Meaningless Mitchell Cannot Save Selig

Bud Selig is a failure. He facilitated the Steroid Era. He ignored drugs existence. He instigated drug utilization. He induced the ramifications. Sans Selig, Barry Bonds, Ken Caminiti, and Mark McGwire may have injected. However, Selig inspired their cult.

On Thursday, the George Mitchell Report was released. Four hundred and nine pages. Eighty-six players identified. The condemned included Rick Ankiel, Bonds, Kevin Brown, Paul Byrd, Roger Clemens, Paul Lo Duca, Lenny Dykstra, Eric Gagne, Troy Glaus, Jason Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jerry Hairston Jr., Todd Hundley, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch, Gary Matthews Jr., Rafael Palmeiro, Andy Pettitte, Brian Roberts, Benito Santiago, Scott Schoeneweis, Gary Sheffield, Mike Stanton, Miguel Tejada, Mo Vaughn, Ron Villone, and Fernando Vina.

Despite the damnation, Selig verbally flexed. He also threatened punishment. “If there are problems, I wanted them revealed,” Selig said. “His report is a call to action, and I will act.”

Clemens registered eighty-two mentions. According to former New York Yankees Strength and Conditioning Coach Brian McNamee, Clemens received Deca-Durabolin, Sustanon, and Winstrol injections. Allegedly, his cheating was voluntary.

Clemens’ reaction was severe. “I have great respect for Senator Mitchell. I think an overall look at this problem in baseball was an excellent idea,” said Clemens’ Attorney Rusty Hardin. “But I respectfully suggest it is very unfair to include Roger's name in this report. He is left with no meaningful way to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations. He has not been charged with anything, he will not be charged with anything and yet he is being tried in the court of public opinion with no recourse. That is totally wrong. There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today.”

Within his report, Mitchell advocated an independent testing program. He also encouraged increased testing randomness. He suggested public disclosure of discovered substances. “Everyone involved in baseball over the past two decades -- commissioners, club officials, the players' association and players -- shares to some extent the responsibility for the steroids era,” Mitchell said. “There was a collective failure to recognize the problem as it emerged and to deal with it early on.”

The Mitchell Report is laughable. The procedure was half-assed. The pronouncements are hollow. Concerning Clemens, I do not believe a word. Major League Baseball wanted salvation. They desired revelations. Instead, they traversed into Mitchell’s former realm. Character assassination.