Much Ado About Mitchell
Major League Baseball has announced the release of George Mitchell’s report on performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in baseball. There will be a press conference, held by Mitchell, in Manhattan 2PM Thursday, December 13. Bud Selig and other MLB officials will hold their own event at 4:30PM. The report has been kept close to the vest, only recently we have learned that 50+ names will be part of the unveiling. Commissioned by MLB and given to Selig prior to its release, this is but the latest charade in the steroid soap opera.
Let me count the ways this is a slap in the face to baseball fans and the American public.
1. Timing: Immediately before the holidays, when it will quickly be replaced by mistletoe, egg nog, and good cheer.
2. Structure: “If we let these names sneak out in random tests over the next 5 years, individual players will feel a lot of heat. Let’s just blitzkreig the issue, 50 guys, all at once! Who-wah!”
3. Commisioned by MLB: Selig’s office is paying for this, so who is it ultimately going to serve? You guessed it.
And the final, most egregious, laughable, heinous detail.
4. Selig recieved the report earlier this week, ostensibly “to make sure it does not contain confidential information that if released would violate the collective bargaining agreement” (AP). Puh-leeze. Assuming Mitchell was diligent and honest, Selig and his minions will hack this thing to pieces, leaving: the usual suspects, retired players, and some career bad apples. If anyone was to severly damage baseball’s reputation, why would they make it through?
The intention was to enlist a third party, indepedent council. Selig’s censorship eliminates all credibility. Maybe some players will be named, but I don’t put any more stock in this than a press release by the commissioner’s office.
I never thought it was a good idea to put someone in charge with ties to a couple of MLB teams.
I don’t think he’ll be biased…but it gives fuel to those who tend to whine about “Red Sox bias” and such.
It’s like the whole “cheating” thing with the Patriots. Meaningless (as they have proven), but it just provides material for the crybabies of the sports world.
Does Clemens get named? I say “no”. The collateral damage to MLB would be too great.
Well I guess I was wrong ^. Wow.
Yeah, Jim, although…um…the Pats DID cheat. I’m just saying…