This Will Cause Some Controversy..

Now knowing this is a blog about sports and music, I'm sure many of you guessed by the post title that I'm referring to the Mitchell report. The Mitchell report for anybody who hasn't opened a newspaper, watched TV, or got out of bed for the past 3 days is the report released Senator George Mitchell which compiles the history of steroid use in the MLB. The report names 89 MLB baseball players who allegedly used steroids (all MLB teams were represented in the report).

Out of everybody listed on the report, Roger Clemens was the one who caused the biggest reaction among fans. The future hall of famer (well maybe not anymore) apparently used HGH (human growth hormone) during the 1998, 2000, and 2001 MLB seasons. Just like the whole Bonds thing, it was pretty evident that he was on something. No baseball player can start on a downward spiral and then all of a sudden get to the age of 35 and become dominant. It just isn't physically possible no matter how hard you train unless you use steroids.

The race card has been thrown around this whole thing because of the scrutiny being endured by Bonds and then the lack of hatred being shown towards Clemens. First, I hate how the race card gets thrown around all too often. Certain circumstances it does apply to, but not this. People should not cry racism when it doesn't exist. The reason for the intense pressure on Bonds was because he was chasing the BIGGEST record in baseball. The whole controversy existed over whether or not it was fair that such a record with this kind of caliber should be broken by a guy who would have never broken it without steroids. The record he was chasing was that of Hank Aaron's, another black male. Clemens isn't under as intense scrutiny because while he is a future hall of famer, he isn't breaking any huge records.

The positive thing with this report is that he provides some light on the whole Pete Rose situation. If Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, or whoever else on that report makes the hall of fame then the Pete Rose situation needs to be looked into further. First off, he gambled when he was a Manager not a Player which is what he would be inducted into the hall of fame for. What he did, did not help him become a better player by an unfair measure. What Bonds and Clemens are doing is basically cheating and is the only reason why they have the numbers they do. Yes they probably would be hall of famers anyway, but there is no way they would have posted the kind of numbers they did without steroids.

I think its ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS how some sports writers are saying that nobody from the steroids era should be inducted into the hall of fame. Players like Glavine, Griffey Jr. (who would have been the best player of all time if it wasn't for his injuries), Maddux, and Frank Thomas should not be punished for the cheating ways of other players. Now I can't rule out that any of these guys didn't do steroids because even though they weren't in the report, it is possible that they took something. That's the thing. There is no way of knowing every player that did take steroids and every player that didn't. An investigation should be done, and if a player knowingly took steroids and is proven to have done so they should be BANNED from the game and from the hall. Plain and simple. Do you think it is fair for players like Glavine and Maddux to have to pitch to these steroid-ridden junkies? Their numbers could have arguably been a lot better hadn't been for the players who juiced.


The whole putting an asterik on these players is just stupid. This whole investigation has already tainted everything and an asterik wouldn't have an impact. Either you put them in all the way or not at all. Obviously I'm for not putting them in at all.

I'm not saying putting in some mediocre players who have proven not to have taken any steroids. There are plenty of good players (like I listed above) who have shown they can play the game well and not juice.

I'm also annoyed by the people who say "well there was no rule on taking steroids at one point in baseball so the players who took it before this time should be left alone". Ok there was no rule, but it was ILLEGAL. If a player stabs another player are you going to say that there was no rule against it so he should be kept in the league? Come on.

Again, with this thing it is so hard to prove anything. Nolan Ryan was referred to as the king of steroids, but that will never be investigated into. It is literally impossible to find the truth on every player so its so hard to weed out the cheaters from the true players of the game. My stance though was stated clearly and I'll say it again. Players who were proven to have taken steroids need to be banned from the league and the hall. Send a message to the other players that this game needs to be FAIR. The Pete Rose situation also needs to be looked into as well. I think he should definitely be in the hall of fame and if Bonds, Clemens, and all of them are still being considered for the hall then he needs to be also.


What will happen? Nothing. Seriously. Bonds might get punished for perjury, but there are too many players on the report to punish all of them. What they will do is possibly fine all players proven to have taken steroids, have more random drug tests, and then let the whole thing die off. It'll disappear in a few months and that is what they will wait for. Pete Rose won't be considered. Nothing will change. Bud Selig will turn a blind eye. That is what I think and I'm sure most people will disagree.