sissyfied to vote on Predident Bush's last 10 nominees for Judicial purposes, and they pick NOW to visit Baseball?
Please!!!
This only made congress, look more babyfied!!
Congress needs to step OUT of the Baseball Controversy!!
Or Elect a panel for this.
Grandstanding................Sick Idiots...........Liberals will never ever get back in this game.
In later testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform, Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig strongly defended baseball's policy on steroids, insisting that players who test positive will be suspended and publicly identified. A copy of the policy that was obtained by a committee subpoena had indicated that the commissioner could impose fines instead of suspensions and keep the penalties quiet.
"I will suspend any player who tests positive for an illegal steroid," Selig told the committee. "There will be no exceptions. "The [Major League players] union is aware of that, and they accept it."
Selig said baseball's steroid-testing policy, first implemented in 2002 and recently strengthened, is showing results. He said first-time offenders "will be suspended for 10 days without pay and will be publicly defended." The suspensions, he said, would cost the average player $140,000 in lost salary.
"No player wants to be identified to his peers and the public as a cheater," Selig said.
In earlier testimony, Mark McGwire, who once held the record for single-season homeruns and is a major target of Canseco's allegations, fought back tears as he extended condolences to the families of young ballplayers who committed suicide as a result of depression brought on by steroid abuse. He expressed admiration for parents who testified before the committee earlier about the loss of their sons, saying, "I hope that these hearings can prevent other families from suffering."
But McGwire, a former star with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals, also denounced Canseco, a former teammate, for a recently published tell-all book and said he would refuse to identify other players who might have used steroids.
McGwire later came under sharp questioning from some committee members, who noted that he had not denied having used steroids during his playing career.
Asked if he favored a zero tolerance policy on steroids in baseball, McGwire refused to comment, and he rebuffed questions about his use of a steroid precursor that was seen in his locker during his record-setting season in 1998, when he hit 70 home runs, breaking the record of 61 then held by Roger Maris.
"I'm not here to discuss the past," McGwire said. It was a mantra he repeated often during the two and a half hours that the players spent testifying before the committee.
The statement brought a rebuke from Rep. Mark E. Souder (R-Ind.), who said that talking about the past in hearings on such matters as political or financial scandals is "what we do."
McGwire said in response to a question at another point in the hearing that his message about the drugs is, "Steroids are wrong. Do not take 'em. It gives you nothing but false hope."
With Canseco sitting nearby on the same panel with him and three other players, McGwire earlier said he did not want to "dignify Mr. Canseco's book" and that members of Congress should "consider the source" in evaluating his allegations.
The testimony was given before the House Committee on Government Reform, chaired by Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). Before hearing from the baseball players, Davis announced the formation of an advisory panel on ending the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports and said two of the players testifying today, Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, would serve as co-chairmen. Thomas was appearing via a satellite hookup.
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I sure as hell do not see the point in parading Baseball players in front of Congress!
Why not have football players up there?
Hockey players?
Professional wrestling?
There was no point today in parading former MLB players and current MLB players in front of Congress of all peopele, for the point (Only) to let Congress get thier opinions out for the next vote of the people!!!!
The FBI couldnt fit this issue into thier schedual?
Congress had nothing better to do at this moment?
I mean there are players that werent able to attend todays' grandstand meeting of the Congress because they are ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY MLB FOR STEROID USE!!!!
This matter can and will police itself without being drug infront of the Major League Grandstanders in Congress!
What a waste of taxpayer dollars.
They (Baseball) already had this problem under control, Congress is ready to shut itself down because they are to sissyfied to vote on Predident Bush's last 10 nominees for Judicial purposes, and they pick NOW to visit Baseball?
Please!!!
This only made congress, look more babyfied!!
Congress needs to step OUT of the Baseball Controversy!!
Or Elect a panel for this.
Grandstanding................Sick Idiots...........Liberals will never ever get back in this game.
posted by Marie's Two Cents | 12:47 AM
1 Comments:
The way I see it is, If Congress for no other reason than to get a photo opportunity, or a plug for thier next election can get in on Baseball, which I think since all eyes are on the players now, will Police themselves}
Then Congress can get in on a mothers plea, for someone to do something for her starving daughter, no matter what hype you hear. Terri Shaivo's mom can get Congress to step in on this National issue now! This will not only affect Terri, but ALL others in her condition. Since her husband who hasnt been one in many years, who could have divorced her, and has a second family of his own now, has decided not to do the right thing since he seems to be only after the Settlement money from a malpractice lawsuit on Terri's behalf after her accident (If it was one)that he gets if she dies. I know this doesnt have much to do with the Baseball issue, but I have been for years so drastically pissed about this Terri situation, and I think the Whole Country needs to be aware! To starve someone to death? On Purpose? This matter is more important than Congress stepping in on Baseball!!
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