Sports Radio Service


		Commissioner meets players on testing By Ken Gimblin and Joseph Cronin December 29, 2004

	SAN FRANCISCO - The Major League Baseball Players Association is extremely strong and they're a lot of things that the owners don't like on the issue of drug testing. It's really been a joke the way they've ran the test. Minor League Baseball is somewhat better and certainly, when you look at the NFL and the NBA, they certainly do a much better job than MLB. The sad thing is Faye Vincent, who was commissioner for everybody, was fired by the owners and the owners hired somebody they wanted and hes done what the owners have wanted and hes done a very poor job. Unfortunately, that's what baseball is saddled with. Barry Bonds, the San Francisco outfielder, is claiming he didn't know what he was doing when he was given the Cream and the Clear from his personal trainer Greg Anderson. If that's the case, we'll sell you the Bay Bridge. We don't think Babo is going to be touched that much and it'll be an ongoing discussion, but at this stage it appears Bonds is going to go ahead and play. The big thing you wonder is Bonds is running into an age factor and how it will play into his performance. Some fans are going to question him, the media will question him, and it'll be something that'll be off limits. Bonds doesn't talk to the media, anyway. Frankly, Babo is going to go for the record. Is it going to be tainted? Is it going to hurt? Yes. MLB has suffered and there are a lot of players who haven't been on steroids and certainly want the testing. The key is two things. It's difficult to test because they keep coming up with new products and there really is no testing, but it's done very poorly. The Players Association is getting pressure not only from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), but also from MLB. The players are going to have to do something and some of the players are putting pressure on the Union. There are a lot of players not using it and I'm sure that their putting pressure on the Union saying, "We want to have something to prove we're not doing it." So far, they haven't come up with anything and the Commissioner has said anyone with public knowledge proven and tested positive will be suspended for a first offense. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin cover the Sacramento Kings, Cal Bears, SF Giants, and co-host Sportstalk on KVVN 1430 and KLIB 1110 Radio.