the big asterisk

[fox]

Up-front disclosure: I am intrigued to check out the Mitchell Report. I have entertained the thought of trying to pick the winners, as though the list of 50 or more steroid-using baseball players were an Oscar ballot. (The report comes out the same day as the Golden Globe nominations. Don't tell me that's purely coincidental. ;-) )

But -- forgive me for asking -- why the hell is the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in on this thing? This report was called for by the Commissioner of Baseball, which is exactly right; but I've been baffled for a long time now about why Congress is involved. I know we call it America's Pastime, but really, baseball isn't their business, is it? I mean, the drugs are illegal, which is their business; but nobody is disputing that the drugs are illegal. And if there's funny business going on in baseball, it's the baseball commissioner's office's job to deal with it, right? I really cannot comprehend how it's a federal legislative matter.

Anyone?

Comments

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

I don't think the feds are involved in this report; Mitchell used to be a senator, but Selig picked him for this gig. Only the Committee has been sniffing around the issue, and there's talk of holding hearings, and I'm just, like, into what? If they want to enact harsher penalties for use of these particular illegal drugs, fine; but baseball ≠ law, unless I missed a day of class somewhere.