Bud "No It Ain't Real Squirrel On My Head" Selig Launches a (Self)Righteous Inquiry

So Bud "Can I interest you in a gentlely used 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo" Selig knighted former Senator George Mitchell to lead an inquiry in to the use of steroids in baseball. Whop dee doo! "I am shocked, shocked that gambling is going on here (feeble Casablanca reference)."

I predict no expungement of records nor asterices (note the pitchers were taking the juice too). Moreover, it wasn't against the rules at the time. It'll be known as the "Steroid Era," akin to the dead ball era, but with a stronger touch of disdain. Note, the mound was higher when Bob Gibson had an era of 1.12, a fact that neither diminishes Gibson status as a great pitcher nor the high level of excellence he displayed in achieving the mark. Bonds is an all-timer irrespective. The press doesn't like him and he doesn't like them. IMHO much of it stems from his failure to hit during the playoffs when he was with the Pirates. He was a cocky kid that had a monster set of seasons, but laid an egg in the playoffs. The press slammed him for that and he never forgot it. From there the relationship more closely resembled the Liza Minelli-David Guest "marriage".

From a business standpoint the home run boom was baseball saving grace and the owners loved it. They knew what the score was with respect to steroid use and mindfully turned a blind eye. This is an attempt to appear to be an effective self-governing business in order to keep the politicians from getting their grimey paws around this matter (in greater depth than those ridiculous inept hearings they held). Is there anything worse than listening to a bunch of grandstanding political hacks attempt to appear knowledgeable. Many don't understand the basics of constitutional law let alone the idiosyncrancies of the infield fly rule. It waspainful to watch those sessons.

Remember, above all else baseball doesn't want to lose its Holy Grail - its exemption from the federal anti-trust laws.