Senator George Mitchell's Report on the Steroid Era

NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte were named in the long-awaited Mitchell Report on Thursday, an All-Star roster linked to steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs that put a question mark -- if not an asterisk -- next to some of baseball's biggest moments.

Barry Bonds, already under indictment on charges of lying to a federal grand jury about steroids, also showed up in baseball's most infamous lineup since the Black Sox scandal.

The report culminated a 20-month investigation by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, hired by commissioner Bud Selig to examine the Steroids Era.

It was uncertain whether the report would result in any penalties or suspensions.

Several stars named in the report could pay the price in Cooperstown, much the way Mark McGwire was kept out of the Hall of Fame this year merely because of steroids suspicion.

"Former commissioner Fay Vincent told me that the problem of performance-enhancing substances may be the most serious challenge that baseball has faced since the 1919 Black Sox scandal," Mitchell said in the 409-page report.

"The illegal use of anabolic steroids and similar substances, in Vincent's view, is 'cheating of the worst sort.' He believes that it is imperative for Major League Baseball to 'capture the moral high ground' on the issue and, by words and deeds, make it clear that baseball will not tolerate the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs."

"We identify some of the players who were caught up in this drive to gain a competitive advantage," the report said. "Other investigations will no doubt turn up more names and fill in more details, but that is unlikely to significantly alter the description of baseball's `steroids era' as set forth in this report."

It is important to note the Mitchell's main informants were involved with the Yankee and Mets organizations. As a result it is entirely possible that a good number of other players using steroids (past/present) on other MLB teams may have gone undetected in the investigation. Some players and their representation are already casting doubt on the integrity of the informants (gutter rat comments, etc). The fact that this was an FBI run investigation shouldn't be forgotten. The FBI does investigate things for a living :) and I am sure procedural diligence was maintained.

Today marks official "verdict and conviction" of Major League Baseball related to steroid use. Guilty. Everything after this..is aftermath. Are baseball fans surprised? Yes and no. Some of the names mentioned in the report maybe a surprise, but in general no.

This report also helps the MLB to get this "steroid moose on the table" once and for all and stops all the years of allegations, rumors and speculation that has plagued baseball. Hopefully this gives them a new "square one" to build from after all the "should have, could have , would have" concludes with the league, owners and players union.

Performance enhancing drugs and tests to stop them are part of the sports world. Players in all sports are always looking for an "edge". Even today there isn't a "sanctioned" test for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and for each test there is a new "designer drug" to help avoid it.

The worst is yet to come. Banter about MVP's, records, Cy Young and championship misappropriations have yet to start. This will make the Pete Rose betting scandal and Black Sox episodes look trivial by comparison. Merchandise deals and endorsement contracts for those names mentioned could be effected. Who knows what Bud Selig will do ( he didn't promise no fallout).

Here is what I do know today, that the young boys and girls in America playing baseball in the school yards of this nation were robbed. Robbed of an ideal, an ethic of fair play and in some cases a hero. They are the countless faceless victims here.