WASHINGTON — The battle lines were drawn early in Thursday's House hearing on steroids in baseball when ranking minority member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., produced a chronology of 30 years of baseball, saying it couldn't regulate a steroids problem that was identified as serious as early as 1974.
"As we now know from 30 years of history, baseball failed to regulate itself," Waxman said in his opening statement.
Later in the day, players union chief Donald Fehr shot back, saying, "The players association does not condone or support the use of any unlawful substance. I can't put it any more plainly."
Legislators also expressed frustration with Major League Baseball and its new steroid testing policy.
"I've sat here for eight or nine hours," said Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "I'm not clear what the policy is."
Said Mark Souder, R-Ind., "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican or a conservative or liberal, we're upset."
In my opinion, no. It's a HUGE waste of time.vauge said:Should congress be involved in this?
shuamort said:Normally Congress wouldn't get involved, HOWEVER, and this is a dumb but pertinent "however". The MLB has an antitrust exemption granted by congress and if MLB doesn't cooperate, congress can dismantle it. Fun.
In Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League of Baseball Clubs, the Supreme Court decided that baseball was not subject to the antitrust laws because professional baseball games were purely local exhibitions, not interstate commerce, and thus were not subject to federal regulation. The decision made little sense in 1922, when it was rendered, and it is absurd on its face as applied to the multi-billion dollar business that baseball has become. The Supreme Court has recognized that the decision is an anomaly, but has stated that it is now such a long-standing anomaly that it's up to Congress, not the courts, to correct it.
President Bush said:To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now.
In this case, the Committee is clearly acting within its jurisdiction on a matter of important federal policy. The Committee has properly issued subpoenas. Any American citizen under these circumstances would be required to comply with the Committee’s request. Major League Baseball and baseball players are no different.
Hoot said:another way to take the public's mind off the real issues.
McCain was the only one putting the spot light on it, so your claim is bogus.We have far more important things for Congress to be dealing with then this baseball/steroid business, which to me, is just another way to take the public's mind off the real issues.
Squawker said:McCain was the only one putting the spot light on it, so your claim is bogus.
Squawker said:McCain was the only one putting the spot light on it, so your claim is bogus.
26 X World Champs said:McCain is a SENATOR. The hearing was in the House of Representatives!
:shoot
Pacridge said:Yeah, I don't get it how is McCain responsible for this? McCain seems to be the neo-cons favorite GOP whipping boy of late. Something bads comes up and you can't pin it on Clinton- blame McCain. I'm surprised he didn't single handedly somehow cause the UN food for oil mess too. Who knows- maybe he also helped Saddam hide a bunch of WMD's too.
Saturday, December 4, 2004
McCain threatens baseball with legislation if they don't act on steroids
By Dana Milbank and Thomas Heath / The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- As Major League Baseball's steroids scandal widened to include the sport's most prolific current home run hitter, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said Friday that he will introduce legislation imposing drug-testing standards on professional athletes if baseball players and owners do not adopt a stringent crackdown on steroids by January.
Source
26 X World Champs said:I think you're right. Of all the Republicans out there I have more respect for McCain. He speaks his mind based on what he believes, not on what is necessarily politically correct. I certainly do not agree with his politics, but I do believe he is sincere, and is not one to do what someone else tells him to do (Karl Rove) because it will get him votes.
I still wouldn't vote for him, but if he were President I do not think I would have the same dislike for him that I do have for Bush.
That just isn't true about Fox, Pac. I don't know what show you are hearing any such thing. Please enlighten me.For some reason the conservative media outlets seem to have it out for him. Whenever I watch FNC anymore they're really hammering away at him. If they're not making him sound like an as*hole- they're making Martha Stewart sound like a complete bi*ch (wonder what she ever did to them?). I think they hate McCain and Stewart just as much as Clinton.
Squawker said:That just isn't true about Fox, Pac. I don't know what show you are hearing any such thing. Please enlighten me.
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