Quick Takes: Michigan Suspends Private Loan Program, Ex-Coach Accepts $6.6M, President’s Leave Followed Second DUI, Clemens Accuser’s Dubious Doctorate, Study Abroad Program, Alma Mater for Eternity

I can keep silent no longer

Ok, I have tried to hold my tongue on the whole steriods witch hunt going on in congress recently, but yesterday’s fiasco was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Let me tell these self-important idiots a little story.

While Clemens was on the stand, and several members of the committee were asking him some rather stupid questions, my son, who is serving in Iraq with the US Army (I hope we all still remember we have sons and daughters in harm’s way)was partoling the streets of Baghdad and taking fire from three sides. Two of his buddies were shot, both will survive this time, and he, himself, as a leader, had to make some life and death kinds of decisions. I am willing to bet that Clemens and steriods were the furthest thing from this 22 year old’s mind as bullets, not baseballs, whizzed past his head.

The harsh reality is that Clemens and perhaps as many as a third of all professional athletes have probably taken performance enhancing drugs. So what? Will this “investigation” really prove anything? Will this bring my son home? Will it save the lives of those who are destined to die in the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan? Will it balance the national budget, elect a president, save countless homes from being foreclosed on, or give shelter and health care to the millions, yes, millions of young people right here in our country? Sadly, the answer is NO; but what it will do is misdirect us away from the real issues.

Clemens took steriods and became a better athlete and we reveled in it. New York’s attendance at games soared, the media attention was outrageous, the Major League fans had a hero. So what? We want our athletes to perform better than average, we want heroes, we want super human pitching, dunks, catches for touchdowns, hundreds of home runs, records broken. What I am tired of is our government regulating morality in our society while social ills go unnoticed and uncared for. How many students will not be able to attend college for lack of funding, what is this “investigation” costing us in taxpayers’ money? Someone save us from ourselves, for God’s sake.

Martin, at 9:20 am EST on February 14, 2008

Bullets, not Baseballs

Martin, Thanks you for your important reality check. Have you considered sending a copy of this posting to the chairs of that investigative committee? Perhaps they also need a reality check.I hope your son and his friends return home safely AND SOON!

Beth, at 10:20 am EST on February 14, 2008

congressional focus

First, Martin, I sincerely applaud your son’s service to our country and will pray for his safe return home. While I agree that the Congressional focus on steriods in baseball while Rome burns is appalling, I strongly feel we need to be concerned about our children who participate in sports. They need to see that steroid use is going to be seriously regulated, and understand the danger that makes regulation a necessity.A light digression: has Sen. Specter lost his mind? I’ve always respected him for being a thoughtful, middle-of-the-road Republican (not many of those left), but his foray into the NFL’s pseudoscandal about videotaping is absurd. Time to retire, Arlen.

Ed, at 10:20 am EST on February 14, 2008

Clemens/Steroids

I agree...the congressional hearings are a waste of time. There is ample scientific evidence that 99% of steroid users do so for cosmetic purposes. They make men feel more youthful, slow aging, help build muscle, promote healing, increase libido and appetite, boost self-confidence, and of course, give better sports performance. Who cares? They are the only drug that is NON-psychoactive listed on a control III DEA drug ban. People don’t get “high” from taking steroids. They should be legal. What’s scary is that all the non-FDA monitored “supplements” are legal, and only God knows what’s actually in those pills or how they affect your health. We allow tummy tucks, face lifts, breast implants, and other cosmetic surgeries, all with significant risk for COSMETIC purposes. Steroids offer more benefits with almost no short or long term risk when users are properly educated about their use. Stop wasting taxpayer dollars, and just legalize them. If the NBA, NFL, or MLB want to ban them for “fairness” purposes, fine. But congressional hearings? Give me a break!

David, at 12:45 pm EST on February 14, 2008