Why Does Congress Investigate Baseball Players Who Used Steroids? *Updated*

Bread and circuses . . . what a bunch of idiots.

ETA: Actually I don't think many of them are idiots. Most of them are power hungry, self-absorbed narcissists - who have to look like they're doing something; meanwhile the real powers-that-be rob us blind.

It distracts us from the real issues.

Oh look shiny things!!

See. :)

I LOVE the response's.

This is also something I have wondered for years.

Just backs the fact that they truly love wasting our valuable time and money on things that truly should not matter.....Like our pass times and the drugs that the players use while doing it......No one should truly truly care. IMO.

Smoke and Mirrors to move main stream off watching them like a hawk on the things that matter...Give the media AS MUCH BS as the possible can to keep us dumbed down and not involved with the real issues.

Because they are a big bunch of jack asses.

I guess they don't think that there are much more important things to investigate. Maybe that's another reason why our country is in the crapper.

Here ya go.....

The Federally Controlled Substances Act, regulates the use of performance enhancing drugs, including steroids. In addition, Major League Baseball has been exempt from most federal anti-trust laws laws since 1922, when the Supreme Court ruled in its favor in Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs. The exemption prevents teams for suing if they are not granted the right to change locations at will. While its exemption from anti-trust laws has nothing to do with steroid use by players, it does place the affairs of Major League Baseball squarely under the jurisdiction of Congress.

That's a great question I've wondered about for years.
From what I've read (which is all BS) It's the Government Reform Committee. Why aren't the reforming Government? HMMMM
The official BS reason is about giving Baseball an ANti-trust agreement. There will never be a competing baseball league. They are the only sport to get that exemption because it's "America's National Pastime" Since Congress preserved the leaugue as a National Treasure, or some nonsense, that gives them right to reign over things that taint it's image. The frekin hearings taint it's image! But whatever. I agree that it's slight of hand, meant to distract.

Because it didn't used to be illegal, and now it is.
Congress is looking at a larger supply ring, who's involved, how high it goes, etc... You have public figures, sometimes members of Congress, who have part ownership in teams. They are trying to sort out whether those folks have been involved in the supply to the players, and skewing of records for personal gain.

The BS part of it is that they're now punishing people for something that was only "frowned upon" until recent years.
That's like making smoking illegal, and the punshing people that smoked even though they stopped. (which is not always the case)

It is a combination of what Tracy K. and Jo W. said!

I have never understood that, either. I would hope Congress would have more important things to worry about than professional baseball players. If it were Olympians, maybe I could understand because they're supposed to be representing our country - but those cases don't go to Congress! The Olympic committee takes care of that. So, I'm as baffled as you are. There are a lot of things Congress investigates that leave me shaking my head.

Any performance enhancing drugs (steroids) are illegal. The baseball players lied in federal court about taking them. In this country, if you lie in court, you will be in trouble. Thus, all these investigations.

These high profile cases give the illusion that Congress spends the majority of its time on high profile cases. Turn off all your "news and entertainment" TV stations like TMZ and ESPN. If you are that critical of how wasteful congressional hearings are, turn on C-Span. You will soon learn the hours Congress has spent on all the juiceheads is nothing compared to the hours news and entertainment TV has spent and Congress has better things to do like pass laws and bills so that you can lead a life of liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness.

btw, the congressional hearings on drug and doping scandals are driven by their desire to rid this country of people who are trying to corrupt athletes in all sports, not just baseball. As mothers of children who play sports now and might go on to have a career in professional and amateur sports, I'm pretty sure you will want your kids to be as clean as possible or else we may be wasting our tax dollars on their congressional investigations too, eh?

Power and publicity.

They like to exercise power and love to be infront of the voters.

I wish they spent more time balancing the budget, cutting unnecessary giveaway programs and actually pay down some of our national debt.

Good luck to you and yours.

Ummm...you're all wrong.

LOL - I apologize, but Major League Baseball was granted monopoly status in exchange for being under the regulation of Congress.

I quote:
Major League Baseball has been exempt from most federal anti-trust laws laws since 1922, when the Supreme Court ruled in its favor in Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs. The exemption prevents teams for suing if they are not granted the right to change locations at will. While its exemption from anti-trust laws has nothing to do with steroid use by players, it does place the affairs of Major League Baseball squarely under the jurisdiction of Congress.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/steroids.htm

Apparently Congress has excess time and money and nothing to do with it so, voila. Oh, you mean they don't? Complete waste of time and money.

Apparently Congress has excess time and money and nothing to do with it so, voila. Oh, you mean they don't? Complete waste of time and money.