Congratulations to the California State University Fresno (also known as Fresno State) mens' baseball team for winning the 2008 NCAA College World Series with a 6-1 victory over the University of Georgia.
I grew up in Fresno in the shadow of the university's Pete Beiden Field and remember some excellent teams under the leadership of former Coach Bob Bennett. My hat goes off to current Coach Mike Batesole and his gutty group of players.
This is Fresno State's third championship on a national level in a team sport and second National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)- sponsored title. The women's softball team led by coach Margie Wright won the 1998 NCAA championship and the men's basketball team under Boyd Grant won the 1983 National Invitation tournament in New York City, back before the NCAA tournament expanded to its current size.
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thoughts On Clemens
By request of the United States Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation to opened an investigation of star pitcher Roger Clemens for possibly lying to Congress about his use of steroids. I have read a few commentators who are asking why the FBI should even be involved in this case. Major League Baseball is, after all, not a government operation. However, I believe that the FBI should indeed investigate Clemens. Why? Becasue if he lied under oath, that is perjury- the very same crime committed by Bill Clinton that ended up losing him his law license and getting him impeached. Perjury is a federal crime and it is a rather major crime. One simply should not lie under oath, no matter how embarrassing the resulting testimony. And if Clemens did lie under oath, then he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
However, I do have a problem wondering why Congress feels it should be involved in Major League Baseball's steroids issues. The government is a bloated, embarrassing creature already, and one that cannot even keep its own finances in order- that is why we have so many budget issues. Certainly the Commerce Clause was never intended to allow Congress to interfere in organizations such as Major League baseball. Congress needs to set their own house in order before they ought to worry about possible cheating in sports.
Professional sports should be able to police themselves- if they consistently fall short of the public's ideals, then their viewership and fan base will drop, as we have seen with baseball over the past couple of decades. Congress should have zero role in overseeing what is essentially a private concern. I understand the desire members of Congress have to be in the public limelight and this case certainly gives them an easy path to it while bringing virtually no accompanying risks. However, they would be better advised to do something about real concerns- like disloyal bureaucrats, deadly Muslim terrorists and the spiraling federal budget deficit due to their earmarks and other pork, before thinking about professional athletes possibly doing drugs in order to succeed in their chosen sports.
However, I do have a problem wondering why Congress feels it should be involved in Major League Baseball's steroids issues. The government is a bloated, embarrassing creature already, and one that cannot even keep its own finances in order- that is why we have so many budget issues. Certainly the Commerce Clause was never intended to allow Congress to interfere in organizations such as Major League baseball. Congress needs to set their own house in order before they ought to worry about possible cheating in sports.
Professional sports should be able to police themselves- if they consistently fall short of the public's ideals, then their viewership and fan base will drop, as we have seen with baseball over the past couple of decades. Congress should have zero role in overseeing what is essentially a private concern. I understand the desire members of Congress have to be in the public limelight and this case certainly gives them an easy path to it while bringing virtually no accompanying risks. However, they would be better advised to do something about real concerns- like disloyal bureaucrats, deadly Muslim terrorists and the spiraling federal budget deficit due to their earmarks and other pork, before thinking about professional athletes possibly doing drugs in order to succeed in their chosen sports.
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