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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Mitchell Report: Part of the Solution? A Push in the Right Direction?

And Also: "We seek your leadership. But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way." Yes, our representatives help us look like losers to the rest of the world yet again, this time on the issue of the UN climate change deal. TPM has more on the children we have "leading" us. Reality leads the U.S. to have to make some choices that leave a bit to be desired, but there is something to be said for doing so with a bit more finesse.



I don't really have too much (deep) to say about the Mitchell Report, except that it was important for an outsider (though some suggest his minority involvement in the Red Sox, small as it is, taints him) with such national and international prestige as George Mitchell to look into the matter. The report, which I have gotten a taste on from local sports radio and media coverage, surely isn't a complete overall study of the matter. The seventy or so names listed are stock fill with marginal players, and do not include some obvious ones like Bonds. OTOH, marginal players would be the sorts more likely to use them, to get the extra push. Several caught under the testing regime, for instance, tended to be more marginal players, and various minor leaguers wanted some edge to get to the majors.

But, it provides an official conclusion that there is a serious problem, even if it was set up as a sort of CYA move to avoid congressional action. BTW, reports that Congress will have hearings starting next month is troubling as Mitchell notes ... there should be more time to digest the report and provide a means to provide reasoned judgment. The holidays only complicate the time factor. Mitchell himself does not want the report to be used for payback or criminal charges. He sees it as a sort of truth commission, I guess, which is a useful way of going about it. A short interview given with the NY Daily News gives a flavor ... he comes off as someone you want to be a public servant, balanced, modest, experienced, and willing to make hard decisions that just might be wrong.

Helped by the fact that only Giambi (of the Yanks, and under pressure, in part because of his grand jury testimony) among active players willingly contacted them, the report is skewered to a few places per some key insiders who testified on the matter. This helps explain the number of NY players, though only a few of them really amount to much. There is also some conclusions based on the testimony of a key person, leading to an opening for players to deny. Clemens, the big fish here, seems to be taking that tack to start. Andy Pettite, the "good guy" [no sarcasm really ... hard to dislike the guy) many are probably the saddest about, admitted to taking a growth hormone for a couple days to help an injury.

Mike Lupica is not impressed. Likewise, an article on Pettite in today's Daily News is rather pointed. It starts with a reference to "bible toting Yankee Ace Andy Petite," later noting he wrote a book entitled "Strike Zone: Targeting a Life of Integrity & Purity," and spoke of his "pious" nature. A "HYPOCRITE!" (if not "LIAR!") undertone is not exactly an out there inference here. A fan favorite, the departing catcher of the Mets, Paul Lo Duca also was listed. I guess because he is on the way out, and has a reputation as a bit of a bad boy type (at least, mouthing off), there isn't much coverage on him around here. The list did have a few other key names, including Gagne, the once light's out closer with a weak year after an injury, who the Brewers -- suggesting the insanity these days -- picked up for $10m for a year contract.

I have a feeling that many fans will not be too impressed with the report -- such with the case for many calls to the WFAN local sports station -- unless something special in addition is done next season. The overall expectations probably should be modest -- seeing it as part of the solution, part of emphasizing that there is a problem, even when only part of the evidence is examined, with a "wall of silence" in place from the players. BTW, it is logical for the player's association to be suspicious, but Mitchell's advice to not use this as a club suggests they very might have overplayed their hand. Some cooperation could have done wonders, none blacking the reputations of much more than the small subset -- serious as it surely is -- of players who violated the rules.

We shall just have to wait and see. One top sports talk host warned that sports just might be getting too real ... the dark side of reality is invading what is supposed to be an outlet. Michael Vick. Murder of a beloved player. Sexual harassment against the Knicks. Steroids and human growth hormone. Cheating in cycling and the Olympics. Our shame, what is left of it after the cynicism sets in, is well placed. The fact that sports is also supposed to be a family entertainment, heck even a place for children to find role models (not a ridiculous idea ... school sports are supposed to be character building enterprises) only underlines the problem.

Is this the sort of thing -- just one of matter things out there* -- that led Carter to say we were suffering a bout of malaise?

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* I constantly passed, and finally took out, the book Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity, and the War on Terror by Steven H. Miles M.D. It is one of those deals where I know the basics, but am provided with specifics to re-inforce them, and cement my general sentiments on the matter. It basically is a type of homework assignment. Fittingly, it is likely to lead to a lot of depression from readers, as long with some other emotions, one more way our current policy is poisoning us.

The text is under two hundred pages, well sourced (often with official documents), and powerful stuff. It not only looks at things from a somewhat different (medical) perspective, but provides a general overview of what happened as of early 2006 as well. This includes (bluntly) "torture" and criminal homicide, in various cases of people (not that this matters on a core level ... inhumane treatment is not justified if common criminals are involved) that simply did not do anything wrong. This fact is constantly elided over, ignoring blatant violations making it easier to enable the road to tyranny.

[The word to many seems hyperbole, including some alleged "originalists" whose gods thought the likes of taxes to assist religious institutions -- taxes which people could apply to the church of their choice in most instance -- were "tyranny." See also the list in the Declaration of Independence. The originalists role playing games, however, are quite creative, so they can ignore such things. And, self-righteously say they are "compelled" to do so.]