It’s been 8 hours since the release of the report by Sen. George Mitchell on the illegal use of performance enhancers and the response has been overwhelming.
The media has been busy. My Google Reader is filled with formulaic articles by beat reporters for each team with the same theme: Current, former (fill in team name) named in Mitchell Report. Or if they’re lucky, No (fill in team name) listed in Mitchell Report.
By the way, no current Cubs were listed but some former Cub luminaries such as Matt Karchner, Todd Hundley, Kent Mercker, and Jerry Hairston Jr. were.
The denials have started to filter in. Most front and center, Roger Clemens says he is "outraged" about the inclusion of his name in the report. When I saw his name in the report, I was a tad disappointed but not surprised.
A valid point made by Mitchell…
"Everyone involved in baseball shares responsibility," Mitchell said during a news conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. "Commissioners, club officials, the Players Association and players. I can’t be any clearer than that."
I don’t think that can be stressed more. How this report will be spun by the MLB executives will remain to be seen but this should not be looked at as a "player’s problem". There is no doubt in my mind that MLB front office knew that steroids and other performance enhancers were an issue for years and chose to look the other way.
Finally, Congress has already reacted to the report. Specifically, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Congressmen Henry Waxman and Tom Davis issued a joint statement requesting Bud Selig, and Donald Fehr of the Players Association and Mitchell testify at a committee hearing. Congressman Christopher Shays from Connecticut wants to address the matter quickly:
"The Mitchell Report shows how pervasive a problem performance enhancing drugs have been in Major League Baseball," Shays said in his statement Thursday. "The common sense recommendations the report has laid out should be enacted as soon as possible. I am looking forward to seeing how serious they take this issue and how quickly they will implement these and other reforms."
Pardon me, but I get a little nervous when Congress tries to solve a problem. Going on historical evidence, I guess.