The home run king and best pitcher of the past generation. An All-Star at every position. And naturally, the Nationals’ newest free agent signing.
The long-awaited Mitchell Report finally shamed baseball into admitting it has a steroid problem. A cheating problem. An ethics problem.
Everyone is guilty of complicity. Of wanting to see titanic home runs and great careers extended. Of ignoring what everyone knew was wrong but didn’t want to address because the owners, front office officials and players benefitted from the game’s growing popularity. Maybe using steroids wasn’t against the rules then, but that doesn’t make it right. And, everyone knew it.
Yet, nobody will be penalized other than a lowercase scarlet letter. No one is going to jail for using steroids. No one will probably be suspended. The game will go on just like it did after several labor strikes, the 1919 Black Sox scandal and Pete Rose’s betting debacle.
The Mitchell Report is largely hot air. It has real credibility problems that any decent lawyer would destroy in court. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence that would never merit a conviction.
The court of public opinion, however, will accept these allegations for good reason — they’re probably right. While someone among the players may be unfairly named, a lot of backroom abuses have finally been exposed.
Paul Lo Duca, named in the Mitchell Report after recently signing with the Nats, perfectly explained the lure of steroids in 2002 to Sports Illustrated.
“If you’re battling for a job, and the guy you’re battling with isusing steroids, then maybe you say, ‘Hey, to compete, I need to use steroids because he’s using them,’” he said. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t condone it. But It’s a very tough situation. It’s really all about survival for some guys.”
If you have to take a pill to keep making millions of dollars, would you take it? Especially at a young age when the wisdom and hindsight of age are years away? Meanwhile, chemists have already moved on to something else. This just makes everyone more careful.
Frankly, baseball doesn’t want to do anything to diminish the game’s production. They made billions of dollars thanks to players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire. Selig is just trying to sanitize an out-of-control situation long after its benefits were received.
If rumors of steroids have been around since the 1970s, why did Selig wait so long to investigate? Because the sport has made enough money, built enough new stadiums and regained its momentum that it can now weather this fallout that will be largely forgotten within a year by a public that is quickly distracted. If baseball fans can forgive the World Series cancelled by a strike, they’ll overlook steroids abuse.
Clemens, Bonds and McGwire may be the only ones turned into modern Joe Jacksons. Their guilt or innocence will never be proven because this wasn’t a trial, but a belatedwitch hunt. Hall of Fame voters will be their only jury.
I wish there was a real lesson in all this, but it’s nothing we don’t already know. Fame and fortune will always tempt people to do whatever’s needed to obtain them.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
