I have been following the MLB performance enhancing drug usage scandal as much, well maybe not as much, as anyone. I read and listened to the Marion Jones debacle and shrugged my shoulders and bowed my head. I remember when Ben Johnson lost his status in the track world for using outlawed drugs and did much the same thing. I firmly believe that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were using performance enhancing drugs when they went on their homerun barrage that helped return the fan to MLB. I also firmly believe that Bud Selig and Donald Fehr knew about it and didn't do anything constructive about it. MLB and the MLBPA have to be responsible enough to step up to the plate and accept responsiblity for this ugly mess we have in MLB. And it starts with their respective leadership. Instead of casting stones at one another they have to put that behind them come to some kind of agreement on what is banned and what and when testing should be done. It is something they have to agree upon and I, personally, think it is the only way baseball will ever get past the steroid era.

I am sick and tired of hearing Bud Selig sound like the tough guy now after he turned a silent ear and eye to this issue when the power hitters were filling the seats again. This guy is a sham and should be considered as such. Here is the tough guy on the result of the Mitchell Report which he authorized on March 30, 2006.

"I haven't seen the report yet, but I'm proud I did it." - a comment on December 12, 2007 the day before the report was made public.

Selig referred to the Mitchell Report as "a call to action. And I will act."

"Discipline of players and others identified in this report will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If warranted, those decisions will be made swiftly." - another comment made by Selig as a result of the Mitchell Report.

Is Fehr an innocent here? Not hardly, but you know what, he knows it. In his press conference regarding the Mitchell Report Fehr accepted some responsibilty for the steroid problem in MLB. At the same time he voiced his concern for the players named in it and how they would be treated by the league. Was Fehr wrong to issue to the players the following statement regarding their cooperation with Mitchell? "While Senator Mitchell pledges in his memo that he will honor any player request for confidentiality in his report, he does not pledge, because he cannot pledge, that any information you provide will actually remain confidential and not be disclosed without your consent. For example, Senator Mitchell cannot promise that infromation you disclose will not be given to a federal or state prosecutor, a Congressional committee, or even turned over in a private lawsuit in response to a request or a subpoena."

The Mitchell Report, authorized by Bud Selig, focused on players using and did not investigate the role teams played. The Mitchell Report claimed that the MLBPA was "largely uncooperative." Can't imagine why. Hadn't the MLBPA agreed to anonymous testing in 2003 only to find out that anonymous went out the window when the names of those who tested positive appeared in government documents during the BALCO investigation. How could that have happened, Bud? And why did Mitchell give Selig an advance copy of the report but not the MLBPA? Jason Giambi was interviewed by Mitchell because of his history and comments regarding steroid usage. He was also threatened with discipline by Big Bad Bud.

So, who do you believe? Bud and MLB or Donald and the MLBPA? Do you believe Roger and Barry or do you believe Kimberly Bell and Brian McNamee? Do you believe the 89 players who weren't supposed to be named in the Mitchell Report, but were, or do you believe a couple of guys who wrote a book about steroid usage in MLB? I don't know. I have such a hard time with it and apparently the lying isn't only in MLB.

Imagine how shocked I was when Robert Irvine, the culinary star of "Dinner:Impossible" on the Food Network disclosed that he kind of "cooked up" some of the stuff on his resume. Like he never really cooked for the Royal Family or various U.S. Presidents. His response..."I am truly sorry for misleading people and misstating the facts." Really? The Food Network's response...it won't be renewing his contract. How about that...simple and easy. He lied and now he will fry.

And then there is Margaret B. Jones who had her critically acclaimed memoir, "Love and Consequences" published last week. Margaret had a rough life being half white and half American Indian growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a foster child hanging with gang####ers and running drugs with the Bloods. Sounds rough doesn't it? Guess what...it ain't true. Maragret B. Jones is actually Margaret Seltzer who is all white and grew up in well to do Sherman Oaks, CA. Didn't hang with gang####ers and probably wouldn't know a Blood from a Crip or a red crayon. Her response..."For whatever reason, I was really torn and I thought it was my opportunity to put voice to people who don't get listened to," she said. "Maybe it's an ego thing...I don't know. I just felt that there was good that I could do and there was no other way that someone would listen to it." Her publisher's reponse. Recalled all copies of the book and has cancelled her book tour. Simple and right to the point. Bingo. You lied...you stay home and put roses between the pages of all the copies of your never to be read book.

So, do any of you think MLB and the MLBPA could ever get to satisfactory justice the quick and easy way? Hell no! Neither is willing to make the kind of concessions necessary. Fehr will continue to be a stalwart for the players and until they direct him to make changes and find a peaceful middle ground nothing constructive will happen on their end. And as long as Allan "Bud" Selig is the commissioner of MLB the ego driven attitude of its leadership will never be willing to admit any responsibility for this sad part of MLB. Selig is more than willing to jump to the front when it comes to accepting accolades for increased attendance and revenues. He is more than willing to jump all over the accolades that come with establishing International play. He is more than willing to take credit for the success of Wild cards and the playoff format and interleague play. And, maybe he should. But it ain't all it seems Bud. You have to take the good with the bad. You are the presiding leader of MLB during what could arguably be called it's greatest scandal. And you ain't lily white in this deal.

Sadly, in MLB, on the Food Network and in certain literary pages, nobody is who or what they appear to be. I suppose it is like that all around us. So why do we let the baseball thing get us where we turn into something other than what we really are? Or is this really the worst thing going on around us now? Is this really what should be taking up our news pages and our Congress and FBI's efforts on a daily basis? Can't they just say that if you used these drugs you are done? Can't they just say that if you lied about it you are done? You know, as much as I cannot stand the hypocrisy of the Court of Public Opinion I think in some cases I would appreciate the expediency with which these kinds of things are dealt with. It hasn't been proven that Barry Bonds used these drugs or even lied about it but the COPO (Court of Public Opinion) has determined he is guilty. Barry...you're fired. Roger hasn't admitted using them and any evidence against him is...well...curious at best. But the COPO says he is guilty as hell. Roger...you're fired. The 89 guys in the Mitchell Report...sorry fellas...you're fired. Donald Fehr...you're fired. Hey Bud, this Buds for you and...you're fired...twice! 

Maybe it really is time to shut off the television and cancel the newspaper subscription. Now ain't that a sad state of affairs.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Information used in this post came from the Tuesday, March 4, 2007 of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and from MLB.com and wikipedia (yea, whatever!)