Former Sen. George Mitchell delivers his remarks at the beginning of a New York news conference, Thursday Dec. 13, 2007, about his report on the illegal use of steroids in baseball. ( AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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by Matthew Hay Brown
When unreasonably large baseball slugger José Canseco published his steroid-fueled memoir two years ago, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called Canseco, his former Bash Brother Mark McGwire and other hardball heroes to testify on drug use in the big leagues.
With the report by former Sen. George Mitchell this afternoon expected to detail a rampant and pervasive drug culture in Major League Baseball, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings wants to call a new witness: Commissioner Bud Selig.
“We got to remember why we started the investigations here in Congress,” the Maryland Democrat told CNN this morning. “It was mainly because children, young athletes, were trying to emulate their role models.
“And so that problem still remains, but we’ve got to look at this report and try to figure out everything that Senator Mitchell is recommending. Also, look at the things that maybe he was not able to get to, some questions that still may be out there. Bring Bud Selig before the Congress.”
On a day when lawmakers are trying to make progress on the spending bills that are keeping them in Washington, the Mitchell Report and the players it names are claiming more than their fair share of attention.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime fan of the San Francisco Giants, said she would not comment before seeing the report.
“I mean, we’ve heard about it and it seems quite stunning,” the California Democrat told reporters. “The regard that I have for Senator Mitchell is enormous, so I respect the product of his work. So I look forward to seeing it.
“But I think it speaks to the fact that what we are talking about here is far more pervasive than I think most people thought.”
Pelosi was asked about her past praise for career home run leader Barry Bonds, who was indicted last month for perjury and obstruction of justice for telling a grand jury that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
“What I said to you before is that the Bonds family have been an important part of San Francisco, and that his godfather, Willie Mays, is, of course, an important treasure to us,” Pelosi said.
“I think that the use of steroids and the example it sets for our young people in our country is an issue that must be addressed. And again, it’s all about young people. They love the sport. It is the national pastime. And it attracts young people to it. And we want them to see good examples, good models of athletic performance.”
On the Senate side, the Democratic leadership ended its weekly press conference before reporters could ask about the Mitchell Report. Several attempted to ask, anyway.
“Who’s on steroids?” Sen. Dick Durbin demanded. When told that former Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa was a suspect, the Illinois Democrat feigned shock.
“No,” he groaned. “So it ain’t so, Joe.”