All-Star Roster Linked To Steroids

Clemens And Bonds Among 80+ Players Named In Report; Commissioner Vows Swift Action

(CBS/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, and Gary Sheffield 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.

"Everyone involved in baseball over the past two decades - commissioners, club officials, the players' association and players - shares to some extent the responsibility for the steroids era," Mitchell said. "There was a collective failure to recognize the problem as it emerged and to deal with it early on."

During his entire 21-month investigation, Mitchell faced staunch resistance from baseball's powerful player's union, reports CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

So Mitchell put pressure on coaches, trainers, even clubhouse attendants, to talk.

The keys to the investigation: evidence seized during a raid last February of an online pharmacy in Florida and, most importantly, a wad of checks provided by former New York Mets clubhouse attendant turned government informant Kirk Radomski, adds Keteyian.

In April, Radomski pleaded guilty to selling anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to dozens of Major League Baseball players from 2003 to 2005 and began cooperating with authorities and Mitchell.

Eric Gagne, Jason Giambi, Troy Glaus, Gary Matthews Jr., Jose Guillen, Brian Roberts, Paul Lo Duca and Rick Ankiel were among other current players named in the report - in fact, there's an All-Star at every position. Some were linked to Human Growth Hormone, others to steroids.

Clemens was singled out in nearly nine pages, with much of the information on the seven-time Cy Young Award winner coming from former New York Yankees major league strength and conditioning coach Brian McNamee. More than a dozen Yankees, past and present, were among the 80-plus players identified.

Players were linked to doping in various ways: some were identified as users, some as buyers and some by media reports and other investigations. Jose Canseco's book "Juiced" also was cited.

"According to McNamee, from the time that McNamee injected Clemens with Winstrol through the end of the 1998 season, Clemens' performance showed remarkable improvement," the report said. "During this period of improved performance, Clemens told McNamee that the steroids 'had a pretty good effect' on him."

McNamee also told investigators that "during the middle of the 2000 season, Clemens made it clear that he was ready to use steroids again. During the latter part of the regular season, McNamee injected Clemens in the buttocks four to six times with testosterone from a bottle labeled either Sustanon 250 or Deca-Durabolin."

Mitchell called for an independent agency to oversee drug testing in the game, adds Keteyian.

But he urged Selig to hold off on punishing players in the report "except in those cases where he determines that the conduct is so serious that discipline is necessary to maintain the integrity of the game."

"If there are problems, I wanted them revealed," Selig said. "His report is a call to action, and I will act."

Selig said discipline will be determined in case by case basis, and actions will be taken "swiftly."

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.

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Read the full Mitchell Report here.

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"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."

Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for steroids, was among the former players named. So were Kevin Brown, Benito Santiago, Lenny Dykstra, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice and Mo Vaughn.

"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."

"The illegal use in baseball of these substances also victimize the majority of players who don't use them. We heard from many former players who believe it was grossly unfair that the users were gaining an advantage," Mitchell said.

"The players' union was largely uncooperative for reasons that I thought were largely understandable," Mitchell added.

Union head Donald Fehr made "no apologies" for the way they represented players.

"Many players are named. Their reputations have been adversely affected, probably forever," he said. "Even if it turns out down the road that they should not have been."

Mitchell is a director of the Boston Red Sox, and some questioned whether that created a conflict.

"Judge me by my work," Mitchell said. "You will not find any evidence of bias, special treatment, for the Red Sox or anyone else. That had no effect on this investigation or this report, none whatsoever."

Giambi, under threat of discipline from Selig, was the only current player known to have cooperated with the Mitchell investigation.

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Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez says if there is truth in the Mitchell report accusing dozens of players of using steroids, it will be a "huge black eye" for the game of baseball. Katie Couric also speaks with Rodriguez about his new record-breaking, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees. On 60 Minutes this Sunday, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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Roger Maris' record of 61 homers had stood since 1961, but McGwire hit 70 in 1998 year and Sammy Sosa had 66. During the chase, the AP reported McGwire had used androstenedione, a supplement then available over the counter that produced testosterone.

A bulked-up Bonds then shattered McGwire's record by hitting 73 homers in 2001.

Victor Conte, the founder of Balco, says he never provided Bonds with undetectable anabolic steroids known as "the cream" and "the clear" but did give them to Greg Anderson, Bonds' personal trainer, reports Keteyian.

About two hours after Mitchell released his findings, two congressmen at the forefront of Capitol Hill's involvement in the steroids issue asked Mitchell, Selig and Fehr to testify at a House committee hearing next week.

California Democrat Henry Waxman and Virginia Republican Tom Davis - the leaders of the panel that held the March 17, 2005, hearing at which McGwire, Palmeiro and Sosa testified - want to know "whether the Mitchell report's recommendations will be adopted and whether additional measures are needed," they said.

Another representative who sponsored a bill and held hearings on the topic in 2005, Florida Republican Cliff Stearns, called on Selig to resign.

"Certainly, a lack of leadership and oversight in MLB enabled these abuses to continue," Stearns said Thursday. "After 15 years of slow action, a new commissioner is needed to guide the league out of this era of drug abuse."

[omega39-2009]

It''s a good thing this investigation wasn''t ran like the 9/11 commission. Barry Bonds would have demanded he be accompanied by the bat boy, his testimony would have been unsworn with no record, and it would of only been given in private to the chairman of the panel.

[honestabe8]

A serious drug culture in Baseball? The baseball that is as inherent to America as apple pie and Chevrolet? This can''t be. We are a Drug Free America (at least according to the TV commercials). Always amusing that professional sports leagues test their players for drugs, then turn around and let legal pushers advertise on their broadcasts. Do you want a beer with that hot dog, Mister Fan?

[petesis]

This needs to be cleaned up. This is a huge black eye but not unexpected. The word was out that if you wanted to make the team you had to juice. That message was being received loud and clear by college and high school prospects. That is a problem.
Anyone that thinks the NFL is any better is really kidding themselves.

[georgew1956]

i stopped watching baseball after 1994 do you people really care. tell the truth now.

[harp1963]

You would think these guys performing like 20 year olds into their mid 40''s might be a red flag to the league.

As a person who has been a workout-aholic my entire life and now am in my mid forties, it''s pretty obvious I''m not the 20 year old I used to be, even though I''m still in good condition for my age.

I''m so sick of everybody wanting to be something they''re not in this country. From our President, who couldn''t manage a good Go-Mart if his Dad hadn''t pulled strings for him since he was a baby, to the people on the lower end of the spectrum who act kings and queens, but are so in debt they could they could swan dive off the Empire State building into the money they owe and live to tell about it.

America is turning into a bunch of fakes.

[cheddarboy82]

who cares, so they wanted to up there game a little, why not juice to make some more dough - everyone here would. I didnt see them throwing fits going into rages...there both class acts in my book. big deal, they juiced - nothing to cry over

[whatithink-2009]

cheddarboy82,

Do you feel this way about Barry Bonds? If so, at least I can call you consistent.

[battyellison]

This was known for a long time just thought they would be able to use Vick, Bonds & OJ to keep all the attention it''s been known for years that Clemens, Cal Ripkin, all the great white hopes used steriods to compete now it won''t be because Bonds used steriods it''ll be because he lied about it. The New Great White Way of Slavery and Opression

[whatithink-2009]

Does that mean we get to put an astericks on the whole hall of fame building?

[canyoutellme-2009]

hahahahahaha bunch of dopers.... more like... bunch of DOPES. It''s hilarious that anything these high-achievers has ever done has been illigitmate. Just like Marion Jones... all these DOPE-HEADS should be ejected from whatever sport they''re in and let the hard-working people who have REAL talent get into the majors. This plagues every single professional sport in the US of A. Anyone who believes people are just NATURALLY that big and strong are kidding themselves. The US culture is to become bigger, stronger, hit more home runs than ever, do 500% more than the person before them etc... otherwise they are considered "nothings" in the world... at least in their minds. So, they do what most of us would NOT... they CHEAT. Baseball used to be fun to watch... in the 80''s! The NFL is ridiculous too, with the Patriots cheating and all. I guarantee you the NFL is completely littered with dopers too.

[bear10428]

Who Cares? I say let them use what ever they want. It is a professional sport. They are paid to play. This includes all pro sports. The "Games" have not been pure since they went "big time". Even college athletes are paid professionals. A $100,000 scholarship is pay!

[jerr11]

We all know that professional sports is all about doping.

If you want to win, you have to dope.

What I''m more concerned about it is the deceit that actually kills people.

4000 Americans to be precise, and countless others.

When will the perpetrators of that massive fraud be brought to justice?

So let these small-time crooks in baseball go and bring in the real crooks.

Starting with the Decider/Liar-in-Chief and Halliburton''s boy, ******** Cheney.

[cheddarboy82]

yes, he is not the only one with record - barry. Clemens has a bunch. All this does is really nothing. Is the year 95-05 gonna have asterisk next to every win with a player on it in the report ? this is so stupid. who the hell is to say hank aaron never took anything - they were legal when he played..whatever -they test now, if you fail you get suspended, lets move on

[jersupporter]

This was known for a long time just thought they would be able to use Vick, Bonds & OJ to keep all the attention it''s been known for years that Clemens, Cal Ripkin, all the great white hopes used steriods to compete now it won''t be because Bonds used steriods it''ll be because he lied about it. The New Great White Way of Slavery and Opression
Posted by battyellison at 01:04 PM : Dec 13, 2007

You really are a joke. You would not know what slavery is and really have no clue about CLASS.

[krenz4]

Ha. Now we see that Bonds is not the demon that destroyed baseball. But I insist that America, being what it is, will find a way to excuse or rationalize the others and let Bonds be the posterboy for what is wrong with sports today. They are going to allow him to take the blame for ruining baseball, when they all know, and we all know, He is by far not alone! Thats still how its done in this country.

[edward1975-2009]

First the use of amphetimines, now steroids, throw them out of the game. No three strike rule. Test positive your gone. These guys are supplied with lists that tell them what is banned and what isn''t. You violate, go find a 9-5.

[honestabe8]

"let the hard-working people who have REAL talent get into the majors" - canyoutellme....do you seriously think those in the majors have no talent? steroids do not influence hand/eye coordination. indeed, they do make people stronger, but to claim that they are talentless is just dumb. i know enough about myself to know i am talentless in baseball. give me steroids, and i will still be talentless in baseball. stronger, for sure, but not able to hit, nevertheless. "So, they do what most of us would NOT... they CHEAT" Really? Do you seriously think that most of us, given the opportunity of earning those big bucks would not take every advantage they could?

[honestabe8]

verifyuser: i do not know if i would agree with the "pseudo-sport" comment, but we, are indeed buying what they are selling. much of sport is overblown hype. wrasslin'' is just one of the more over the top ones. football and basketball are up there, too.

[stefan87462]

"yes, he is not the only one with record - barry. Clemens has a bunch. All this does is really nothing. Is the year 95-05 gonna have asterisk next to every win with a player on it in the report ? this is so stupid. who the hell is to say hank aaron never took anything - they were legal when he played..whatever -they test now, if you fail you get suspended, lets move on"

Posted by cheddarboy82


to add to this Hank Aaron theory lets look at a few of his seasons...

Age AB HR Plate Appearance/HR
30 570 24 23.75
31 570 32 17.81
35 547 44 12.43
36 516 38 13.57
37 495 47 10.53
39 392 40 9.80

[misssuzq]

They playing field needs to be leveled in EVERY sport...let the overpaid prima donnas and the drug abusers go.

We can find our new heroes that will actually APPRECIATE playing.

Then start the salaries at a level that actually makes sense for the team owners and the people who come to the games.

Have the players drug tested WEEKLY off and of season, so that these inquiries do not happen.

The salaries these people make is outlandish when you consider that people who REALLY do make differences in LIVES make lousy salaries and you do not see them striking like baseball did years ago.

[stefan87462]

"yes, he is not the only one with record - barry. Clemens has a bunch. All this does is really nothing. Is the year 95-05 gonna have asterisk next to every win with a player on it in the report ? this is so stupid. who the hell is to say hank aaron never took anything - they were legal when he played..whatever -they test now, if you fail you get suspended, lets move on"

Posted by cheddarboy82


to add to this Hank Aaron theory lets look at a few of his seasons...

Age_____AB____HR____Plate Appearance/HR
30______570___24___________23.75
31______570___32___________17.81
35______547___44___________12.43
36______516___38___________13.57
37______495___47___________10.53
39______392___40____________9.80


Kinda fishy if you ask me. God forbid anyone were too accuse a legend like Aaron.

[stefan87462]

"yes, he is not the only one with record - barry. Clemens has a bunch. All this does is really nothing. Is the year 95-05 gonna have asterisk next to every win with a player on it in the report ? this is so stupid. who the hell is to say hank aaron never took anything - they were legal when he played..whatever -they test now, if you fail you get suspended, lets move on"

Posted by cheddarboy82


to add to this Hank Aaron theory lets look at a few of his seasons...

Age_____AB____HR____Plate Appearance/HR
30______570___24_____23.75
31______570___32_____17.81
35______547___44_____12.43
36______516___38_____13.57
37______495___47_____10.53
39______392___40______9.80


Kinda fishy if you ask me. God forbid anyone were too accuse a legend like Aaron.

[jn122736]

For all those wondering why the leagues have not been more agressive in containing/eliminating steroid use; it''s the money.

These "super" stars brought the leagues and their owners huge profits. It''s that simple.

In my opinion they are just as guilty as the users themselves.

[fstop100]

All Pete Rose did was gamble while a manager, not as a player, why does he get a lifetime ban from the Hall of Fame and these pumped up morons are getting to set records? Very unfair to true baseball fans, but I guess money outweighs values.

[honestabe8]

missSUZQ: if you are looking for heroes in sports, you should re-evaluate your view of the world. i don''t think it''s the people who come to the games that drive the salaries, it''s the TV revenue and concession (hats, shirts, etc) sales. if you want the money to be less in sports, stop watching them. you apparently equate drug use with drug abuse. sort of a irrational position, it seems.

[cheddarboy82]

Can someone tell me the point of spending this money on this investigation ? what is this gonna accomplish. We all know pro athletes use stuff to get the edge, legal or not. None of this is a shock and athletes will continue to do so after this. The best you can do is test and suspend for fails. This seems like a waste of time

[misssuzq]

Using more drugs than are prescribed or using illegal drugs is abuse.

Whatever drives up those salaries needs to be changed, and bringing the players back down to earth would certainly help and there are plenty of exceptional players that can replace every single one of them.

And I do not watch them on TV or in person any longer.

Years ago when baseball had their strike, I sold my 7th row, 1rst base seats in SF because I would not support their salaries or their attitudes.

Instead of talking about it, I took a stand that few actually follow through with.

[honestabe8]

using illegal drugs is abuse? how? and, the idea that people view these athletes as heroes is one of the reason that there is so much money in it.

[crystalblue3]

There absolutely needs to be a backlash against MLB teams and players. I''m so disappointed in these guys. I also think that the long-standing records that were shattered by those using these performance enhancing drugs needs to be reinstated. Those who set those records didn''t need them and it''s not fair that they get those titles taken away from them by those who do.

For those of you who don''t think we need to look to them as heroes...well guess what, since baseball began, the players have been looked up to by thounsands of kids and that''s a well-known fact. Get over it. They earn enough money and get enough benefits from the game that they should be able to get through a season without beefing up.

EVERYONE should be disappointed in these guys. EVERYONE.

[usgeneral-2009]

.
What amazes me is that ANYBODY is surprised by how low major league sports has dropped. It is, after all, ALL ABOUT THE MONEY - and nothing else.

Like wrestling, major league sports are, as Elaine once said on Sienfeld, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.

.

[honestabe8]

crystalblue3: " For those of you who don''''t think we need to look to them as heroes...well guess what, since baseball began, the players have been looked up to by thounsands of kids and that''''s a well-known fact. Get over it." so what? does doing something dumb for a long time make it any less dumb? viewing these guys as heroes is one of the reasons there is so much money in the game. it sells gear and gets fans to use the term "we" when talking about their heroes exploits. i am not disappointed in these guys because i never expected them to do otherwise. get over your hero worship.

[misssuzq]

Actually, how is is NOT abuse, honestabe8?

a7buse, a7bus7ing, noun
%u2013verb (used with object) 1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse.
wrong or improper use; misuse.
2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt.

[konabike]

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell took steroids too.

[fornicario]

Nice to know that we can examine the hard issues facing this country. Not the economy, not the war, but Congress can spend TWENTY months investigating baseball players while the Enron scandal barely merited a nine month investigation. Way to keep this country safe from drug abuse. I''m hoping we get around to the real problems facing our country soon, before the economy crashes and burns.

[cat1993]

Is there ever a debate that does not become racial. Take Michael Vick. Why do people have so much compassion for this man. He killed DOGS!!! DOGS!!!. Killed them using jumper cables, strangulation, bullets, etc etc. This man was making 20 million dollars a year, playing a game that we all love and wish we could play. And he was killing dogs on his property that he used the money he made from fans to buy. I dont understand why anyone, white, black, hispanic, etc etc would have compassion for that man. He had no regard for helpless animals. And people want that man to be a role model for their kids. And as far as Barry Bonds. If he would have learned to handle the media, instead of acting like fans and people who paid his big salary were beneath him, he might have been a little better off. Just ask Michael Jordan. What color was he. He never acted better than anyone else just because he was good. Jerry Rice, what color was he. Same thing. Wow, how long are people gonna play the race card. Just because Vick was black, we should not say anything to him for killing dogs. The intelligence of this world sometimes makes me wonder. Its not black or white anymore. Its right or wrong.

[lvdragonlady-2009]

Everyone is boo hooing the players using the drugs out there that are available. What about the drug companies that make them? Has anyone ever looked at a body building magazine? There are ads upon ads for steroids, they are bought by people everyday. Why are they being made, at all, if they are illegal? No one ever asks that question. Simply put, greed. The drug companies want the money, the players want the money. Stop making the *** stuff sheesh.

[honestabe8]

MissSuZQ: So, the proper or improper use of a chemical substance depends on its legality? If the law changes, does the definition of abuse change? For example, if I smoke two joints a day and it is illegal, it is abuse, but those same two smoked in a jurisdiction where the laws are different is not abuse?

[crystalblue3]

Give me a break, "honest" abe! So basically what you''re saying is that their actions are the fans fault? How sick is that? Asking the fans to change how they look at the players NOW is utterly ridiculous. WE didn''t make them or their sponsors GREEDY. And it also doesn''t excuse their extremely poor choices. They aren''t lemmings. They are grown men who did WRONG no matter how you want to look at it.

If we applied your line of thinking to all situations, then this world would be one big f*cked up mess now, wouldn''t it?

[honestabe8]

GladImnotOJ: I agree. I have been watching sports for a long time, and they all end up looking the same. That''s where the hype comes in. It sells the sport to the fans. So, some guy who does not actually go out and play (or, in many cases, does not go out and do any exercise) can by putting on a jersey and pretend that he is part of a team. "We" won, "we" lost. No, folks...THEY won or THEY lost..I just laid on my couch and watched.

[honestabe8]

crystalblue: how would applying my line of thinking result in a messed up world? Can you deny that the amount of money in the sport is a direct result of the fans support?

[honestabe8]

crystalblue: also, doesn''t this scandal change the way fans perceive the players?

[samthetvcat]

"Eric Gagne, Troy Glaus, Gary Matthews Jr., Brian Roberts, Paul Lo Duca, Rick Ankiel and Jay Gibbons were among other current players named in the report. Some were linked to Human Growth Hormone, others to steroids."

Eric Gagne . . . what a shock - NOT! And Roger Clemens is old news. This report seems like good news in the sense of who''s not on the list - Derek Jeter, A-Rod, etc

[cat1993]

What about Craig Biggio. The modern day Pete Rose. He is not on the list

[michellem99-2009]

I love baseball. I also feel the players who use drugs to get where they are have and do hurt baseball and us fans. Thanks to a Mainer ,he stood to the plate to clean up the mess. Children look up to ball players and those same children wants to play pro baseball. It is more than a shame that the players break the rules by drug use just to get the glory,fame,money etc. It is time to return to the love of the game as the old timers played..Sen. Michell thank you.

[kristin1228]

Why is this shocking to people? Lol...as long as there are steriods and as long as there are professional sports, people are going to abuse it and break the rules....

[buddhabman]

Clemens, WOW. I always wondered why my 40 yo arm hurts after throwing a tennis ball in the backyard for the dog for a 1/2 hour. I shoulda had a Winstrol.
;-)

[gwagener]

What makes this a serious issue is the billions of dollars in gambling, legal and mostly illegal. How is one to know who to bet on if one does not who is using?
To solve the problem, the best thing is to remove all restrictions on performance enhancing drugs (under a doctor''s supervision). That way, we will all be assured everyone is using and the playing field will be level again.
If some players are hurt or killed, no big loss. They are just animals performing for our amusement anyway.

[honestabe8]

michelle: it is more of a "shame" that kids look up to baseball players. yeah, who wants glory, fame and money? and, why exactly do these kids want to be baseball players, if not for the glory, fame and money?

[honestabe8]

if folks want players to play for the love of the game like the old timers did, take the money out of the game. the old timers had to have jobs in the off season. now, the players don''t.

[scratch057]

If you inject it, they will come...