Congress, Baseball, Steriods; Why?

Originally posted by Seekerof
This is not a distraction agenda.

Seekerof-

Ok so this congressional committee, which has the power to pretty much investigate anything they choose, has decided that of all the issues we face today steroid use in baseball is the most important?

This simply doesn't add up imo. There are plenty of other issues they could be looking into (voting issues in ohio? prisoner abuse in iraq/afhanistan? those missing weapons in iraq form a few months ago? what about the death of Nicola Calipari? the list could go on and on and on)

I'm in full agreement that MLB needs to ban any and all steroid use- just like any other pro sport - but to waste federal time and dollars on this? No thanks. This should be delt with within the MLB not by the federal government.

I understand that much Seekeroff, but why does Congress need to be involved? The fans don't seem to mind, they are the ones willing to pay $$$ to see a game.

I would have much rather a Congressional hearing on School Reform and how we can better educate our kids so that they don't make decisions to use steroids or any other drug.

Excuse my French but # baseball, if people are so disgusted with sports figures using steroids, stop going to the games. If baseball players are so upset, then stop playing, make demands, they have millions, they can hire lawyers, why waste tax payer money on a situation that will not be so simply solved. If they seek the root of this problem and many others, they would arrive at our school system and that's what's Congress should be having a hearing on now.

Some of you need to understand that this is a way for Congress to really serve their constituency without fear of getting elected out of office. Most people agree with this and support it. Opportunities don't come around too often for Congress to put their foot down without alienating a percentage of the people that voted for them. In their minds it's worth votes, and the TV exposure doesn't hurt either.

Peace

[edit on 17-3-2005 by Dr Love]

Id rather have steroid LEGAL in baseball (or any sport) rather than a failed system of testing and policing it.

In either case, Congress needs to find something better to do, if a case like this doesnt wake up the American people I dont know what will. I am almost embarassed that our government can use a ploy like this and be successful at it!! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!

The United States is currently in the middle of a bitter fight over health care and how citizens should be getting it - even though many nations have institutionalized healthcare and it seems to work just fine.

If Congress can come down hard on Baseball over steroids, it can appear to be responsible in a large scale way to the American public towards its health. Then with the new found trust, they can pass legislation towards health care and drug regulation with this success under their belts.

What bigger, more high profile target than professional baseball to use as a test case for the United State Congress as responsible regulators of drugs (be they legal or illegal)?

Never mind that this will only make the situation worse as far as feeding the gigantic drug manufacturers. Never mind that the supposed drug wars the government has levelled against narco-traffickers has all but failed.

>>I would have much rather a Congressional hearing on School Reform and how we can better educate our kids so that they don't make decisions to use steroids or any other drug.

Excuse my French but baseball, if people are so disgusted with sports figures using steroids, stop going to the games. If baseball players are so upset, then stop playing, make demands, they have millions, they can hire lawyers, why waste tax payer money on a situation that will not be so simply solved. If they seek the root of this problem and many others, they would arrive at our school system and that's what's Congress should be having a hearing on now.


I agree with you on us spending our hard earned tax dollars on how best to improve the future of our nation (with children). But I don't necessarily agree with your other comments on baseball in general. I've always been one to think that people in the spot light like this should realize that they are role models for kids and adults. If they cheat by using illegal drugs what does that imply? That they can cheat and get away with it and be successful? I don't think it's right. They've got a gift and talent-and opportunity that thousands upon thousands wish they had an ounce of-and these people could care less. It almost seems like a societal shift, either that or people in the spotlight just get picked on more these days.

You see it's the media after all. This could have been a quiet issue but the media made it bigger, I like that guy, with the white hair, who just yelled at the media that maybe they should bring their cameras and focus on other issues that congress covers.

don't forget, W owned the texas rangers for a time, he is very involved in the sport.


reasons why congress is involved;

1) VOTES. Can you imagine taking credit for cleaning up baseball ? thats a re-election waiting to happen

2) $$$ baseball is taking a major credibility blow from the books and articles being written. There are many jobs, revenue streams at stake

3) saving face. We can't allow the symbol of american sports to become a symbol of cheating and drug abuse

4) baseball can't regulate itself. They lied to congress before about the program, and turned the other way every time it came up. They can't be trusted to enforce the rules.

5) kids. high school kids are taking steriods, and killing themselves from the pressure to be a star athlete. Some of the people testifying today are parents of such kids.

Originally posted by syrinx high priest

don't forget, W owned the texas rangers for a time, he is very involved in the sport.

Oh, here we go...it's the BUSH connection...evil must be involved.

C'mon, the reason congress is involved is because it involves a LARGE amount of taxpayers money.

Originally posted by Partyof1

Originally posted by syrinx high priest

don't forget, W owned the texas rangers for a time, he is very involved in the sport.

Oh, here we go...it's the BUSH connection...evil must be involved.

C'mon, the reason congress is involved is because it involves a LARGE amount of taxpayers money.

thats correct, as I clearly pointed out in item #2. I didn't mean to make an EVIL association, I just figured pointing out the presidente previously owned a baseball team was relevant to the thread.

.
Because it makes good political mileage.

Janet Jackson's titty, now steroid use in baseball.

It is political fluff theater for moralistic morons to distract them from the tedious, volumnous and sick legislation that is constantly being passed below the media radar.

I think it is amazing how many people lose their moral compass when they start getting religious. I guess when God is supposedly on your side you can just forget about ethical and moral considerations.

Who thinks radical religious people are basically like socially accepted crack heads? *raises hand*
.

Originally posted by Seekerof
Ask what Baseballs past truly great record makers would have to say on this issue and the answer is again, self-evident.....

Ask baseball's past record makers if they were given the opportunity to use steroids way back then. The answer would be no, because they did not exist the way they do now. I can guarantee if the dynamics were the same as today way back then, a good majority of past truly great record makers would be juicing the same as today, they were not moral heroes, just products of the times.

I fail to understand how it has escaped so many that as times progress, people expect everything to progress. People want to see superhuman homeruns, not a game full of doubles. I think there should be seperate leagues for the "purists" and for those who want to be entertained, with seperate records. Let's see which stadiums are the fullest. Just as in bodybuilding, who wants to see all natural competitors? Not many, the big crowds are at the Mr. Universe shows with Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler and such, the freaks. They absolutely, 100%, cannot acheive those physiques without many different kinds of steroids. It's completely impossible.

I understand the problems with young people using steroids, for teens they are very distructive and cause the stunting of growth among many other risks that steroids pose to them in particular, depression can actually occur when they come off steroids, after their body temporarily stops producing endogenous testosterone in response to the outside source and if they don't take HCG or something similar to kick start their own endocrine system, depression can occur, as well as gyno (b*tch tits) due to the rise in estrogen in response to the fall of test, but if they choose to use steroids in lieu of those risks, why is it the fault of grown men whose bodies are not as susceptible to those risks? Let's also not forget the countless other drugs (alcohol, ciggarettes) that kids use to be cool that have more negative effects and have caused immense numbers of teen deaths, yet strangely, they are perfectly legal. I even read an article about a baseball purist who was upset about steroid use, and the fact that they stopped selling beer in the stands, hmmmmm.

Not to mention the government has just increased the use of steroids significantly with their recent banning of Andro and other precursors (not illegal at the time MacGwire was using it). I know several people who have switched to injectables because they took away the safer precursor option. And now the government won't be getting any tax money from the andro, and are filling the pockets of illegal steroid distributors. I find it funny that women can use hormones to gain a desired effect, birth control, menopausal symptoms, etc. (female hormones carry several similar risks to women that male hormones do for men) but men who use hormones to better themselves either physically or mentally are seen as cheaters. And those who think it's not fair competition wise should take into consideration that there are many men who have naturally lower testosterone levels than other men, and they are not nearly as competitive due to that. Steroids could help them stack up when nature has condemned them. When researched carefully and used properly steroids can be beneficial to many men, when abused and not taken properly they can be harmful, just like any other drug or medication.

AP Poll on Baseball and Steroids, thought it would be a good addition to the thread:

Results of AP-AOL Poll on Attitudes About Baseball, Steroids

1. Are you a fan of professional baseball or not?

-Yes, 35 percent

-No, 60 percent

-Somewhat (volunteered), 5 percent

2. In your view, which one statement represents the biggest problem in Major League Baseball?

-The players make too much money, 33 percent (34)

-Players use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, 27 percent (30)

-It costs too much to attend a game, 22 percent (25)

-The games are too long, 8 percent (5)

-Other, 6 percent (4)

-Not sure, 4 percent (1)

3. How much do you care if professional baseball players use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs? Do you care ...

-A lot, 55 percent (63)

-A little, 23 percent (21)

-Not at all, 22 percent (15)

(ASKED OF HALF SAMPLE)

4a. If a baseball player was found to have used steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, should he be allowed into baseball's Hall of Fame or not?

-Yes, 26 percent (36)

-No, 70 percent (62)

-Not sure, 4 percent (2)

(ASKED OF OTHER HALF SAMPLE

4b. If a baseball player was found to have used steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, but only before baseball enacted rules against those drugs in 2002, should he be allowed into baseball's Hall of Fame or not?

-Yes, 32 percent (45)

-No, 62 percent (52)

-Not sure, 6 percent (3)

(ASKED OF ALL)

5. When it comes to oversight of Major League Baseball's efforts to curb the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, is Congress doing ...

-Too much, 21 percent (24)

-Not enough, 39 percent (37)

-About the right amount, 31 percent (33)

-Not sure, 9 percent (6)

(QUESTION 6 ASKED ONLY OF BASEBALL FANS)

6. Currently eight teams make the playoffs each season, should baseball expand the number of teams in the playoffs to 12, or leave the number at eight?

-Expand the number to 12, 78 percent

-Leave the number at eight, 19 percent

-Not sure, 3 percent

Its back to 61 where it belongs.


Back to when Mick and Roger took performance lessening drugs every evening.