Random Musings on MLB and Steroids

Just when you thought things could not get worse for the "National Pastime", they did. Last year it was revealed that Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds have taken performance enhancing drugs. (Bonds of course denied the evidence against him and claimed that he didn't know he was using banned substances. PLEASE. It is amazing how our natural response is to deny wrongdoing even in the face of irrefutable evidence).

Anyway, facing tough criticism from fans and even some warnings from Congress, MLB and the players' U-N-I-O-N went to the negotiating table to iron out new policies on steroids. The agreement prescribes penalties for first-time offenders that increase in severity as repeat violations occur. The penalty for a first time offender is a 10-game suspension without pay, second-time is 30 days, third 60 days, fourth 1 year and fifth TBD by league commissioner. The agreement also calls for testing of every player in the league at least once per year plus random testing, provides an expanded list of banned substances. Both sides hail this as a solution to the steroid problem.

The way I see it:
- Steroids and other "controlled substances" are just that. If they are not administered by a licensed professional then they are illegal. Period. The fact that MLB has an "agreement" with its players on the penalties associated with use of these illegal substances seems a bit odd to me? It should be a freakin' policy, one that the players don't get to vote on. Employees don't get to vote on drug policies at work. They don't get together in a union and decide the severity of punishment for testing positive for pot, and the guidelines for testing. Idiots.

- The agreement should be about incentives; that is, creating incentives for not using steroids. If MLB agrees with this then use the same rules that the Olympic Committee uses. First-time offense - 2 year ban, second offense - lifetime. Now that's some incentive. Some argue that the Olympics use the doping rules to keep nations and athletes from gaining unfair advantages, and that doesn't translate over to MLB. Whatever. You want people to quit using steroids, make the penalties hurt. 10 games out of 162 or whatever ain't shit. The Olympic doping rules are also a great check on the integrity of the game. Hey MLB - remember integrity? Or did you forget about it after smoking too many fat ones rolled in $100 bills?

- If you're serious about this then include amphetamines on your list of illegal substances. If you're serious about it then don't include human growth hormone on the list but disallow blood testing which is the only way to detect HGH. Freakin' idiots!

- The biggest plus that I see is that there is now a penalty for first-time offenders, versus "counseling". Unfortunately the penalty does not compare to the same NFL penalty which is 4 games without pay or almost 25% of the season.

This agreement is a step in the right direction... but unfortunately this game is miles away from integrity. Sorry Barry, but your records have asterisks by them in my book. I don't care that the rules didn't disallow his actions - the rules are soft and always will be because of the bargaining power of a multi-millionaire "union".

National Pastime? Please. More like National Joke. And by the way, the NHL can go fuck itself.