Fehr faces heat from McCain
September 29th, 2005Sen. John McCain sharply questioned baseball union chief Donald Fehr about steroids yesterday. “Don’t you get it?” McCain asked.
Even with a tougher steroid testing policy in place, baseball isn’t doing enough, McCain suggested. Fehr said he hopes a more stringent policy will be in place by the end of the World Series.
It’s about time. I’m glad someone other than Union bullies have finally started throwing their weight around. I like that Congress has stepped in and helped release the strangle-hold that the Union has had on Selig concerning steroid suspension terms. Maybe they’ll finally get something done and impose a penalty a tidbit tougher than a 10-day slap on the wrist.
What is the answer? It seems to me that it wouldn’t be that difficult to establish rules for what is acceptable and what is not acceptable re: steroid use … and then, if a player violates the rules, he receives the punishment that goes along with it. Obviously, too, the punishment should be consistent … whether it’s that slap on the wrist Chris mentioned or a lifetime ban from the game.
How difficult can this be? How much should a players’ union be able to protect players who have violated the rules? I mean, this is far different from throwing a spitball or even using a corked bat, which a player can stop doing once he has been caught — or suffer the consequences. Yet, who can say the truly profound effects that steroid use has — and will continue to have, even after a player stops using them?
Or, maybe Major League Baseball should just say: You know what? You guys know the dangers of steroid use; if you still believe the positive effects on your baseball skills outweigh the risks of doing permanent damage to your body, then go for it. * Having a Ken Caminiti moment here. *
I don’t agree with that line of thinking, but the inconsistency right now is doing so much harm to the game. I truly believe that until baseball says “no steroids, whatsoever, of any kind — and if you test positive, ever, you are OUT,” then this problem will continue to worsen.