Congress appears to be striking out

Barry Bonds is right.

Barry Bonds is a seven-time National League Most Valuable Player and… Barry Bonds is right.

Barry Bonds is a seven-time National League Most Valuable Player and holds the all-time record with 73 homeruns in one season. He is also a lying, cheating, self-absorbed cry baby with an unnaturally large head who has done more to destroy the game of baseball than anyone not named George Steinbrenner. But, in between fraudulently soiling the record books, he actually talked to reporters long enough to say something poignant and rational.

The other day in Washington D.C., Bonds was asked his opinion on the Congress’ involvement in Major League Baseball’s steroids policies. He answered, “You know what? There are still other issues that are more important-Right now, people are losing lives, don’t have homes, I think that’s a little more serious. A lot more serious.”

Wow. I was amazed when I read this quote online. First, he’s right. There’s no reason for Congress to get involved in such a miniscule issue when this time and energy – not to mention money – could be focused on more important problems. Second, I was forced to step back and contemplate a very disturbing scenario: Is it possible that a professional baseball player has more common sense than the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government?

Sure, it’s possible that Barry’s only looking to save his own butt, which, ironically is the same butt into which the illegal substances were allegedly injected. Most fugitives don’t get any praise for criticizing the cops searching for them. But even if his motives were dirty, it’s hard to look past the fact that he spoke the truth.

As I write this, 5 percent of our country, roughly seven and a half million people are unemployed. Our military is being stretched so thin that there wasn’t enough manpower to assist restoration efforts after Hurricane Katrina destroyed parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Forty-five million people, including eight and a half million children, were without health insurance last year. Oh, and by the way, people are cheating at baseball.

I love baseball. I understand the part it plays in our country’s psyche as a symbol of freedom and the American dream. As a benchwarmer on my Little League team, I hated it when I caught an opposing player spitting on the ball or covering the plate with dirt. Cheating is wrong and should not be tolerated, but is it really important enough to involve our elected lawmakers?

I believe that if Major League Baseball cares enough about the future of this game, they will take the necessary measures to fix this sinking ship. Now that stiffer penalties, though not stiff enough, are being set, homerun totals are going down and bodies seem to be shrinking. Commissioner Bud Selig is about to embark on what needs to be a ridiculous public relations campaign, making the fans believe that they are once again watching players and not possible cheaters.

The most important thing to remember, however, is that this is just a game. For some reason, Americans have this crazy idea that sports are more important than most other things in the world. Why do we honor a soldier’s death in the Middle East only if he happened to also play defense for the Arizona Cardinals? Why is there more coverage on where the Hornets are going to play next season than where the residents of New Orleans are going to live? Why are we wasting our time dealing with games when there are so many other things going on that need our attention?

Congress getting involved in steroid policies is unnecessary and irresponsible. We are quick to question Barry’s motives for criticizing, but what about the motives of the people in Washington? It’s very possible that they are exploiting the steroids issue to overshadow their dealings over the more pressing issues we are facing. They could be using this highly publicized situation to distract us from problems with our economy and safety. I’m not looking to start any conspiracy theories, but it seems like there has to be a reason for this infatuation with such a minor problem.

So I say we should listen to Barry. Congress has no business wasting their time worrying about baseball when they have so many other things to worry about. The man making $22 million this year speaks for the people. Send him to Washington. Give him a seat in the Senate. At least then we could get him off the field.

Sam, by the way, lives with a fake Phillies fan. E-mail him at seg23@pitt.edu.