TheLounge
02-18-2008, 03:44 PM
The United States is fighting an unpopular war. Hundreds of thousands of people are losing their homes due to the mortgage crisis. The economy is headed toward a recession.
So what is Congress worried about? Whether or not pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, are telling the truth about Clemens’ alleged steroid use.
I had no intention of watching the House Oversight Committee’s hearing with Clemens and McNamee Wednesday morning but I turned on ESPN just to see what was going on. I became fascinated not with Clemens’ and McNamee’s answers but with the Congressmen themselves.
Boy, do those people love to hear themselves talk. I found it particularly interesting to hear the Clemens fans among them either fawn over the pitcher or grill McNamee. Dan Burton, a Republican from Indiana attacked McNamee for 10 minutes, questioning every statement he’s made about Clemens. He accused McNamee of lying when it was convenient for him.
“I know one thing I don’t believe and it’s you,” Burton told McNamee, before going to say, “Clemens is a baseball titan.”
Later, a representative from Missouri finished his questions with, “What jersey are you going to wear when you go into the Hall of Fame?” A representative from New York opened her statements by saying what a great player Clemens was for New York and what a great role model he is for kids. Another wrapped up her questioning by saying Clemens was going to Heaven.
What does any of this have to do with steroids in baseball? It’s all about grandstanding for these politicians. A chance for the country to hear them speak. Do you think they really care one way or another about steroids in baseball? If they’re so concerned about drugs in sports, why not hold an all-comprehensive hearing and bring in the NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA and NCAA and get to the root of the drug problem. Why the myopic focus on baseball?
Where are the steroid hearings for the NFL? Players are routinely busted every year —*big name players, too. San Diego linebacker Shawn Merriman missed four games during the 2006-07 season because of a failed drug test and New England safety Rodney Harrison had to miss the first four games of this season for the same reason. Where is the Congressional outrage over that? Is it because most football fans assume that football players are using performance-enhancing drugs? It’s just not natural to see guys 6-foot-2, 260 pounds running 4.3 40s.
For whatever reason, Congress has it in for baseball. Back in the 1980s, it was a cocaine scandal. Now, it’s steroids.
I beg our nation’s leaders, find some other witch hunt on which to go. The steroids hunt is a dead end.
***
I think I’ve discovered the problem with the San Jose Sharks. Sure, they have one of the most talented squads in the NHL, they’re young and fast. The missing ingredient? Grit.
I watched the Sharks dominate the Calgary Flames Tuesday night —*outshooting the visitors 40-18 — yet they came up on the wrong side of a 4-3, overtime loss.
The one thing I noticed is the Sharks rarely have anyone crashing the net, creating a screen in front of the goaltender. The Flames scored twice just by having guys set up in front of the net. Also, I didn’t see a lot of Sharks players standing up and defending their goalkeeper when the Flames were putting pressure on the goal.
The biggest problem I saw, however, was the play of super-stud Joe Thornton. Granted, he is one of the best players in the league and was the leading point-getter two years ago. Unfortunately, he is not a goal scorer. He proved that Tuesday when he had numerous chances to take shots, only to look to make a pass to someone. It’s nice to have the best player on your team want to make other around him better but sometimes the star player needs to take responsibility on his shoulders and just do it himself.
Until the Sharks develop more grit and Thornton decides to be “The Man,” they’ll continue to flameout in the playoffs.
***
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Pau Gasol. Good move. The Dallas Mavericks re-acquired Jason Kidd. Good move. The Phoenix Suns get Shaquille O’Neal. Questionable move.
The Golden State Warriors? Chris Webber. I know it’s only been a few games since C-Webb joined the team, but I think we know what we’re going to get — 2 to 4 points, 4 to 5 rebounds and 2 to 3 assists per night. Is that an upgrade?
I’m not saying the Webber deal was the one that was going to push the Warriors in the NBA finals. But it seems like a waste of money for a guy who is not going to make a difference one way or the other.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.
So what is Congress worried about? Whether or not pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, are telling the truth about Clemens’ alleged steroid use.
I had no intention of watching the House Oversight Committee’s hearing with Clemens and McNamee Wednesday morning but I turned on ESPN just to see what was going on. I became fascinated not with Clemens’ and McNamee’s answers but with the Congressmen themselves.
Boy, do those people love to hear themselves talk. I found it particularly interesting to hear the Clemens fans among them either fawn over the pitcher or grill McNamee. Dan Burton, a Republican from Indiana attacked McNamee for 10 minutes, questioning every statement he’s made about Clemens. He accused McNamee of lying when it was convenient for him.
“I know one thing I don’t believe and it’s you,” Burton told McNamee, before going to say, “Clemens is a baseball titan.”
Later, a representative from Missouri finished his questions with, “What jersey are you going to wear when you go into the Hall of Fame?” A representative from New York opened her statements by saying what a great player Clemens was for New York and what a great role model he is for kids. Another wrapped up her questioning by saying Clemens was going to Heaven.
What does any of this have to do with steroids in baseball? It’s all about grandstanding for these politicians. A chance for the country to hear them speak. Do you think they really care one way or another about steroids in baseball? If they’re so concerned about drugs in sports, why not hold an all-comprehensive hearing and bring in the NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA and NCAA and get to the root of the drug problem. Why the myopic focus on baseball?
Where are the steroid hearings for the NFL? Players are routinely busted every year —*big name players, too. San Diego linebacker Shawn Merriman missed four games during the 2006-07 season because of a failed drug test and New England safety Rodney Harrison had to miss the first four games of this season for the same reason. Where is the Congressional outrage over that? Is it because most football fans assume that football players are using performance-enhancing drugs? It’s just not natural to see guys 6-foot-2, 260 pounds running 4.3 40s.
For whatever reason, Congress has it in for baseball. Back in the 1980s, it was a cocaine scandal. Now, it’s steroids.
I beg our nation’s leaders, find some other witch hunt on which to go. The steroids hunt is a dead end.
***
I think I’ve discovered the problem with the San Jose Sharks. Sure, they have one of the most talented squads in the NHL, they’re young and fast. The missing ingredient? Grit.
I watched the Sharks dominate the Calgary Flames Tuesday night —*outshooting the visitors 40-18 — yet they came up on the wrong side of a 4-3, overtime loss.
The one thing I noticed is the Sharks rarely have anyone crashing the net, creating a screen in front of the goaltender. The Flames scored twice just by having guys set up in front of the net. Also, I didn’t see a lot of Sharks players standing up and defending their goalkeeper when the Flames were putting pressure on the goal.
The biggest problem I saw, however, was the play of super-stud Joe Thornton. Granted, he is one of the best players in the league and was the leading point-getter two years ago. Unfortunately, he is not a goal scorer. He proved that Tuesday when he had numerous chances to take shots, only to look to make a pass to someone. It’s nice to have the best player on your team want to make other around him better but sometimes the star player needs to take responsibility on his shoulders and just do it himself.
Until the Sharks develop more grit and Thornton decides to be “The Man,” they’ll continue to flameout in the playoffs.
***
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Pau Gasol. Good move. The Dallas Mavericks re-acquired Jason Kidd. Good move. The Phoenix Suns get Shaquille O’Neal. Questionable move.
The Golden State Warriors? Chris Webber. I know it’s only been a few games since C-Webb joined the team, but I think we know what we’re going to get — 2 to 4 points, 4 to 5 rebounds and 2 to 3 assists per night. Is that an upgrade?
I’m not saying the Webber deal was the one that was going to push the Warriors in the NBA finals. But it seems like a waste of money for a guy who is not going to make a difference one way or the other.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.