March 10, 2005
WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING?
When Major League Baseball touted the fact that our 'supposed' national pastime was coming back to Washington D.C. this summer, this isn't what I had in mind.
As D.C.'s new team--the Washington Nationals--trains in sunny Florida, some of baseball's biggest names are being asked to make their way to the nation's capital to testify before Congress about an issue which legislators think is so big and so out of control that they need to hold hearings over. I'm talking of course about that really big issue that's plaguing our country right now--the issue of professional athletes using performance-enhancing drugs. Jose Canseco (retired and just wrote a book), Jason Giambi (plays for the NY Yankees), Mark McGwire (this guy doesn't even play anymore), Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, and Frank Thomas have all been asked to testify before Congress, and since this is an issue that's weighing so heavily on the citizenry right now, those who don't agree to voluntarily appear before Congress, well, they've been threatened with subpoenas to do so.
Come on people... be honest... does anyone, aside from the grandstanding politicians, think these hearings are a good use of Congress' time and resources? Would any one of us be more or less likely to follow baseball if it's confirmed that a large number of players used--that's right, I said 'used'--performance-enhancing drugs in the past? Does anyone truly believe that new information about the use of performance-enhancing drugs will come out of these sorts of hearings?
You know, I could give a rat's ass about the use of steroids in professional baseball, or in any other sport for that matter. If an athlete wants to subject him or her self to that sort of thing, go for it. What Congress should be holding hearings on are the outrageous salaries professional athletes earn, fueled by the ridiculously high price of admission you and I have to pay if we want to see them play. And don't even get me started on what the stadiums and arenas get away with charging for a hot dog and soda. Now that's criminal and worthy of a hearing!
Posted by Mikal at March 10, 2005 7:56 AM
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Hear, hear! I'm in total agreement with you. In fact, if I'd been writing this, I'd have said precisely what you have said.
Congress has no role in this. The baseball commisioner should enforce whatever is right for baseball. I have little confidence that Congress can shed any new light on the subject, because both sides are pretty well-defined already. I have for a long time boycotted going to pro games because the tickets, parking, concessions are outrageuosly high. I've been priced out of the market. That's why I enjoy high school games, now. The games and concessions are affordable, parking is free, and the kids play for the love of the game and bragging rights, not millions of dollars.
