Mitchell report names names in baseball steroids saga

By Larry L. Stephens

Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell has released the report on his investigation of past and present major league baseball players who used or purchased steroids, performance- enhancing drugs or human growth hormones. More than 80 players were named and one name I thought would be there was not. (More on that player later).

Some of the people who made the list are: Kevin Brown, Matt Franco, Glenallen Hill, Paul Lo Duca, Andy Pettitte, Mo Vaughn, Rondell White, Troy Glaus and Miquel Tejada. The much-anticipated report came out and ace pitcher Roger Clemens was on the list and got the most attention. Barry Bonds was almost an after thought. Sammy Sosa did not make the list. He must be one hell of a ball player.

Through his lawyer Clemens denied using anything to enhance his performance. Former outfielder David Justice also denied using any drugs. Some players did step up and did admit to using that stuff. Former player Jose Conseco had already admitted to using and he also named names in his book.

For most of the players on the list, if they were on the juice, their numbers did not reflect any major enhancement in their game. There were copies of checks that players used to purchase drugs. People interviewed told investigators whom they saw use drugs or to whom they themselves gave drugs.

A big issue in the drug thing is major league baseball did not have a drug testing policy for the longest time. Many players on the list never tested positive for any drugs. Bonds has stated that he never knowingly took steroids and he also has never tested positive. Bonds is the new home run king and many think it is a tainted record. Clemens now has many pitching records but did they come from him being on the juice.

Baseball is now under a microscope and we will wonder who's on juice and who's not. Is a player having a good game or is he on an undetectable drug? Some players are tempted by performance enhancing drugs because they want to be the best-or maybe it's for the money they can get with incentives for better performance. Some of Mitchell's recommendations to curb the problem are to establish an independent drug testing program, unannounced testing and flexible program changes.

As the old folks would say "this is a mess"-a mess that might never get cleaned up. As with Shoeless Joe Jackson of the Chicago Black Sox scandal, "Say it ain't so?."

This is part of the December 19, 2007 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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