Mitchell Investigation continues in Baseball

ESPN is reporting that former Senator George Mitchell, who had been appointed by commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroid usage in baseball in 2006 (which I wrote about on 3/30/06 and you can read here). He has essentially been stonewalled by the teams and the players including the union ever since then and has not gotten much traction on this investigation. Well Mitchell apparently put a proverbial shot across the bow of the sport:

Speaking to owners on the final day of baseball's quarterly meetings, Mitchell said he intends to interview active players and raised the possibility that Congress or other government authorities could compel testimony.

"I believe it will be in your best interests, and the best interests of baseball, if I can report that I have received full cooperation from your organizations, and from others, in conducting this investigation," Mitchell said in remarks that were released to reporters.

Mitchell cited last week's Hall of Fame vote to underscore the importance of his investigation. Mark McGwire was picked on 23.5 percent of ballots -- far below the necessary 75 percent needed for induction. The vote was viewed by many as the first referendum on how history will judge an age when bulked-up players came under suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball didn't ban steroids
until after the 2002 season.

"If nothing else, the results of the Hall of Fame voting last week, and the reaction to it, offer fresh evidence that this issue will not just fade away," Mitchell said. "Whether you think it fair or not, whether you think it justified or not, Major League Baseball has a cloud over its head, and that cloud will not just go away."

Press on Senator Mitchell, I whole-heartily support your initiative. I hope baseball gets smart soon, and starts complying with your requests, before they are compelled to testify under oath in Washington DC. Just look how well that turned out for Mark McGwire.

Another side bar, also from ESPN, following up from my post on 12/19, do we really care that Baroid Bonds believes McGwire and Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. If Bonds ever expects to get into Cooperstown, then of course McGwire is going to need to proceed him there. What an absolutely ridiculous non-story. How could Baroid ever come out and say I am fundamentally against McGwire since he is tainted, oh wait I am tainted too. What else is he going to say, other than maybe keeping his damn trap shut. What a Schmuck!!!

Remember, if the Giants sign Baroid (there is some chance they may not), please BOYCOTT.