Congress (apparently) has authority over professional sports
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
They want to get autographs for their kids? Seriously it is mostly grand standing, but the more time they waste on this the less time they have to write legislation that will hurt us.
Otherwise [Microsoft is] toast in the long term no matter how much money they've got. They would be already if the Linux community didn't have it's head so firmly up it's own command line buffer that it looks like taking 15 years to find the desktop. -- Matthew Faithfull
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
The only thing I can come up with is re-election. They want to have some more support for re-election, and by doing this they pull from a different pool than usual. Not that sport goers don't vote, but when has a Senator ever targeted sport fans?
The best way to accelerate a Macintosh is at 9.8m/sec² - Marcus Dolengo
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
Patrick S wrote:
Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
The four sports leagues have been granted special status from time to time allowing them exemption from antitrust suits. MLB has a blanket exemption passed by Congress allowing them to do all sorts of price-fixing. So having Congress 'oversee' professional sports is not exactly new. Nor have the leagues complained when legislation has been passed that is in their favor. Of course, when Congress wants to grandstand - which is certainly what they are doing here - they simply say that they are considering legislation and holding hearings to become better informed -- same argument they use to justify their round the world junkets. Personally I think they should cancel any laws that set the sports leagues apart from other businesses - it's not like they're not-for-profit organizations, after all - and stfu
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
Patrick S wrote:
Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
Congress does have authority over the federal courts -- including, contrary to what you were taught in school, the US Supreme Court -- but at almost all times refuses to exercise that authority. So, it stands to reason that Congress will, instead, try to assert authority it does not even have in frivolous matters.
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
Patrick S wrote:
Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue.
So is it unfair or a waste of time?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
-
Patrick S wrote:
Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue.
So is it unfair or a waste of time?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
DavidCrow wrote:
So is it unfair or a waste of time?
It's unfair for the teams and players. It's a waste of time for Congress to address the issue. I don't see the problem.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
-
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others. I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
Patrick S wrote:
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others.
I couldn't give a rat's arse at the moment to read through it.
Patrick S wrote:
I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
Are steroids not illegal?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
-
DavidCrow wrote:
So is it unfair or a waste of time?
It's unfair for the teams and players. It's a waste of time for Congress to address the issue. I don't see the problem.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
So who should be in charge of making sure the players do not cheat?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
-
So who should be in charge of making sure the players do not cheat?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
The teams themselves, the leagues, and ultimately the fans. But, we give preferential treatment to them - publicly-funded stadiums, etc. - and so we feel cheated when it turns out they're as fake as pro wrestling... which, oddly enough, doesn't seem to have these PR issues.
But who is the king of all of these folks?
-
The teams themselves, the leagues, and ultimately the fans. But, we give preferential treatment to them - publicly-funded stadiums, etc. - and so we feel cheated when it turns out they're as fake as pro wrestling... which, oddly enough, doesn't seem to have these PR issues.
But who is the king of all of these folks?
Shog9 wrote:
The teams themselves, the leagues, and ultimately the fans.
Do you really see this as a viable solution? All three entities have one goal -- to win. If the teams are in charge of policing themselves, don't you think they'd turn a blind eye to players using PEDs if it meant the difference between winning and losing?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
-
Shog9 wrote:
The teams themselves, the leagues, and ultimately the fans.
Do you really see this as a viable solution? All three entities have one goal -- to win. If the teams are in charge of policing themselves, don't you think they'd turn a blind eye to players using PEDs if it meant the difference between winning and losing?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
DavidCrow wrote:
Do you really see this as a viable solution? All three entities have one goal -- to win.
So? The obvious answer is not "So make government do it." Yeah, it's kinda like the foxes watching the hen house, with one notable exception: The fans are watching THEM. If the fans want to see steroid pumped athletes, there's no problem anyway and there's no need for any oversight. If fans don't want to see steroid pumped athletes, and find out that the foxes aren't doing their job, they make their voices heard.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
-
Patrick S wrote:
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others.
I couldn't give a rat's arse at the moment to read through it.
Patrick S wrote:
I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
Are steroids not illegal?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Michael Martin wrote:
Are steroids not illegal?
Not in the US. Why should they be?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
-
DavidCrow wrote:
Do you really see this as a viable solution? All three entities have one goal -- to win.
So? The obvious answer is not "So make government do it." Yeah, it's kinda like the foxes watching the hen house, with one notable exception: The fans are watching THEM. If the fans want to see steroid pumped athletes, there's no problem anyway and there's no need for any oversight. If fans don't want to see steroid pumped athletes, and find out that the foxes aren't doing their job, they make their voices heard.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
Patrick S wrote:
The obvious answer is not "So make government do it."
But wouldn't it need to be someone/something that does not have a vested interest? You can't have fans policing their (own) teams.
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
-
Patrick S wrote:
This is just the link most readily available to me right now[^], but there are plenty of others.
I couldn't give a rat's arse at the moment to read through it.
Patrick S wrote:
I'm wondering - What in the hell does Congress have to do with whether professional athletes take steroids? Ok, yeah, it's unfair sportsmanship, but I don't understand why Congress is wasting time on this issue. It's not something they have any authority over, it's a purely social issue. Someone else want to explain to me why Congress is calling hearings on these issues? Is there actually a good legal reason, or are they just grandstanding?
Are steroids not illegal?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Michael Martin wrote:
Are steroids not illegal?
That's kind of a vague question, Michael. Doctors legally prescribe them all the time. Joint pain is but one of many problems for which steroids help.
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
-
Patrick S wrote:
The obvious answer is not "So make government do it."
But wouldn't it need to be someone/something that does not have a vested interest? You can't have fans policing their (own) teams.
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
DavidCrow wrote:
But wouldn't it need to be someone/something that does not have a vested interest? You can't have fans policing their (own) teams.
Not necessarily. Most fans have an interest in wanting fair games, and they're not going to advocate that their OWN team get away with taking steroids if they know that would cause the opposing teams to do the same. Kinda like the mutually assured destruction idea. And in any case, my basic point is that this is an area in which government has absolutely no authority. It's a social issue. If fans/teams/whomever wants to set up an independent oversight authority, more power to them, but it shouldn't be a government entity.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
-
Shog9 wrote:
The teams themselves, the leagues, and ultimately the fans.
Do you really see this as a viable solution? All three entities have one goal -- to win. If the teams are in charge of policing themselves, don't you think they'd turn a blind eye to players using PEDs if it meant the difference between winning and losing?
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it." - Ellen Goodman
"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne
DavidCrow wrote:
All three entities have one goal -- to win. If the teams are in charge of policing themselves, don't you think they'd turn a blind eye to players using PEDs if it meant the difference between winning and losing?
Maybe, maybe not. It's a frickin' game. If the fans, who should be contributing the bulk of the funds to operate it, don't care enough to keep it clean then why should the rest of us?
But who is the king of all of these folks?