When"The List" came out, I was told by someone involved in the baseball investigation of steroids and performance enhancing drugs, the intent was to make Barry Bonds the face and most highly scrutinized player of the MLB steroid era. Seemingly enough, with the help of the BALCO raid, the evidence against Bonds was mounting a pile of crap higher than the words that came from Mel Gibson's mouth. The federal prosecutors had the upper hand. What they did not count on was that Greg Anderson, Bond's personal trainer would be so tight-lipped throughout the entire investigation. It is apparent he will never testify and thus far has proved it by serving more than a year in jail. Recently, all six of the charges that involved Anderson were thrown out. Of course the federal prosecutors will attempt to bring Anderson back for his testimony, clearly a pointless effort on their part.
At this point the prosecutors are scrambling and hoping a positive drug test from 2003, testimony from a former girlfriend and personal manager, will be enough to prove Bonds lied when he was in front of a grand-jury in 2003. In my opinion, without the testimony of Anderson and already numerous unfavorable rulings by the judge, the case seems weak and the citizens tax dollars are once again wasted on a wild goose chase. Another case where resources are being wasted is the case against Roger Clemens. Clemens is being indicted on charges of perjury, making false statements, and obstruction of Congress. Clemens former trainer Brian McNamee testified he injected Clemens with steroids and growth hormones. McNamee also stated he stored syringes used to inject Clemens. My question is, why has so much effort been put into the Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens case ? So what if they lied ! Players, fans, and media have already resigned themselves to the fact the steroid era existed in Major League Baseball. Just about half or more than half of baseball players at that time used some form of performance enhancing drug. Commissioner Bud Selig has all but washed his hands of the entire steroid era and has moved forward.
In this country we have murders, Ponzi scheme professionals, and crooked corporations that should be at the forefront of investigations by federal prosecutors, yet they are adamant about proving Bonds and Clemens's guilt. CEO's lie in front of congress everyday, even congress-persons lie in front of congress daily. It can't be that Bonds and Clemens arrogance, brash, and strong personalities are the reason for this witch hunt. My conclusion is this.. From what I understand from friends and associates who are attorneys, the only way you move up is by number of cases and how high the profile of the case is. What better way to notch a mark on the headboard than convicting Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens. I have researched many articles and stories involving these two cases, and the only legitimate reason stated, besides "lying under oath" were the prosecutors in the Bonds case have "a righteous feeling that their charges are valid." The definition of righteous "is acting in accord with divine or moral law." It also means "free from guilt or sin." Personally, I find it hard to believe these cases are only being tried from a morally lawful position. Is lying under oath morally wrong ? Yes. Is stealing money from hard-working Americans , watching dollar bills float through the sky in the form of fumes from the private jets flown by CEO's and executives like GM and Madoff morally wrong ? Yes. Watching companies like Citigroup give its executives pay raises totaling millions in cash and stock during a huge recession ? Yes. Meanwhile ,Congress is worried about two professional baseball players accused of "lying" about supplements.
Congress should not be involved in professional sports, period. There is no reason why congress should be called to regulate a steroid scandal, collective bargaining agreement, salaries, or anything sports related. Try getting back the 50 billion dollars Madoff stole from citizens of this country both old and young. I love this country, however at times I am embarrassed by the backwards thinking our so-called "higher up" or "intellects" use. At the conclusion of these trials whether found guilty or not guilty, Major League Baseball will continue to move forward. Nothing about the game will change, neither past or present.
"Congress should not be involved in professional sports, period. There is no reason why congress should be called to regulate a steroid scandal, collective bargaining agreement, salaries, or anything sports related."
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, Marcus. Before I read that paragraph I was going to reply by saying I have no idea why Congress is involved in any of this in the first place. Congress is the chamber from which our nation is governed and legislated, and where decisions are made that effect the future of its citizens. Steroids, collective bargaining agreements and the like are not important to society and should not be given any priority in the halls of our government's highest level.
I don't know who advised Congress to get involved in the first place, or why they chose to take up the task. It is probably because some congressman wanted to make a name for himself by burning some big athletes at the proverbial stake, like you said in your post. It's a sad state of affairs we find ourselves faced with. So many important things needing to be resolved but our government is concerned with issues unrelated to the well-being of the American people.
But what can you, as a single citizen, do about it? Write on your blog, I guess. That's the best any of us can do.
By the way hope things are goin well man.