State and Sport?

Centuries ago, the debate between Church and State dominated society headlines. The issue of whether or not to separate the church from the everyday decisions involved within the country reverberated day after day. Today, the issue of the state interfering in athletics resembles the struggle experienced many eras ago.

Experiencing one of the most tumultuous eras in baseball, steroids has tainted a game that was once so pure, so genuine. Inadequate players trying to get ahead in a game that thrives on pure talent have created a generation of baseball that will be looked upon as one of the most unsuccessful and question-filled years of the sport.

I was at work today and found a few minutes to catch the live testimony of Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee and I started to think to myself why are these athletes on Capitol Hill being interrogated by Congress Men and Women about whether or not they used steroids? I, in no way, advocate the using or dispensing of steroids; however, I do not advocate the use of my tax dollars to repeatedly question athletes and trainers about what they did 10-15 years ago in regards to steroids in baseball or any other sport for that matter. If the use of steroids in sports somehow compromises the security of the country, then I would be calling for all athletes' heads to report to Capitol Hill and answer to every question brought forth by our Congress Men and Women.

I sat there today watching the testimony and trying to rationalize how all of these politicians can spend (or waste) in excess of 3 hours of their time discussing who is lying, who is telling the truth, who shot who with steroids, deciphering what B12 is, and who's wife is juicing. How about we spend in excess of 3 hours discussing the healthcare crisis this country is facing, or the economic crisis we are in, or the unemployment rate over the past few months, or the lack of morality in this country. What about those issues? Instead, an incompetent baseball Commissioner (yes, you Bud) runs to Congressman Mitchell to investigate steroids in baseball (which wasn't even a complete report) and uses every opportunity to spend my tax dollars for something me nor my family will gain from. Will someone please explain the logic of this?

Let sports manage sports and leave the congress men and women to continue to screw up our country. It is absolutely asinine that athletes resort to the use of steroids or any other metabolic substance to enhance their bodies and their performance; and, yes, they should be reprimanded....by Major League Baseball, not The United States of America. I do not believe what these athletes did compromised the security of this country nor do I condone what they did or allegedly did; but, Bud Selig needs to grow a pair and figure out what the hell he's doing and fix a problem that he created (or didn't stop).

I hope Roger Clemens is telling the truth; I honestly do. It will be devastating for baseball to see one of the perennial heroes in baseball accused and proven guilty of cheating in a game that should be left to strikes and runs determining the outcome.

Alright, enough of my ranting. I'm off to watch my Dukies and Gary Williams sweat through another suit. Sweeeet.

Toodles.