my roid rage
by Josh Sarpen
Published: February 19, 2008
This past week may have marked rock bottom in the career of Roger Clemens, but it also reveals a similar low point for the U.S. Congress. While Congress feels the need to hold hearings to probe into Clemens’ use of substances illegal in Major League Baseball, the more important question remains: Why does Congress care?
The Clemens trial has become a media circus garnering headlines on CNN, The New York Times and ESPN. More importantly it consumed the time of Congressmen and Senators who had to preside over the proceedings instead of handling more relevant issues. Are we to believe that establishing if one athlete used drugs is more important than our faltering economy or the unending turmoil in Iraq? These lawmakers should be doing what their constituents pay them to do - discuss policy issues that are relevant to the citizens of America.
Adding to the folly is that even if Roger Clemens took steroids, he never broke the law. Instead, he violated the rules established by Major League Baseball, and that organization should be prosecuting Clemens and issuing subsequent punishments. After all, they have the power to ban Clemens from Cooperstown, sending a powerful message to other athletes about the consequences of using steroids.
Henry Waxman of California admitted to CNN on Saturday that he had made a mistake in leading this witch hunt of a trial. This acknowledgement may have been the result of rumors surfacing that Clemens may receive a pardon from his buddy President Bush, exonerating him of any wrong doing.
Almost a week of time lost on unnecessary hearings when many more serious issues go untended. The new only thing I learned on this issue is that Andy Pettitte looks great in a suit. Roger Clemen… mmm, not so much.
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