Ah, you guys beat me to it

This is what I get for running errands and being social today. My fellow bloggers have already written about the topics I had on my mind.

John at peregrine.blog and Raging Red already covered the fraudulent Congressional steroid hearings. But I'll still chime in. I agree with John that steroid abuse is an issue that needs to be addressed, but the proceedings yesterday were a sham. (A "trave-sham-ockery," as Bob Odenkirk said in those Miller Lite commercials.) I'm convinced that Tom Davis, R-VA, conducted these hearings just so he could meet some of his favorite ballplayers. If not, why drag these guys in front of Congress and just let them dodge the issue, as Mark McGwire did when he said he "didn't want to talk about the past."

Well gee, Mark, what did you think those Congressmen wanted to talk about? NCAA tournament pools? The new "Star Wars" movie?

I know it's "innocent until proven guilty" in this country, but by invoking his Fifth Amendment rights yesterday, McGwire might as well have put on an "I ♥ Steroids" t-shirt. Why not just say you took 'em, Mark? Everyone thinks you did so anyway - especially when you show up before Congress looking 40-50 lbs. lighter. To me, it was a disappointing, just-short-of-disgraceful display. McGwire walked out of there looking as dirty as Pig-Pen.

I did enjoy Rafael Palmiero assertively pointing at the committee as he said, "I have never taken steroids." It might've been the 2005 version of "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." Unfortunately, I can't find a photo of that moment. I wish one of the Congressmen would've challenged Palmiero's history with performance enhancers, though. Remember, the dude endorsed Viagra.

But really, what was learned yesterday, other than Jose Canseco has a book currently on sale in a bookstore near you?