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nanwynnfan · 08-05-2007, 01:20 PM

For perspective:

Baseball's Steroid Era: Baseball's Steroid Era - Timeline

“Apr. 2001 – MLB Implements Minor League Testing
MLB unilaterally implements its first random drug-testing program in the Minor Leagues. All players outside the 40-man roster of each Major League club are subject to random testing for steroid-based, performance enhancing drugs, plus drugs of abuse (marijuana, cocaine). The penalties are 15 games for a first positive test, 30 games for a second, 60 games for a third, and one year for a fourth. A fifth offense earns a ban from professional baseball for life.

[Observation]:

Barry Bonds has hit 73 HR during 2001 season, quickly breaking records set by McGwire & Sosa in previous seasons. This is the launching of a MLB program with minor leaguers as guinea pigs … 40 man roster players are exempt. They’te “trimming the bushes.”

“Jun. 18, 2002 – U.S. Senate Tells Selig, Fehr to Negotiate Testing
At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John McCain (R-Ariz) tell Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB Players Association executive director Don Fehr that a strict drug testing program at the Major League level must be negotiated during collective bargaining for a new Basic Agreement, which is about to expire. Up to this point, no MLB player can be tested for drug use without probable cause. Fehr tells the committee that the Congress should enact laws to ban over-the-counter sales of performance-enhancing substances.

[Observation]:

Bonds has hit 46 HR in the 2002 season. IF he was on “stuff” has he gotten the message. He HAD hit > 40HRs before [46, 1993]; [42, 1996]; [40, 1997]; [44, 1998]. The lawyers are now involved because until NOW players are exempt from mandatory testing except for PROBABLE CAUSE.

“Aug. 30, 2002 - MLB Unveils ‘Survey’ Testing For 2003
MLB and the union unveil Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program as an addendum to the new Basic Agreement, which is bargained at the 11th hour just as the players are about to go out on strike. The new policy calls for "Survey Testing" in 2003 to gauge the use of steroids among players on the 40-man rosters of each club. The tests will be anonymous and no one will be punished.
“NO ONE WILL BE PUNISHED!” [even if caught].
Oct. 29, 2003 – FDA Bans THG, MLB Follows Suit
The FDA bans THG. The next day MLB places the designer drug on its testing list for the 2004 season, but is barred by its own agreement from retroactively re-testing the 2003 urine samples for THG traces.”

[Observation]

Here comes “the Clear” issue. Did he or didn’t he? But Bond’s breakout season was two whole years ago; and now he’s in the 40s, where he’s been before. Did he cheat? If so, did he come late to the party? Has he now got “religion?”

Now, how about the older guys, some long dead? Did any of them gulp amphetamines or other forms of speed? Who knows? Want to dig ‘em up and go for DNA surveys on their remains? How’s about living legends. Wanna get hair samples and run ‘em through electron microscopes for tell-tale remnants of past sins?

Ex post facto, retroactive morality loses much of its authority, after the turnstiles have been permitted to spin and the ad revenues have been pocketed. Give George Mitchell something constructive to do; and start watching A-Rod and Albert Pujols with an eye to the future.

08-05-2007, 01:20 PM	#27 (permalink)
nanwynnfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,579	For perspective: Baseball's Steroid Era: Baseball's Steroid Era - Timeline “Apr. 2001 – MLB Implements Minor League Testing MLB unilaterally implements its first random drug-testing program in the Minor Leagues. All players outside the 40-man roster of each Major League club are subject to random testing for steroid-based, performance enhancing drugs, plus drugs of abuse (marijuana, cocaine). The penalties are 15 games for a first positive test, 30 games for a second, 60 games for a third, and one year for a fourth. A fifth offense earns a ban from professional baseball for life. [Observation]: Barry Bonds has hit 73 HR during 2001 season, quickly breaking records set by McGwire & Sosa in previous seasons. This is the launching of a MLB program with minor leaguers as guinea pigs … 40 man roster players are exempt. They’te “trimming the bushes.” “Jun. 18, 2002 – U.S. Senate Tells Selig, Fehr to Negotiate Testing At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John McCain (R-Ariz) tell Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB Players Association executive director Don Fehr that a strict drug testing program at the Major League level must be negotiated during collective bargaining for a new Basic Agreement, which is about to expire. Up to this point, no MLB player can be tested for drug use without probable cause. Fehr tells the committee that the Congress should enact laws to ban over-the-counter sales of performance-enhancing substances. [Observation]: Bonds has hit 46 HR in the 2002 season. IF he was on “stuff” has he gotten the message. He HAD hit > 40HRs before [46, 1993]; [42, 1996]; [40, 1997]; [44, 1998]. The lawyers are now involved because until NOW players are exempt from mandatory testing except for PROBABLE CAUSE. “Aug. 30, 2002 - MLB Unveils ‘Survey’ Testing For 2003 MLB and the union unveil Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program as an addendum to the new Basic Agreement, which is bargained at the 11th hour just as the players are about to go out on strike. The new policy calls for "Survey Testing" in 2003 to gauge the use of steroids among players on the 40-man rosters of each club. The tests will be anonymous and no one will be punished. “NO ONE WILL BE PUNISHED!” [even if caught]. Oct. 29, 2003 – FDA Bans THG, MLB Follows Suit The FDA bans THG. The next day MLB places the designer drug on its testing list for the 2004 season, but is barred by its own agreement from retroactively re-testing the 2003 urine samples for THG traces.” [Observation] Here comes “the Clear” issue. Did he or didn’t he? But Bond’s breakout season was two whole years ago; and now he’s in the 40s, where he’s been before. Did he cheat? If so, did he come late to the party? Has he now got “religion?” Now, how about the older guys, some long dead? Did any of them gulp amphetamines or other forms of speed? Who knows? Want to dig ‘em up and go for DNA surveys on their remains? How’s about living legends. Wanna get hair samples and run ‘em through electron microscopes for tell-tale remnants of past sins? Ex post facto, retroactive morality loses much of its authority, after the turnstiles have been permitted to spin and the ad revenues have been pocketed. Give George Mitchell something constructive to do; and start watching A-Rod and Albert Pujols with an eye to the future. Last edited by nanwynnfan; 08-05-2007 at 01:26 PM.