Pretty amazing that those hearings manages to make almost EVERYONE invovled look bad. (For a re-enactment, using Legos, click here). Let's see:
Congress: bunch of blowhards, not surprisingly. Poorly informed about the new steroids policy, thinking the first offense was a $10,000 fine (though that might not have been their fault: see below). When corrected many times, they chose to ignore the real policy (suspension), sticking to a script. And good call, Matt -- NFL has a 4-game suspension for drug use, which they conveniently ignore, sticking to the Olympics' 2-year standard.
Sen Jim Bunning: had some good points, but sounded like a grouchy old man. Trying to keep his buddies in the record books. "In my day..." Sadly, no one asked him about amphetamines, which many of those same buddies were probably taking. That would've been fun to watch.
Jose Canseco: even more disgusting than before, which is quite a feat. Disavows much of what he wrote in the book about steroids being good for you, even while trying to sell the book. Using a Congressional hearing for profit -- classy.
Mark McGwire: pretty obvious how much his life sucks right now.
Curt Schilling: backtracked on much of his anti-steroids rants from the last few years. Admitted he's never seen a syringe in a clubhouse, and didn't know anyone who definitely used 'roids. Didn't he once tell SI he couldn't pat some guys on the butt because of their soreness from steroid injections?
Sosa, Palmeiro, Thomas: okay, they came out all right. Assuming they didn't perjure themselves.
Baseball, Union executives: funny to see them all buddy-buddy. And apparently the copy of the revised labor agreement they gave Congress had "sloppy language"? How does that happen?!? I'm not sure I believe them. More likely they inserted a potential loophole, and got called out on it.
The media: all acting high-and-mighty about the whole ridiculous spectacle, as if they're not actually part of the problem. Check out this gem from Jayson Stark:
"And let's give him one more shred of sympathy. Nobody would want to be put in the position this committee put McGwire in Thursday -- dragged in front of Congress, TV cameras rolling, essentially declaring him guilty the moment he walked into the room unless he could figure out some way to prove himself innocent.
We said last week we had a problem with Congress placing anybody in that un-American position. We still do."
"TV cameras rolling"?!? The only live video feed to the general public was provided by...that's right, ESPN, Stark's employer. It's sick that Stark tries to pretend that it's all Congress's fault.
Okay, enough ranting. I'm surprised to find myself disgusted at pretty much everyone involved in this whole fiasco.
Great post Earl. I especially love the Lego re-enactment. The only thing missing were the words "re-enactment" in white font on the lower left hand corner of each picture. I almost that it was the real thing at first (but then I saw the guy in a space outfit and new something was up).
ReplyDeleteI read through the NY Times coverage and it basically concludes the samething, McGwire's life sucks. That being said, it will be interesting to see what will happen in a couple of years. Oliver North isn't hurting too bad these days.
Not to defend Schilling, but NESN showed a video in which he admitted that his past comments were over the top. It's bad that he went back on his word, but at least he's man enough to admit it.
I completely agree - there is no one to like in this mess at all. Nobody comes out looking good.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the media's role in this is sickening.
Check out this beauty on McGwire from CHB:
"It sounded evasive. Transparently off topic. This wasn't about McGwire's friends, family, or teammates. It was about McGwire and his refusal to address the most fundamental question of the day -- Did you use steroids?"
I'm sorry. The question of the day was whether he used steroids? Please. I thought it was to examine the problem and "force" baseball to clean up its act. To that end Big Mac said there is a problem, he offered to help the committee, he will dedicate himself to the problem, and e said he would direct his foundation to educate children about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
And for this he is branded a cheat, a liar and a poor role model?