Greetings from
The Publisher . . .
Yes, There’s Some Explaining to Do,
But, That Was It?
Have you heard about the controversy that's hitting baseball now? Whether you are a baseball fan or not, you're missing out on some laughs if you haven't.
Much of it fits into the category of “I can't believe they really said that,” or “What did they possibly mean by that?”
The current stir involves the recently published book by retired home-run hitter, Jose Canseco, who wrote the tell-all book Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big.
Everybody, of course, is denying his accusations that steroid use was rampant. He says without steroids he never could have been as successful as he was. He played on several teams and openly named the players on those teams who were 'riod knowledgable and who gave injections to whom.
While everybody denies Canseco's version, nobody is suing him for libel, either.
The reactions to his book by those he accused are mind-blowing, especially when you consider that's exactly what “'roids” do to the mind. Those taking them grow bigger everywhere, except the genitals, which shrink. Mentally they become defensive and hot-tempered—and prove it. Whether those “falsely accused” are justifiably upset at being wronged or exhibiting the symptoms of the 'roids, is hard to say however.
Ted Leitner, local baseball announcer, has voiced opinions against steroid use on his radio program. He has mentioned power-hitter Barry Bonds and wonders how working out and diet can make one's head grow.
One especially funny example was that of Miguel Ojeda, who released an adamant and clear statement that he had never used any performance enhancing drugs in his life.
The trouble was, the same ballplayer has been doing commercials for Viagra. “Miguel,” Leitner said on his show, “Viagra is what is known as a performance-enhancing drug.”
Do these guys get their how-to-handle-the-press training by watching politicians? I wonder how they got so savvy?
Bonds recently held his first press conference of the new season, after an off-season of new revelations and questions regarding the truthfulness of his previous statements regarding drug abuse.
What do you suppose he was ready to do? Move on. “Let's move forward.” Obviously taking the lead from our politicians, he's ready to forget and move forward, why dwell on it?—but without ever addressing or resolving any of it first.
He even had a suggestion for the press: Instead of wasting their time on insignificant him (i.e., the person who wants accolades for his special, record-setting performances), the press should spend their time on the more important issues facing society. Not bad, but then he went on.
Issues such as, he told the press, alcohol and drug abuse. Drug abuse? You mean like, banned substances? By “drug abuse” he obviously meant abuse by those other than baseball players using drugs other than 'roids.
Yes, I guess it could be possible some of them work out so much their heads get bigger, but it's not the result of expanding gray matter.
Also concerned about drugs, the FDA has allowed the pain killer, Vioxx—which doubles your chances of heart failure—back on the market.
In an unrelated move, the President presented his plan to cap medical malpractice settlements. He cited “frivolous lawsuits” as the reason for high insurance rates. In another unrelated move, they want to limit corporate liability for acts such as selling faulty drugs. And in yet another unrelated move, Congress wants to exclude credit card debt from being included in bankruptcies.
For those who are curious, an article by researchers, Joseph B. Treaster and Joel Brinkley (printed in the New York Times on Feb. 22) shows that settlements/payments out have gone down. The main reason medical insurance is going up is because insurance companies' income has gone down. Their money is invested in the stock market, and it isn't doing well. They need to make up for that. I assume once privatization of social security helps the stock market, the world will be right again for insurance companies.
For too many Americans, a credit card is their medical insurance. That's their emergency health care plan. The biggest cause of bankruptcy is unexpected and overwhelming health care costs. The credit card companies aren't losing revenue, and even if they can fund much of our present non-system of health care, it's not really their job. That's just how it is. And now they want more of the pie that their 18% interest rates bring.
Many Americans, however, just lost their health care system and nobody noticed seemed to notice or say anything. No word on debtor prisons yet, either.
Another statement that floored me this month was made by the President. The former owner of a baseball team, he was apparently unaffected by steroids. He said he didn't want the Europeans selling China arms or technology that could be used for military purposes. He said it would upset “the balance of relations” between Mainland China and Taiwan .
At first I had to laugh. The image I got was the one most of us heard growing—that the Chinese could march into the sea, ten across (or 100, whatever it was) and continue to do so forever without ever running out of people. Couldn't China simply walk over to Taiwan ? Would they need weapons? I've been to Taiwan : It's a small island, close to China , and it shouldn't take forever to walk over it.
Then I read that he didn't say “balance of power,” my first take. He said “balance of relations.” What could that mean? How can they say these things and leave them like that? I have to wonder if they can ask for clarification.
The whole situation is backward to begin with. China has money to buy European goods because they sold retail goods throughout America . Try not to buy Chinese goods in Wal-Mart.
Why is there concern now after so many said it was great for business? Does this mean that there is a recognition that a government is more than just a business? Is there a crack in the cosmically philosophical egg that says whatever is good for business is always good for everyone—except not always? Maybe economic interests aren't the only consideration or legitimate concern for a government.
The last mind-boggling statement of the month also came from the President, who scolded Russia 's leader, Vladimir Putin, for not being democratic enough. OK, but then Bush went on. He specifically mentioned the importance of a free press.
The day after the above incident, the President cancelled his town hall forum in Germany . The German press wasn't willing to submit their questions to Bush in advance of the forum. Bush cancelled. Not enough “friendlies” in the audience asking questions. They hate us for our freedom, you know.
This must be similar to baseball, where the press should focus on important issues instead. At the moment, unfortunately, I can't think of a more important issue to the press than a free press—at least in this case.
So I guess it's a free but non-spontaneous press that will keep us/US free. Free, yes; spontaneous, no.
I can't say I explain my actions any better than anyone else. After the rains I wasn't sure which water leak to fix first. I stopped the office leak and put a trash can over my chimney to stop the other, since I was scheduled to go to the Bay area to visit my aunt. I came home for three days then left again for three days. Somehow I still managed to replace my furnace and get a new phone system. Learning how to use the phones, well, that comes next, especially since the trash can is okay on the roof. I don't need it right away.
Explaining yourself isn't always easy, and it's fairly humorous listening to baseball players when they're out of their element. Shouldn't we have a higher expectation, however, for a President who says he wants to spread democracy and freedom around the world? Don't we want to hear a clear explanation, not a ‘roid version? Well you know what they say, teach what you need to learn. Who knows, in that vein maybe his attempts at explaining democracy will require looking at it and be to the benefit of all of us/US.
Have a great month,
Steve Hays
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