[Steroids]Gov't to get names of 2003 MLB violators

The gov't investigation has nothing to do with baseball records.

 

Yeah, they have more imporant things on the agenda, but my post was more about, while doing so, would u advocate removing tainted player's statistics.

I'm not saying, hey lets forget about dipolomacy or the economy and focus on the baseball statistics. I could care less about the stats on a more global and national level. But in the instance, that u do find these players who have commited fraud, not only to the courts, but to everyone else who has ever enjoyed watching the game. Would you remove those player's stats in fairness to everyone else?

 

There is a HUGE difference between the IOC rules and MLB. First off, the rules were already in place banning steroids. Therefore, running a race under the influence is considered cheating. MLB did not ban performance enhancing drugs for the vast majority of Barry Bonds career. You cannot take records away for being under the influence of something was wasn't banned. That's like saying the government should retroactively arrest anyone who smoked mar1juana prior to 1937 because it's illegal now.

I don't disagree with your point. I don't like what it's done to the game. I especially hate the fact that there is a cloud over anyone who has any success in the game. The fact is, though, you can't punish someone for something that technically wasn't illegal at the time. Even if Barry is on that list, can you prove that he was on them in 2000? Can you prove that he has been on them since?

 

You really think they are doing all this to get Barry? There's a whole lot more to this than that - for starters, they aren't done with BALCO. You follow all leads and you'll find all sorts of stuff. If they find the 100 names, they can investigate the sources of all those steroids. BALCO didn't provide all that stuff. What other labs were involved, etc.

As for the confidentiality stuff - that's silly. They aren't breaking anything. Two private organizations can't negotiate confidentiality of documents that show illegal activity. As far as the steroid policy in baseball goes - it's *still* a joke. They don't even test for any of the core steroids involved in this (clear, cream, HGH, etc).

 

From my understanding, steroids were banned a long time ago. They just weren't tested for. That's why, during the McGwire HR chase, there was controversy when it came out that he was using Andro. His argument was that Andro wasn't an anabolic steroid and thus was acceptable - that implies that anabolic steroids were not allowed.

 

I'm not saying they should spend much to any time on it.

In the vacuum where Baseball stats and justice are the only things in it, would it be fair to remove the tainted player's stats. This is of course leaving out time, resources etc.

 

Okay, I agree with you that u can't retroactively punish for something that wasn't illegal before.

But what if they knew and they were banned? I think a fit and just punishment would be having all stats removed. But only in the instance that they proved u took steroids while they were banned. Make the punishment fit the crime instead of these ticky tack fines.

 

McGwire and Bonds are not in the Hall of Fame yet. And if the Hall of Fame is just an overhyped museum then they shouldn't be upset about being rejected for cheating the game while using illegal and dangerous substances.

 

No way those results should be made available...

That said and as mentioned the integrity of our National Pastime has been under attack for quite awhile.

Baseball definitely needs to be saved from itself.

The players union made so many inroads....And the owners are never going to open the books.... When Bowie was commish there should have been the implementation of a salary cap or revenue sharing....Over time we've watched the deterioration of the game.Don't get me wrong.Baseball was my first love...from the most minute factor that could cause a play to go a certain way or just the smell of the grass to what it stands for...
But..Bud Selig is the commissioner..C'mon.Just a little conflict of interest there?They don't try to hide it..The powers that be flaunt this to where it is unfortunately genuinely acceptable to most of the public.Many couldn't care less about the Roids either.If a guy produces great numbers..well,he still did it.....NO,NO,NO.This flies in the face of what America and it's National Pastime is about.

You could look at this as a microcosm for society in general.
Compromises in morals and ethics off or on the field(in Big Business) for money that decreases the sum of what we are.



My God I'm sounding like a Democrat.
Listen,the Govt has in the past and will always protect MLB.
WHATEVER IT TAKES.....to what ends is the question.