AT ISSUE
All sports punishment
What: A House of Representative subcommittee is proposing a bill that would enact a uniform steroid policy for all four major sports. Modeled after the Olympic policy, the first-offense penalty would be a two-year suspension.
Background: Jose Canseco’s accusations that steroid use is rampant in baseball ignited congressional committees to call league commissioners to Capitol Hill twice in three months.
Klis’ take: Make no mistake, there is a grandstanding element to Congress’ motives. I wish every meth lab was destroyed, but America’s judicial system often gives people a second chance (with probation) if they get caught taking the stuff. Yet Congress wants to throw the book at athletes. In the spirit of fair competition, steroids must go. But the lawmakers’ steroid proposal is so harsh, it could kill a career for one bad decision. Lawmakers also fail to understand that comparing baseball with Olympic competition is like comparing apples with porterhouse steaks. A two-year suspension is a wrist slap to Olympic athletes who have one competition every four years. A two-year ban in baseball covers 324 games.
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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Are the White Sox for real?
What: Baseball’s biggest surprise, the White Sox, and their big-league-best record will be tested with a seven-game road trip to Anaheim and Texas.
When: All week.
Where: Four games at Angels Stadium, three at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
Why: Never mind the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry that will be renewed this weekend at Yankee Stadium. That meeting is for second place. The White Sox and Angels are division leaders. Road games are won with starting pitching, and the White Sox have the game’s best. Jon Garland, Mark Buehrle and Orlando Hernandez are a combined 20-2. With Hernandez on the disabled list, however, the White Sox will be challenged on this trip, as they are 3-13 the past four years at Anaheim and the Rangers play in an offensive park.
