Anyone been watching this today???

Man, its been interesting....including a certain respected player actually refusing to admit or deny when asked....he replies constantly "I'm not here about the past".

Imagine if Rumsfield or Rice tried to pull that crap at a Hearing.

But Big Mac.....he's hurt himself in terms of presenting himself at this heating. I mean the fact that hes making Canseco look better is really pathetic.

Anyway, Palmeiro seems to be truthful when talking. Schilling does act articulate as the former player-rep for the Player's Union. Finally, Sosa is out to lunch at this point. I can't tell what is going on with him.

This was an e-mail that ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons received from a reader:

Please tell me they are televising the Congressional steroid hearings in which Jose Canseco and other players will be testifying. How amazing would it be if Canseco's testimony went the way of the hearings in "Godfather II." Canseco is about to be sworn in, looks around the crowded room and remarks, "There's more people than a ballgame in here." Just then he looks to the door and sees Bud Selig walk in with a piercing look in his eyes, and sees his brother Ozzie Canseco standing next to Bud. When it comes time for Jose to be the rat everyone knows he is, he replies, "I don't – I never knew no steroids. I got my own supplements, Senator."
– Jeffrey Herrera, L.A.

I just got home, so I've only caught the last 1/2 hour. But through recaps I understand that McGwire took the 5th, and he constantly repeats he's only here to talk about the future. Call me a cynic, but he's got the look of the cat that swallowed the canary. I'm 90.5% sure he probably used. If you're innocent, say I never used, and be done with it. The fact he kept looking at his lawyer during some questions is a sign too. I think his home run record should be stripped. Now these millionaires will finally come to realize they can't cheat while making those millions. I just want to know why Bonds wasn't asked to be there.

I like how some of these committee members are putting out the emotions to the players about being fans, and how everyone looks up to them. I don't know any of these people, but one gentleman made a remark about the game not just being for the kids, they just use that as an excuse. If nothing else happens I hope these guys eat some humble pie and realize the sport of baseball is not just about them...it's also about US!!!

P.S...I wonder how many bodyguards Conseco has to escort him out that hostile environment.

What was wrong with McGwire? Did he have a dry throat? I thought he was going to cry when he was talking of never tattling on a teamates sexual preference and whatnot...

And I know that on ESPN news they basically said the language gap left Sosa clueless, which, for the most part, was pretty clear. I also like how Dan Patrick and the other commentator related Palmiero's finger pointing to the Clinton, "I didn't have sexual relations with that woman," denial.

I had the day off yesterday and watched several hours of this hearing. McGwire could not have come off worse if he tried. He should have just admitted that he used roids since he no longer plays. What is he holding onto? Another roid addict, Bonds, broke Big Mac's record in a mere 3 years. Now Mac says he wants to be spokesperson. I don't want my kids or the youthful athletes of this country listening to advice from a man who refuses to accept his blame and unwilling to suffer the consequences for cheating.

I forgot which Congressman said it, but he made a very simple yet valid point. I think it was ex-ballplayer Jim Bunning who is now in Congress. I'm paraphrasing here: When I played, guys didn't get bigger, stronger, and better as they got older. They got worse. You didn't see Henry Aaron & Willie Mays' numbers go up as you today - they declined.

I also liked the fact that they took Selig, Fehr, and MLB's lawyers to task. The question was asked why MLB players get 5 strikes and you're out with steriods, yet ordinary citizens get maybe 2 chances before going to jail. None of them had an answer - it was all dodging of the question.

I made it through the entire 2004 season without going to a single MLB game. If these guys continue cheating, coupled with the disproportionate salaries of teams, I see no reason to go back in 2005.

Barry Bonds - I hope you tear your knee up or have some other career-ending injury so that the 2 true ballplayes ahead of you, Babe Ruth & Henry Aaron, will have their HR records remain in tact. Everyone else, from Bonds, McGwire, Canseco, who used enhancementss, should have an asterisk next to their so-called accomplishments.

I couldn't agree more, Goombah. I didn't watch the hearings in their entirety, but what I did catch put a very bad taste in my mouth. One of our local sportscasters said Bud Selig has to be the worst baseball commissioner there ever was. I don't know if that's true, but you could just see all the big wigs sweat thinking about the money they're gonna lose if they start losing "big, home run smashing" players cause they're no longer using steroids. I think they should all have to look at the parent's who lost their kids with a big "I'm sorry. We let you down". One of the father's said something to the effect he hope his son didn't die in vain.

McGwire.....turn in your home run record now and crawl in a hole somewhere. I think he's despicable.

You have to love it. If you are a baseball player you get 5 great chances to break the law!
And to have the balls to justify the rule by saying that "it 's as good as any in professional sports" What a dick statement to make.
I think the father who spoke said it best.
"players that are guilty of taking steroids are not only cheaters- you are cowards.
You hide behind the skirts of your union, and with the help of management and your lawyers, you made every effort to resist facing the public today"

These jerks not only cheated in the sport, but they cheated all the clean players, while taking million dollar paychecks each year. The owners are no better because they let this happen in the name of the all mighty dollar in their pockets also.

It has been said, that they should strip them of their records and face the shame of any other cheaters in baseball history.

This morning Bud Selig said that what once was a 7-8% problem is down to 1-2% problem. Like that is something to cheer about. Cheating is cheating and only a zero tolerance policy is good enough or should be good enough.

Bullshit like getting a 10 thousand dollar fine instead of 10 days off is a joke for guys making millions a year.

In any other major company you would be fired on the spot if they caught you using any illegal substance.

How much worst could these people do yesterday?

I liked it when one Congressman asked the question to someone if he thought steriods was cheating. He said yes. The Congressman replied something to the effect you think that cheating is ok then. Those guys just looked like a bunch of bozos, talking about type o's and stuff.

the hearings were a joke!

Once again I completely agree with Goombah. The way Selig, Fehr and the MLB lawyers dodged questions was rather obvious. Some say that McGwire lost his first ballot induction to the Hall of Fame due to his performance in court yesterday. You can tell that he is ashamed of the truth, the truth that he is ready to confess. With all that he said in his speech, he never once addressed the questions at hand. Everyone dodged everything.

And like you, Goombah, I hope that Barry Bonds tears up that knee of his because he should have NO part of Henry Aaron's Home Run Record.