this year.

I typically don’t pay much attention to frivolous governmental actions, but this baseball steroid fiasco has gone to far.

Congress? Congress has taken it upon itself to investigate steroid use in baseball, and feels that the recent changes made to drug enforcement are not strong enough, and they may have to step in. Am I the only one that thinks this is just a little ridiculous? Does Congress have nothing better to do? Isn’t there a war somewhere, and isn’t oil $57 a barrel? Their reasons seem admirable. “Drug use in baseball sets a bad example for the youth of the nation. These individuals are role models.” Ahh. The role model debate. This is nothing new, and people have debated to death the ‘sports players are role models’ viewpoint. You know what? They probably are. They do things well, and kids want to be like them. I guess it’s my fault for giving kids to much credit, to be able to decide what is right and wrong on their own. Thank goodness for the republican government; they will make this world safe for kids and sports.

It’s one thing that Congress has decided to hold these hearings, but it’s another that sports channels have decided to air them live. I’d like to blame this on the lack of hockey, but I can’t, because most Americans don’t even notice the absence of the sport this year. They don’t want to talk about baseball’s steroid use to fill the hole, they want to talk about baseball’s steroid use because it’s an issue they KNOW will have drastic, and long lasting effects on their country. If CNN, Fox News, Sportsnet, ESPN and TSN think it’s a big news issue, then I should too…..right?

I have to laugh to myself when I tune into TSN and see Canseco and McGwire sitting in front of congressmen talking about steroids. Then I have to laugh out loud when I read at the bottom of the screen that Canseco will answer questions, but when the time comes he will invoke the 5th amendment. Has this debate really grown so large that we need pseudo-sports celebrities worrying about incriminating themselves? It was at that point I promptly changed the channel to The View, and contemplated putting these thoughts down on paper. (note: it was a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day episode. They all wore green and one of the hosts did some Irish tap dancing).

If they want to blame baseball players for negatively influencing the lives of children, so be it. But don’t stop there, no, that would be close-minded and predatory. If you want to blame baseball for corrupting our youth, you’re going to have to blame a lot of other people as well. First stop? Advertisers and their WMD — Supermodels. The last time I checked it was generally accepted that children can be negatively affected by models, and their thin, fit bodies. Many young girls are driven to anorexia and bulimia. These are two conditions that can be just as, if not more, dangerous then taking steroids in a controlled environment. I say Congress puts together a panel of Supermodels. Then they can broadcast this hearing live to all the news agencies, and they can title the broadcast “Death By Beauty”, because we all know how the networks love to sell consumers news based on fear. Put the Supermodels on a panel, and question them for 11 hours. At least that would be compelling TV that would provide me a reason to tune in — I could put the TV on mute, crank my tunes, and enjoy the eye candy.

That is something that people would TIVO.