Palmeiro, Sosa, Giambi and others subpoenaed

[Styles 0]

Not good. So much for letting this just blow over...

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/basebal...sports-baseball

 

Palmeiro, Sosa must appear before Congress

House issues subpoenas for two Orioles; Canseco, McGwire, J. Giambi also required to appear

 

 

By Jeff Barker

Sun Staff

 

March 8, 2005, 8:13 PM EST

 

WASHINGTON - A House committee will subpoena Orioles Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro and five other current and former baseball players to appear at a congressional hearing to confront questions about steroid use that are tarnishing the game's reputation.

 

The subpoenas will be issued beginning Wednesday by the House Committee on Government Reform, according to government officials familiar with the process.

 

The March 17 hearing has the makings of a media spectacle. It is scheduled to feature Jose Canseco, the one-time slugger who claimed to expose steroid users last month in a new book, testifying along with a handful of the ballplayers he has accused of using the performance-enhancing drugs.

 

Those being subpoenaed include Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees, who Canseco said "had the most obvious steroid physique I've ever seen in my life"; Mark McGwire, the retired former single-season home run record-holder, whom Canseco said he injected with steroids; Palmeiro, the former Texas Ranger whom Canseco said he set up with a steroid supply; Sosa, who was traded to the Orioles during the offseason and whom Canseco said he suspected of using steroids; Frank Thomas, the Chicago White Sox slugger; and pitcher Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox.

 

Not all of the players on the list have been alleged by Canseco - or anyone else - to have used steroids. Thomas, for example, appears to be on the list because of his public statements that the game needs to be cleaned up. He has said he would be happy to testify at the hearing, although he has expressed concern about the effect that flying to Washington from the team's Arizona spring training site could have on an injured ankle.

 

Schilling, too, spoke out against steroids before baseball's program of tougher penalties and year-round testing began during spring training. He said recently that he was concerned the hearing could turn into a "witch hunt" and that he didn't know if he would voluntarily attend.

 

Officials said the committee, which had been threatening subpoenas if players declined to appear on their own, decided to it would be "cleaner" to simply compel everyone on the players' list to show up. The committee intends to disclose the names of players who had agreed to come voluntarily and for whom the subpoena is now just a formality.

 

Also expected at the hearing - although they may not receive subpoenas - are baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and Donald Fehr, executive director and general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

 

Canseco's book hit the stores on Feb. 14. He not only names baseball players he says used steroids, but he also mounts a zealous and controversial defense of the drugs' alleged benefits. But committee chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, said he wanted to convene a hearing to try to remove the "cloud over baseball" and to warn children about steroids' risks. Steroid use has been linked to mood swings and depression, as well as damage to the liver, kidney, heart and sexual organs.

 

The committee may add or delete names from the witness list as the hearing date draws closer. Tuesday, for example, the panel decided to add to the list a panel of steroid experts and people who have seen the effects of steroid use in their families.

 

The list includes Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Donald Hooton, a Texas man whose 17-year-old son, a high school baseball pitcher - and a cousin of former major league pitcher Burt Hooton - committed suicide in 2003 after using anabolic steroids to bulk up.

 

Some names are noticeably absent from the witness list. Among those missing is Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants slugger who needs 12 homers to pass Babe Ruth for second on the career home run list. Bonds testified to a grand jury in December 2003 that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. But he said he didn't know if they were steroids.

 

Bonds has been defiant this spring, accusing the media of "rerunning" old stories about him.

 

Asked why Bonds is not being called to testify, David Marin, a committee spokesman for Davis, replied: "The committee has invited a broad cross-section of players with information to share on the subject and who will best contribute to a constructive discussion on the issue."

 

Congress has the power to subpoena witnesses and require them to testify under oath. Witnesses are permitted to exercise their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

 

Some players have privately raised concerns about seemingly being called to testify based on allegations contained in a book.

 

The hearing is likely to bring together a bunch of players "who fundamentally don't want to be in the same room together," said Paul Swangard, managing director of the University of Oregon's Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. "It's one thing to have to be tied together in the press, but it's another to have their picture on the front page," Swangard said.

 

The Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment about the hearing, said spokesman Greg Bouris.

 

But some players had been wavering about whether to show up. Palmeiro said recently that he didn't have much to say and that it was his wife's birthday. Sosa said he wanted to consult with his agent before commenting.

 

Copyright © 2005, The Baltimore Sun

[Bored 0]

Why is Curt Schilling being subpoenaed? What does he have to do with this? I'm sure he can't wait to go though. The man probably jerks off into his bloody red sock at night while listening to the sound of his own voice.

[Fökai 0]

re: Bored's post.

 

Sosa, who was traded to the Orioles during the offseason and whom Canseco said he suspected of using steroids; Frank Thomas, the Chicago White Sox slugger; and pitcher Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox.

 

Canseco accused Sosa during the SportsCenter interview he did a few weeks ago (the one before the LaRussa interview on 60 Minutes).

[Guest LooneyTune]

Schilling had to be on some kind of body altering drug to pitch twice when his ankle was barely hanging on to the rest of his body.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

From what ESPN said, Schilling is being brought in as he was a big supporter of a new drug policy.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Schilling had to be on some kind of body altering drug to pitch twice when his ankle was barely hanging on to the rest of his body.

Well, local anaesthetics, yes.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Am I the only one who pictures these congressmen in a room going "Oooh! Lets invite Schilling! Oooh, and Bonds... I like Bonds."

[The Czech Republic 0]

yeah

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

This is a waste of time. I don't see what congress can accomplish with this, and I do not see the current players being forthcoming with information. The last time Congress dealt with MLB, it was a complete joke.

 

While I am on the subject, anyone else think the steroid problem is not limited to baseball?

[The Czech Republic 0]

I'm sure it's in football, maybe basketball, I don't want to believe it's in hockey. One thing's for sure, Gretzky was not on the juice. We can take solace in that.

[Fökai 0]

We can so analyze sports better than ESPN. Er, at least Al can anyway.

With that, allowing this discussion to go further than the build of an athlete...screw SportsCenter and their asinine discussion on Barry Bonds' hat size ...

 

Judging by the amount of punishment a football and hockey player will take over the course of a season, steroids has to be a prevalent aid in keeping the athletes from missing significant time with injuries. The toughness of these mold of players can go only so far, especially when they only have to look at past examples (sadly, Earl Campbell for one) to see what a non-steroid generation now has to endure.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

We can so analyze sports better than ESPN. Er, at least Al can anyway.

With that, allowing this discussion to go further than the build of an athlete...screw SportsCenter and their asinine discussion on Barry Bonds' hat size ...

 

Judging by the amount of punishment a football and hockey player will take over the course of a season, steroids has to be a prevalent aid in keeping the athletes from missing significant time with injuries. The toughness of these mold of players can go only so far, especially when they only have to look at past examples (sadly, Earl Campbell for one) to see what a non-steroid generation now has to endure.

Conversely one could point to the same generation and see the effects steroids took on Lyle Alzedo. There can be distinctions between steroids. Its like good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

[the max 0]

Why not subpoena Kevin Towers?

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

We can so analyze sports better than ESPN. Er, at least Al can anyway.

With that, allowing this discussion to go further than the build of an athlete...screw SportsCenter and their asinine discussion on Barry Bonds' hat size ...

 

Judging by the amount of punishment a football and hockey player will take over the course of a season, steroids has to be a prevalent aid in keeping the athletes from missing significant time with injuries. The toughness of these mold of players can go only so far, especially when they only have to look at past examples (sadly, Earl Campbell for one) to see what a non-steroid generation now has to endure.

Conversely one could point to the same generation and see the effects steroids took on Lyle Alzedo. There can be distinctions between steroids. Its like good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

Tedy Bruschi had a stroke and he is like a thirty year old man. Something's wrong with that situation, it's not like he's the only LB in the league who gets their ass kicked that much.

[Ripper 0]

I'm sure it's in football, maybe basketball, I don't want to believe it's in hockey. One thing's for sure, Gretzky was not on the juice. We can take solace in that.

On that list, basketball in no way should be over hockey in the "maybe they are on roids" list.

[Kaertos 0]

I think this is getting out of hand. First off, why is Congress that worried about what is, in essence, an internal matter for MLB? Second, why is it the House Committee on Government Reform? That makes no sense to me at all.

 

All this is, and I apologize if this is more on the "Current Events" line than the Sports line, is Congress wanting to appear as if they give a flying fig about this so people might vote for them come the next election.

 

Personally, I am very tired of hearing about it.

[Styles 0]

Palmeiro and Sosa are not going to let the government tell them how to live their lives...

 

 

Awww....friends forever!

[The Czech Republic 0]

I just want to point out that Slapnuts is to Sammy Sosa as Mik is to Carlos Delgado lately. Just sayin'.

[Styles 0]

I don't know what that means, Czech. I'm not really a big Sosa fan and was actually pretty pissed when I found out the O's traded for him thinking it was a lame ploy to pad ticket sales and appease fans since they blew it with the prime free agent and trade targets (and I still believe that), but when I found out we just gave up Hairston and the Cubs were paying almost all his salary I came around and realised it was a smart, low risk deal. I'm an O's fan, Sosa was a big deal, and really our only deal all offseason, thus I like to feature him in my sig pics. The pic with Palmeiro I thought was funny and so posted it. I don't think I ever mention him otherwise. Just saying.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I dunno. I just thought I was done seeing Sammy Sosa. And now he's in your sig every day. I don't like Sammy Sosa.

[2GOLD 0]

We can so analyze sports better than ESPN. Er, at least Al can anyway.

With that, allowing this discussion to go further than the build of an athlete...screw SportsCenter and their asinine discussion on Barry Bonds' hat size ...

 

Judging by the amount of punishment a football and hockey player will take over the course of a season, steroids has to be a prevalent aid in keeping the athletes from missing significant time with injuries. The toughness of these mold of players can go only so far, especially when they only have to look at past examples (sadly, Earl Campbell for one) to see what a non-steroid generation now has to endure.

Conversely one could point to the same generation and see the effects steroids took on Lyle Alzedo. There can be distinctions between steroids. Its like good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

Tedy Bruschi had a stroke and he is like a thirty year old man. Something's wrong with that situation, it's not like he's the only LB in the league who gets their ass kicked that much.

 

I had a mini-stroke and I'm 24.

Stroke has nothing to do with lifestyle, drugs or anything else. I live a clean lifestyle with no drugs, alcohol or cigs and my cholesterol is extremely good. They are still among the most confusing and unexplained occurances in the human body.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

You are right it is weird, since the guy had like blood clots in his brain or something.

[mike546 0]

Didn't anybody see the video on SC with congress talking to the head of the players association?

 

He got fucking owned.

 

"Just a yes or no answer, please"

 

[Guest MikeSC]

This is a waste of time. I don't see what congress can accomplish with this, and I do not see the current players being forthcoming with information. The last time Congress dealt with MLB, it was a complete joke.

 

While I am on the subject, anyone else think the steroid problem is not limited to baseball?

Baseball's problem is that it refused to do ANYTHING about it for years.

-=Mike

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Someone at Baseball Primer said it best...

 

I can't beleive we can get a Congressional hearing about baseball players taking steroids but we can't get one to investigate whether the President or his advisors manipulated/fabricated/made up intelligence to start a war.

[Vyce 0]

Someone at Baseball Primer said it best...

 

I can't beleive we can get a Congressional hearing about baseball players taking steroids but we can't get one to investigate whether the President or his advisors manipulated/fabricated/made up intelligence to start a war.

I'm torn about this.

 

On the one hand, part of me doesn't believe this isn't the responsibility of Congress and that Congress has better things to do with its time.

 

On the other, MLB is a fucking joke. Their new standards of punishment for steroid offenders is a fucking joke. You'll never convince me in a million years that they DIDN'T know the steroid abuse was going on, they just didn't fucking care, and I would, quite frankly, love to see them get their nuts in a vice by the government over this.

[The Czech Republic 0]

As long as we get a gem out of Curt Schilling, I'm okay with these hearings. I maintain that the only reason he was subpoenaed was that whereas other steroid-using players will plead the 5th, non-using loudmouth Schilling will never shut the fuck up during the proceedings, and eventually incriminate the entire MLBPA on the path to making himself look great.

 

I'm hoping for

"The only steroid I'm on is God."

"A simple yes or no answer will do, sir."

"Okay. A simple yes or no."

[MrRant 0]

I just want someone to come in and just go around the House with:

 

"Fuck you, fuck him, fuck the both of you, fuck you too, fuck you, etc"

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

On the other, MLB is a fucking joke. Their new standards of punishment for steroid offenders is a fucking joke. You'll never convince me in a million years that they DIDN'T know the steroid abuse was going on, they just didn't fucking care, and I would, quite frankly, love to see them get their nuts in a vice by the government over this.

 

I just remember the last time Congress hauled MLB into the chambers. MLB blatently lied about their finances and actively attempted to run an extortion racket to squeeze the state of Minnesota into giving the Twins a new stadium. Congress blasted Selig, and did fuck all about it. MLB talks a good game and does nothing. Congress does the same nonsense. I honestly have no confidence in the government to actually take action.

[the max 0]

As long as we get a gem out of Curt Schilling, I'm okay with these hearings. I maintain that the only reason he was subpoenaed was that whereas other steroid-using players will plead the 5th, non-using loudmouth Schilling will never shut the fuck up during the proceedings, and eventually incriminate the entire MLBPA on the path to making himself look great.

 

I'm hoping for

"The only steroid I'm on is God."

"A simple yes or no answer will do, sir."

"Okay. A simple yes or no."

Maybe he can't think of anything better than making Congress shut up.