I'll Sue You

UPDATE - 1/14 10:00 am - Okay, we're thoroughly red-faced and embarrassed right now - no, no one got a hold of a sex tape - the lawsuit is for $221. Either the UPI misreported the story yesterday or we need new glasses. Thank you for the 2 readers who pointed it out!

The steroid debacle just took another crazy turn. Americans are litigious by nature, so its only natural that someone would file a lawsuit against major league baseball. Or in this case, the Yankees.

Matthew Mitchell (no relation to George Mitchell that we know of) has filed a $221 million lawsuit against the Yankees for using steroids and human growth hormones. The 30-yr old paralegal must figure the court system doesn't have more pressing issues, so why not tie it up with some more ridiculous suits.

"I look at it almost as a consumer fraud," Mitchell said about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the major leagues. "If I'm going to watch a baseball game, then I expect it to be real."

Mitchell wants the money back that he paid for tickets for 5 games he attended from 2002-2007. $221 million? Some scalper must have made a fortune off of him.

UPI

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Do You Swear?

Roger Clemens did plenty of plenty of swearing in his press conference the other day, but he'll soon be swearing on a Bible in front of congress. That according to Henry Waxman (D-Calif), the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Since the committee's time for questioning is limited, they can go more in-depth with those testifying under oath. Typical congress though. Tobacco manufacturers testified WITHOUT being under oath, but a bunch of baseball players MUST be under oath.

Before then Brian McNamee will be meeting next Thursday with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella and IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky (whose name isn't as cool as say, "007"). Though no meeting agenda has been set, its expected that the three are meeting to discuss Clemens' allegations that McNamee lied to the Mitchell commission.

Bud Selig and George Mitchell may have wanted to just "move on" after the release of the Mitchell Report, but this stuff is just going to drag on indefinitely.




On another note, is Henry Waxman's head on upside down?

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In This Corner

The "he said, he said" battle between Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens is starting to heat up. Clemens has already stepped up with a video defense and an upcoming interview with 60 Minutes. Now McNamee's lawyers have brought in attorney Richard D. Emery to help defend the personal trainer against accusations of lying to the Mitchell investigation.

McNamee's attorney, Earl Ward, asked Emery to come on board because of his experience with libel and defamation cases, and in case the situation were to arise where McNamee would want to sue Clemens.

“If Roger Clemens continues to play fast and loose with the truth on ‘60 Minutes’ and he continues to call Brian McNamee a liar then we will proceed with a defamation suit,” Emery said in a telephone interview. “It is one of the only avenues Brian has to defend himself against the claims that he lied.”

Source

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Shays Rips Bud a New One

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has January 15 marked on its calendar to hold hearings concerning steroid use and abuse. George Mitchell, Donald Fehr, and Bud Selig are expected to attend, but no ball players are expected to be present.

Committee chairman Christopher Shays (R-Conn) feels there is little is to be learned from having players testify at the hearings, but did take the opportunity to take a shot at Selig.

"Part of it is that major league baseball has been incredibly passive on this issue to the point of condoning it," he said. "And so, who do I think is mostly at fault? The commissioner, frankly, for tolerating it and for not having the guts to step up and say we need changes and if you don't agree with me, then find someone else to run this corrupt process."

Stephen Lynch (D-Mass) hopes the hearings will show just how widespread the problem is. Do we really need a house committee to tell us that?

The subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection will also meet in January (on the 23rd) to discuss the impact of performance enhancing drugs.

More waste of your tax dollars.

Source

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The Day After

So a day has passed since the "incredible" Mitchell Report. Maybe incredulous is more like it. The 409-page snorer really didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. It just gave us a snippet of the steroid and HGH use in major league baseball. It was all based on two New York area persons who had the FBI pressuring them to talk. And when faced with prison, they sang like the proverbial canary. No Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Raffy Pameiro, etc. in the report.

Since the two were from the area, and were employed at one time by the locals, most teams weren't affected. You can bet there are many players on teams outside of the Bronx and Flushing who are breathing a little easier today. Especially since baseball wants to move forward (wasn't it a little eerie when Mitchell and Selig both paraphrased Mark McGwire?) and put all this behind them.

The bottom line is that fans' reaction will be minimal. There will be some scorn, some booing, but it will be forgotten pretty quickly. Just look at how Yankees fans still embrace Jason Giambi. The type of person you are seems to be the indicator of how fans react to you (see Barry Bonds outside of San Fran).

For me personally, seeing Andy Pettitte's name was a disappointment, though not a total surprise. We've always wondered about Roger Clemens and since Pettitte has practically become his twin brother, we thought it was possible he too could be in some trouble. We wait with anticipation to his reaction to the allegation. For someone who talks about his faith so much, we hope he does the right thing and admits his usage.

As for Clemens, we wonder if it will affect his hall of fame status. We doubt it since, like Bonds, most voters feel he was a hall of famer before taking steroids. But that remains to be seen. It does create a quandary, however, as you look at Pete Rose. Rose was, and is, an idiot. He handled everything poorly from the day Bart Giamatti kicked him to the curb. But as far as we know, all his misdeeds came as a manager, not as a player, as is the case with Bonds and Clemens. Should they all get in? Should they all be kept out? Should it still be on a case by case basis? The voters will decide.

Amazingly, well maybe not, Jose Canseco showed up at the Mitchell press conference yesterday, but was not allowed entry. Mr. Sleaze is apparently working to get another book deal done, and took another shot at A-Rod in the process.

"All I can say is the Mitchell Report is incomplete," Canseco said. "I could not believe that (Rodriguez's) name was not in the report." Source

Now slink away, ya slimy greaseball.

It's time for the player's union to grow a set. You want to show the public something? Then put in mandatory blood testing. Players talk about a level playing field, but unless an accurate (the definition of accuracy remains to be determined) HGH test is put into place, it's a waste to even talk about it.

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I'm Tore Down

Well not really. There's nothing earth shattering from yesterday's much ballyhooed Mitchell Report. It's a mere slice of life, and doesn't come close to the number of teams or players involved. Baseball had to do something, but they didn't do much. Maybe Bud will slap a few wrists, but until the player association concedes to blood tests to check for HGH, it's all pretty meaningless.

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Mitchell Report Barely Scratches Surface

George Mitchell's report, which you can find in its 409 page glory at mlb.com, gives really just a glimpse of steroid/HGH abuse in baseball. The majority of Mitchell's info came from Kirk Radomski, meaning the focus was mainly on NY area players. Also, Brian McNamee, a professional trainer, supplied info.

Among those listed were Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice, Paul Lo Duca, Rondell White, and Mike Stanton.

There are a number of names that you'll think, that doesn't surprise me. Not many that won't. There are a number of players not on the list that may surprise you, such as Juan Gonzalez.

We'll see where this goes from here, but other than Roger Clemens' hall of fame bid, there's not much real impact from the report.

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Clemens Included in Mitchell Report?

Brian McNamee, a personal trainer who worked both Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, reportedly told the Mitchell investigators that Clemens was in possession of steroids (from another supplier) on at least one occasion. Source

The Bergen Record is also reporting that several high profile Yankees will be named in the report and that it will be a "rough day" in the Bronx.

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It's About to Hit the Fan

Today's the day the findings of the Mitchell Report are to be released to the public. George Mitchell will hold a news conference at 2:00 pm EST to discuss the 300+ page symposium on illegal steroid and HGH use in major league baseball. He's expected to rip a new one for players, owners, the union, and yes, even the commissioner's office. Bud Selig will follow up Mitchell's conference with one of his own at approximately 4:30 pm EST.

50-80 names are expected to be exposed, including some big names. Of course, the majority of the players named will probably induce a "ho-hum" reaction. But it will be interesting to see how the effected players react going forward. Do they admit it? Deny it? Give some vague response in between. Most will probably ignore it until spring training when they will have to move on with things. But the next few days of talk radio, TV, newspapers, and the Internet will be bursting with information.

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Segui's Steroid Confession

Former Oriole and ex-Met David Segui has come forward, admitting "experimenting" with steroids and HGH. In what would appear to be a preemptive strike before the Mitchell Report is released, Segui admitted to buying illegal substances from Kirk Radomski, the former Met employee who has admitted to selling steroids. Segui also said he received HGH via a prescription from a Florida doctor.

Segui refused to talk to Mitchell as he did not want to betray former teammates and friends.

"I have nothing to hide. I have no problem talking about what I have done," said Segui, who spent eight of his 15 big league seasons with the Orioles. "But I never want any other players to think I was out there talking about their business. Because I do know a lot, but people have told me things in confidence and I don't want to be spreading that."

"Sen. Mitchell seems like a really good guy and he seems like he wants to get to the bottom of everything, but I don't see the point of what is going to come out of it," he said. "I don't see the benefit of somebody who is not playing anymore speaking about things that are over and done with in regards to other people."

The use of steroids and HGH may have helped Segui recover from a variety of injuries, but it certainly did not impact his offensive performance. Source

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MLB was Warned About 'roids

Major League Baseball, and Bud Selig in particular, would have you think that the powers that be knew nothing about performance enhancing steroids until 1999 or 2000. Larry Starr, a former trainer for the Marlins and Reds, says otherwise.

"Here's the thing that really bothers me," Starr said in a recent interview with Florida Today. "They sit there, meaning the commissioner's office, Bud Selig and that group, and the players' association, Don Fehr and that group . . . they sit there and say, 'Well, now that we know that this happened we're going to do something about it."

"I have notes from the Winter Meetings where the owners group and the players' association sat in meetings with the team physicians and team trainers. I was there. And team physicians stood up and said, 'Look, we need to do something about this. We've got a problem here if we don't do something about it.' That was in 1988."

Starr was interviewed on 4 separate occasions by George Mitchell's panel investigating steroid use. Starr has said that members of that 1997 Marlins team used steroids. And in case you are wondering, yes, Gary Sheffield was on that squad.

Starr did not name names, but feels steroid use has been rampant.

"By high percentage, meaning 30 to 40 percent of the team might have been using," Starr said. "(But) some teams had maybe only one or two."

Starr remembers one player who ended the season in 1989 weighing 171 pounds. In the spring, the same player reported to camp weighing 205, and his body fat had actually dropped from eight percent to 5.8. That was one of the moments that frightened him the most -- a player who was obviously loaded with performance enhancers to a dangerous point.

Now we'll see where Mitchell's investigation and MLB goes from here. It's time to admit this is much bigger than Barry Bonds or at least Barry Bonds' head.

Source

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Mitchell Finalizing Report

Word has come out that George Mitchell spoke to 11 current free agents concerning possible steroid use. Since Jason Giambi isn't a free agent, he's not one of the 11. We still have real concerns over a member of the Boston Red Sox family heading up this investigation (and we use the word investigation quite loosely). Now we wonder whether these names will be made public.

The report is due out by year end. Here's what Mitchell had to same in the meantime....

"I said at the outset of the investigation, and I've repeated several times since, that I would provide each player about whom allegations were received of the illegal use of performance-enhancing substances the opportunity to meet with me, at which time I would provide him with the information about the allegations and give him a chance to respond," Mitchell said.

Once the report is released and names possibly released, will anyone care?

Source

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Jason Giambi's Official Statement

Here's what the Giambino had to say after agreeing to meet with George Mitchell. Giambi finally utters the word, steroid.

Today, I have agreed to Commissioner Selig's request that I meet with Sen. George Mitchell. In a direct conversation the commissioner impressed upon me the idea that the game of baseball would be best served by such a meeting. I will continue to do what I think is right and be candid about my past history regarding steroids. I have never blamed anyone nor intended to deflect blame for my conduct. I alone am responsible for my actions and I apologize to the commissioner, the owners and the players for any suggestion that they were responsible for my behavior.

I've come to this decision for a number of reasons. I did not want to put my family through a lengthy legal challenge in support of my position. In addition, the uncertainty of my playing status could detract from the efforts of our team to win the American League East. My focus at this time needs to be on rehabbing my injury, getting back on the field and contributing to the goals of my team. To be embroiled in a legal battle could undermine all of this and I would never put my family, my teammates or the Yankees in that position.

Accordingly, I have agreed to this meeting. As I have always done, I will address my own personal history regarding steroids. I will not discuss in any fashion any other individual. My hope is that this meeting will serve as a positive step, as all parties involved seek the best approach in dealing with the issue of "drugs in sport." That has always been the intent behind all of the comments I have made on the subject and it remains so to this day.

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