Congress playing hardball

Saturday, March 1, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

It is not often that the commissioners of the country’s four major professional sports get together, as happened Wednesday. Unfortunately, they were not together for a public discussion about something positive, such as a joint national ad campaign to promote physical fitness.

Instead, they were appearing before a House subcommittee that deals with commerce and consumer protection. The ugly topic of discussion was the growing use of performance-enhancing drugs by professional athletes, and what role, if any, Congress should play.

David Stern, commissioner of the National Basketball Association, spoke for his colleagues when he stated emphatically, “This is an area where federal legislation is not necessary.”

According to Associated Press sports writer Joseph White, who covered the hearing, all of the commissioners and their respective sports’ union heads testified that acceptable progress against steroids has been made during the past three years.

Comments by committee members, though, made it clear the commissioners’ view is not shared.

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., chairman of the subcommittee, said the commissioners do not have the problem under control, adding, “We (congressmen) have to do more.” Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said, “Let’s go ahead and get something into law.” Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said to the commissioners, “If you all had gotten it right, we would not be here again today.”

It appears this subcommittee will indeed propose a law mandating increased drug enforcement in professional sports, to better assure the paying fans that contests will not be decided by cheats.

Although we want to see clean games and matches as much as the next fan, we hope Congress ultimately decides that federal intervention, at least for now, is not the answer. We believe the recent congressional hearings on drug use in baseball, spurred by former Sen. George Mitchell’s damning report, will serve as a wake-up call to all sports commissioners and managers.

If it doesn’t, they will be laughed out of Washington the next time they say federal legislation is not necessary.