I generally agree with Professor Bainbridge on most things and even when I don't, I admire his wonderful intellect. On steroids and the Congressional hearing, however, I think he is dead wrong.
Right off, baseball is a government-sanctioned monopoly no longer even granted to Ma Bell. Baseball is spectacularly subsidized in their local markets. Argue what you will about whether that money will help create jobs and fill hotels and provide work, it is used to subsidize baseball. When players receive $26 million a year, baseball is pulling in enough money so that they can build their own stadiums. On every corner if they like.
Congress has a duty to oversee the exemption from fair competition granted baseball and they have a duty to question the willingness of owners and players to regulate their own behavior. Because so far, the owners, players, and the baseball commissioner have done a lousy job. John McCain's posturing on their behalf did nothing to show players and owners that it was time to clean up. And not just steroids.
Sports drug use is rampant. The players know it. The baseball owners know it. The coaches know it. Former good guy Mark McGwire knows it. And every kid in America knows it. Kids are taking steroids and enhancing drugs drugs. Yet these players were more mad at Jose Conseco for his expose than at the reality that they were lousy human beings.
The best question asked of the baseball players today was, "Do you consider yourself a role model?" The answers were: "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" (Amazingly, McQwire thought he would be excellent!!! just excellent!!! in advising youth not to take drugs to enhance their performance and then refused to answer questions with a "I refuse to discuss the past.") Asked if they thought using drugs was cheating, they said "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" (McQwire "I am retired... blah blah")
They acknowledge they are role models. They think drugs are cheating. They all agree that outside independent testing is essential. Not one was willing to criticize either the owners or their own player association. The players were shamed and should have been.
This Congressional hearing isn't grandstanding. It's acting responsibily. For a change. If Baseball is the National Sport, how come it is the only one with no meaningful anti-drug policy? How come it is the only major sport where the officials outright lie about even having a policy? How come they have to be subpoenoed to even provide the DRAFT of a policy that no player had heard of and owners claimed was adopted a YEAR after John McCain covered for them?
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The real problem with steroids isn't that they give an unfair advantage to a player. So does good nutrition, available weight training, good coaching, etc.
The problem is that the long-term side effects are so damaging, that many players won't make the trade-off between performance and years off their lives.
But what happens when advancements in the medication reduce or eliminate the side effects? What happens when steroids, or a similar substance, is as safe as Vitamin C?
What will sports look like then?
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