June 22, 2007

GIAMBI IS CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A SOFT SHOE

       The farcical dance play that is the George Mitchell led investigation into steroid abuse in major league baseball has a new soft shoe dancer—the often self-destructive New York Yankee slugger Jason Giambi.  While baseball executives, and more specifically commissioner Bud Selig, trumpet the acquisition of the first superstar ballplayer as a major addition to their cause, in reality, on their supposed way to the truth, it is just another sequence of events that could easily be construed as being originally played out in a Three Stooges movie.  It’s all a charade (and a poorly constructed and enacted one at that) meant to keep the US Congress away from its dealings and to make it look to the baseball public that those in charge are absolutely intent on cleaning up the sport.  I doubt it is fooling anyone.

       Here’s how the absurdity plays out.  The Selig-led and Mitchell-appointed committee looking into the abuse of steroids in baseball has been unable to find anyone of consequence willing to discuss the issue, and has been unable to ensnare any major player with its various testing procedures.  As a result the supposedly powerful new performance enhancing drug program aimed at ridding baseball of this dastardly problem once and for all has netted the game only third-rate ballplayers and minor leaguers.  The intent of the committee was to uncover usage by its major stars and therefore blow the lid off the illegal drug trade that has infected the game and severely marred and tarnished baseball’s image.  But most of all it was created to prove to Congress that baseball could police itself and to ensure that Congress wouldn’t stick their intrusive little fingers into their sport—if that happened there is no telling just how messed up the sport would get. 

     Congress had their one shot, and as farcical as that event became it did prove once and for all that some of baseball’s superstars had something to hide.  While Jose Canseco, the stimulus behind the steroid crusade (because of his own admitted usage and the naming of other users in his book) was up front about his abuse the others on the panel (Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa) looked decidedly guilty with their denials and their non-denial denials.  In the aftermath of that impaneling McGwire has become a pariah, and was decidedly penalized during the hall of fame voting, Palmeiro actually tested positive and has not played another game, and Sosa took an entire year off to likely clean up. 

       Giambi, for his part, was initially implicated as a steroid user in Canseco’s book.  He supposedly admitted his own usage to a grand jury, apologized (however pathetically) for his behaviour following that testimony, and recently went so far as to indirectly admit his usage in a published USA Today article.   That article created a stir within the baseball community and allowed Selig to use it as a hammer (the commissioner threatened the Yankee DH with a lengthy suspension if he refused) to force Giambi into meeting with Mitchell to discuss steroid abuse.   The amusing part though is that because of the performance enhancing drug policy agreed upon by baseball and the players association Selig didn’t have the authority to suspend Giambi simply because the player never tested positive for the drug.  Selig insisted that because of Giambi’s admissions he had enough evidence for the suspension, but if he made the attempt then the players association would have sued and a lengthy court battle could have ensued.  Not wanting to involve himself, his family, his team and baseball in a lengthy, and likely, vicious court battle Giambi agreed to meet with Mitchell, with certain limitations.  He wouldn’t implicate anyone, including himself, and he would only meet with Mitchell if he and his lawyers were presented with the questions in advance so they have the ability to craft their answers.  Not having many options, and wanting to take advantage of having Giambi meet with Mitchell, baseball agreed to each of the specifications.

       When Giambi meets with Mitchell he will not indict himself (he will discuss his usage only during the years when steroid use was not punishable in baseball), and he will not discuss anyone else, either inside or outside the game.   The results of the meeting will prove negligible—Giambi will simply talk about his feelings about steroid abuse in the sport and give the committee a general understanding of how his involvement began.  As he said in the statement following his meeting with Selig, “my hope is that this meeting will serve as a positive step, as all parties involved seek the best approach in dealing with the issue of "drugs in sport." That has always been the intent behind all of the comments I have made on the subject and it remains so to this day.”

       Giambi should be applauded for trying to do what he believes is best for the game.  His avenue has been more than suspect—he has certainly put his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion, but at least he, unlike his more celebrated associates (namely Bonds) continue to live in that small town called Denial.  But to think that this comedy show called the steroids investigative committee will result in anything positive taking place in baseball is completely naïve.   This is a soft shoe performance of the most exquisite kind with all parties involved more concerned with their public profile than with any substantial effect.

       Selig and Mitchell have been on the lookout for a third stooge for some time now.  Maybe Giambi will be able to fill that role.  Maybe I’m too cynical, but I somehow doubt it.   

      The search for a third member of their dance troupe will continue.

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