11/05/24
March 10, 2004
Senate tries to have an intervention with MLB about their legitimacy problem.: "As your athletes get bigger and stronger, the credibility of your product in the eyes of the public gets weaker."
Selig and Fehr appear before the Senate and are raked over the coals . editorial note: (hooray!).
posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 12:24 PM - 20 comments
At a time when soldiers are dying overseas and the economy is in the tank, it's ridiculous for politicians to spend time worrying about baseball. I'm disappointed in Sen. McCain for showboating like this.
posted by rcade at 07:22 AM on March 11, 2004
rcade, I couldn't disagree more. Baseball is an integral part of our free society, and keeping it legitimate is critical. The gov't should not get involved, except for the fact that MLB and the Union aren't getting it done. I absolutely welcome congressional interference, because it should at least convince the union how serious this is. I get the impression that the union thinks they are bigger than baseball. They are sorely mistaken.
posted by vito90 at 08:15 AM on March 11, 2004
Doug Pappas weighs in.
posted by mbd1 at 09:03 AM on March 11, 2004
I totally agree with rcade. Which is more important: national security, health care, jobs, or baseball? I love the national pastime, but it's a frivolity compared to real issues. If the President had owned a circus instead of the Rangers, they'd be pushing to drug test elephants right now.
posted by jeffmshaw at 10:15 AM on March 11, 2004
BushFilter hits SpoFi.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:24 AM on March 11, 2004
But the bigger elephants get, the credibility of the circus in the eyes of the public gets... No wait, that doesn't work, does it.
posted by chicobangs at 10:28 AM on March 11, 2004
Just because other things are more important doesn't mean resources cannot be devoted to other "frivolities". Last I checked, the government was a many-tentacled thing, capable of walking and chewing gum simultaneously.
posted by vito90 at 10:30 AM on March 11, 2004
There's always going to be a bigger issue the government should be addressing. Somewhere, companies are polluting the earth, a child or his mother is being beaten, someone is homeless, hungry, bleeding, dying, being kidnapped or exposing their scary sunburst nipple shield to millions on tv. And really, won't someone think of the poor defenseless nipple shields? Please don't make me start reciting "We Didn't Start the Fire" lyrics. You can apply that theory to any investigation, movement or directive the government persues. That fact doesn't downgrade or make the steroiods controversy any less of an issue. Look, I hate Bush as much as... well, half of America apparently... but I see a bit of legitimacy in spending a little bit of time exposing the mockery that is the illegal steroid use and subsequent testing in baseball. and what vito said.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:43 AM on March 11, 2004
rcade, jeffmshaw - I pose this question to you...if not Congress, then Who or What entity does Major League Baseball (meaning all of baseball, not just management but the union as well) ultimately report to? And if your answer is "the fans", well I suppose Congress is the elected representative of the fans. And if the answer is themselves, as in the final arbiter of baseball policy is baseball itself, then Congress should immediately rescind their anti-trust protection.
posted by vito90 at 10:50 AM on March 11, 2004
In case anyone is interested, here is a list of all the prepared remarks of all the involved parties. You can get the video of the hearing through C-SPAN for fifteen days, but I haven't been able to find an actual transcript.
posted by Jugwine at 11:17 AM on March 11, 2004
I'll admit I am a little weary about Congress getting involved in baseball, but I am definitely for something to happen. Perhaps we could have representatives, a Congress if you will, made up of fans. Something like a check and balances. Just like the government, you have three tiers. The union which represents the players, the owners, and the fans. Thought out right, I think something like this might work.
posted by jasonspaceman at 11:21 AM on March 11, 2004
Well, a Congress of fans seems a little redundant to me. Fans really do have the ultimate say in what goes on in any sport, because all they need to do to force a change is to stop spending their money. If you don't have a Nielson box, the only thing you need to do is stop going to games. The reason nothing was done about Steriods until recently was because, in my opinion, the fans didn't care. Remember, that baseball was 'saved' by the long ball -- McGwire & Sosa's home run derby. Increased production led to increased fan interest. The only real way to force change is by hitting owners (and therefore players) in their pocketbooks.
posted by Jugwine at 11:28 AM on March 11, 2004
this is a waste of time and taxpayer loot. what can the gov't possibly do? what action could they take to stop this? other then parading the usual suspects in to a committee every once in awhile for a public verbal spanking...there isn't much else other then rescinding anti-trust, which IMHO is about as likely as the devil rays winning the AL east. while i think that there needs to be better enforcement, it's still not going to stop players from trying to get whatever edge they need to be better both on the field and in the wallet. unfortunately, there's a vested interest by all the parties involved to keep the game as popular as possible and keep the dollars rolling in as large as possible. the more home runs and records shattered the better for all of these parties involved. that doesn't make it right, but their bottom line says otherwise. i want the game to be respectable just as much as the next spofi'er, but we're coming into an age where the cheaters are three steps ahead of the screeners. while all this is going on there's probably a new drug that the public is unaware of that acts like a steroid. you think a player is going to resist that temptation? i think not. for all i know there's pitchers taking drugs to increase coordination. bottom line....it's up to MLB and the MLBPA to work together to make sure the players are not endangering their own health while having, at the very least, an acceptable testing and screening policy of banned substances. this way everybody is happy and the public can act like we're getting a legit clean product on the field....but, IMHO, the reality of it is either or any way you cut it, it ain't ever going to be legit.
posted by oliver_crunk at 11:30 AM on March 11, 2004
I think the first step would be to hire a real commisioner.
posted by vito90 at 11:33 AM on March 11, 2004
posted by jasonspaceman at 11:50 AM on March 11, 2004
I'm not picking on you, jason, but I'm not sure he "chimed in" as much as he threw himself in the middle of the pool cannon-ball style. Jebus. "Henry Aaron never hit 50 in a season, so you're going to tell me that you're a greater hitter than Henry Aaron?" "Bonds hit 73 [in 2001], and he would have hit 100 if they would have pitched to him. I mean, come on, now. There is no way you can outperform Aaron and Ruth and Mays at that level." "Now, all of a sudden, you're hitting 50 when you're 40." Basically Mr. O is saying, 'Get of the juice, Barry'.
posted by 86 at 11:58 AM on March 11, 2004
of = off. Me fail english?
posted by 86 at 11:59 AM on March 11, 2004
this is a waste of time and taxpayer loot. You're right. Let's look at some of the Senate's other pressing matters of the day:
- Congratulating the University of Delaware Men's Footbal Team for Winning the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship
- Honoring Retired Senators in the Idaho State Legislature
- Honoring the 175th Anniversary of the Fayetteville First Baptist Church
- Commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959
- Announcing 'Women in Science Week' in South Dakota
posted by Jugwine at 12:00 PM on March 11, 2004
I think people are concerned about this at SpoFi because, well, we're mostly composed of hardcore sports fans. I don't think the general public cares much about steroids in baseball. It's true that you can apply the "focus" argument to any political issue. But these days, it seems to apply much more -- there are lots of issues of critical importance that merit more attention than they are receiving. I care a great deal about steroids in baseball, but I don't care nearly enough to get the feds involved. Vito: Clearly, the federal government has jurisdiction over baseball. The question is whether the federal government should exercise said jurisdiction, and in this fashion. I say no. I don't think it'll be effective, I don't think it'll be productive, and I think time and money are best spent on other things.
posted by jeffmshaw at 12:10 PM on March 11, 2004
In the excerpt I heard while driving home from work yesterday, I got the impression that Selig was very willing to begin a stringent testing policy, while Fehr did nothing but dance around direct questions from Sen. McCain. I especially liked when Fehr made the statement about there being no more room for compromise in this situation, and McCain emphatically said, "No room for compromise?" Reminding me of Jim Mora a few years back saying "Playoffs??"