15 Minutes and a Congressional Hearing

Someone with no interest in the soapbox, that's what we need. And after today's congressional hearing with Bud Selig, Donald Fehr, George Mitchell and a room full of puffed-up elected officials, we need it more than ever. Today's hearing managed to do one thing, and that was get MLB and the MLBPA to accept at least partial blame. It's like getting caught in the act by your parents; you have to at least fess up, right?

But where do we go from here? The only thing, in my opinion (and this is my soapbox, so I'm not the man for the job) is to get the players behind reform. That's the only way anything will change. How do you get them behind reform? I dunno, but maybe it starts with (as Mitchell and el Señor Gammons have suggestedD) with an amnesty program. Come forward with your sins, say your ten Hail Mary's and five Our Father's and your transgressions will be forgiven, my son. We've already seen what the media has done to players who have come forward, and what they've done to those who've dug their heels in and denied three times before having their round in the spotlight. It makes more sense to promote healing than it does to promote fire and brimstone righteousness.

Yet that's what we got today, isn't it? He saids and she saids and "It is all under review, Congressman." It's somewhat entertaining to see the government take an interest in the national pastime. Makes it feel more, well, national. But in the end, Potomac meddling is just more spinning of the wheels. 

Isn't there anybody out there who hates soapboxes?