Selig Hits HR in Congressional Hearings on Steroids

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr and former Senator George Mitchell testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday. Selig and Fehr have testified in front of Congressional panels many times before but Tuesday's hearing was in direct response to the recently released Mitchell Report on steroids and PEDs in Major League Baseball.

Let's start off with a brief timeline of some of the important dates and incidents leading to Tuesday's hearing.

In President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 20th, 2004, he said,

"To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message -- that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now."

On February 14, 2005, Jose Canseco's tell-all book "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big" was released. The book claimed widespread use of steroids in the game and Canseco named names. Many dismissed the book on its release, claiming it was a money-grab by Canseco and was merely filled with unsubstantiated claims. Among the many details in the book was Canseco's claim that President Bush, a former part-owner of the Texas Rangers, was aware of his steroid usage.

On March 5th, 2005, Selig announces the results of baseball's 2004 drug tests. The actual numbers were 12 positive tests in 1,183. A year previously the number of positives was between 5-7 percent. The latest numbers showed 1-2 percent. No player tested positively twice, so under the rules of the old program, they were neither suspended nor had their names released

On Thursday, March 17th, 2005, the House Government Reform Committee held a panel on the question of steroids in baseball. Selig, Fehr and many high-profile players testified that day and the hearings had a circus-like quality to them. Former single-season home run champ Mark McGwire dismissed Canseco's charges but insisted that he was "not hear to talk about the past." Rafael Palmeiro wagged his finger and said, "I have never used steroids. Period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that." Palmeiro later failed a drug test. The steroid stanozolol was found in his system.

Selig and Fehr were both hit hard at the 2005 hearing in front of the Congressional committee. The duo came under fire for their slow response to the epidemic of steroids in the sport. The fact that Selig and Fehr finally negotiated an agreement on PEDs and then set a precedent by re-opening the agreement to strengthen the penalties for failed tests seemed to matter little to those on the panel, who used the occasion to act tough in front of constituents watching at home.

On November 15, 2005, the parties reached a new policy. Penalties for steroid use will now be 50 games for a first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third. The new agreement also called for testing for amphetamines.

On March 30, 2006, Selig announced that former Senator George Mitchell would conduct an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball.

On December 13, 2007, the Mitchell Report was released.

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The Mitchell Report had many flaws, not the least of which was the choice of the man running the show. George Mitchell has ties to the Boston Red Sox, which immediately called into question his ability to lead an impartial investigation. But if it wasn't clear before, the reason Selig chose Mitchell came into sharp focus on Tuesday.

Members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform were not going to criticize a report issued by one of their former colleagues.

Sure, the members of the panel made some disparaging remarks, but in the big scheme of things, this was a victory dance for the sport, especially for Selig and the owners. There were no threats of additional hearings and certainly no talk of revoking baseball's anti-trust exemption.

There will continue to be a double-standard between the scrutiny received by baseball and other sports when it comes to steroids. But Tuesday showed that the sport received what it was looking for all along - it finally won the public relations battle and got Congress off its back.

The Mitchell Report named names, blamed all parties (at least partially) and asked everyone to move forward. Congress demanded action from the sport in the 2005 hearing and received two responses. The further strengthening of baseball's drug policy was the concrete portion. The Mitchell Report was the fluff, PR piece. But that is exactly what it took to satisfy Congress.

Now the sport is no longer seen as the primary culprit. Instead all of the focus will be on individual players. First, Barry Bonds took all of the heat but now he has been joined by Roger Clemens. And it appears that Congress will now turn its eyes to Miguel Tejada.

Finally, as a fan of the game, I hate Bud Selig. He has hurt the game in many, many ways. But one has to give credit where credit is due. Selig has been wonderful for the owners. He has increased the bottom line for all clubs, has created labor peace not seen since before Marvin Miller helped organize the players in the 1960s and now has won the public relations war with Congress over steroids.

It pains me to say this, but well done Bud, well done.

Sources:

2004 State of the Union Address

MLB.com: Drug Policy in Baseball

CNN.com: McGwire mum on steroids in hearing