A Widespread Problem! - BREAKING NEWS! - Awaiting Apology!

Did you hear?

Major League Baseball owes you an apology.

No, I'm not kidding.

It's True.

Jason Giambi said so.

No, That's Not an Angry Look.

Here, this is what Mr. Creamy Goodness had to say: From SI.com

Giambi also told the newspaper that Major League Baseball should apologize to the public for its widespread performance-enhancing drug problem. He said, "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up -- players, ownership, everybody -- and said: 'We made a mistake.''' [emphasis mine]

Well, isn't that special.

A widespread performance-enhancing drug problem.

You don't say.

Actually, Giambi was first quoted by USA Today, Here:

"I was wrong for doing that stuff," Giambi told USA TODAY on Wednesday before playing the Chicago White Sox. "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up — players, ownership, everybody — and said: 'We made a mistake.'

"We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. … Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

That sure clears things up.

Oh, and what was the reaction of the Office of the Commissioner?

So Many Buds, So Little Time.

From the same SI.com article above:

High ranking baseball officials were dumbfounded that Giambi would make such a public admission after going to great pains to avoid doing so for years. They noted that he was in the clear had he continued to admit nothing.

Oh oh. Maybe Jason might get in trouble or something?

Only foolin'.

However, baseball officials say that he still may not face any repercussions unless it can be determined when he took steroids.

Good luck with that.

Still, it sounded pretty scary there for a minute or two, didn't it.

And then there's this, from ESPN.com:

Baseball probably cannot punish Jason Giambi. Penalties for steroid use in baseball started in 2003, but testing with samples identified by players didn't start until 2004, making it unclear if Giambi could be retroactively disciplined for any admission. Human growth hormone, or hGH, is not specifically banned by the major leagues.

It doesn't sound like anyone now or then, or even in the future is really serious about disciplining anyone about this.

Just sayin'.

Here, I have an idea.

Actually, it's the solution for the problem of steroids and other pharmaco-cheating in Baseball:

Amnesty.

Yup.

Call it what you will, a "Truth and Reconciliation" committee, an "Amnesty Council" whatever, but it works like this:

Every player, manager, coach, trainer, etc. gets until the end of the year to admit their wrongdoing. In exchange, those that admit that they cheated using steroids and other performance-enhancing will receive immediate and complete amnesty.

Those who do not admit to their cheating and are later found to have done so will face a minimum of a one-year suspension.

For those who are caught cheating with performance-enhancers in the future face a lifetime ban if convicted.

Straight forward.

Compassionate.

Merciful.

Yet Just.

Are you listening Mr. Commissioner?

Apparently Not,

Bud Selig was willing to discuss just about everything -- other than Barry Bonds and steroids.

The baseball commissioner sidestepped questions Thursday about whether he'll attend games as Bonds nears Hank Aaron's home run record of 755."Is he really approaching?" Selig, a longtime friend of Aaron, said facetiously after owners finished their two-day meeting. "I don't have anything different to say today. I'll make a decision at some appropriate time."

Selig also wouldn't say whether he was concerned that active players thus far have not agreed to be interviewed for former Sen. George Mitchell's steroids investigation and only a few have supplied requested medical records.