FOR MANY AMERICANS THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT WEEK.

THE MURDER TRIAL THAT CAPTIVATED THE COUNTRY ENDED WITH, FOR SOME, A DISTURBING OUTCOME.

THE TRIAL OF CASEY ANTHONY WAS ABOUT THE MURDER OF A CHILD.

WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH ANOTHER TRIAL.

THE PERJURY TRIAL OF ROGER CLEMENS IS ABOUT TO START.

CLEMENS, WHO HAS BLOWN HIS CHANCE TO GAIN ADMTTANCE INTO THE HALL OF FAME, IS CHARGED WITH LYING TO CONGRESS.

THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS FAIRLY AMUSING.

NOT THAT LYING TO CONGRESS OR ANYONE ELSE IS RIGHT, BUT CONGRESS OF ALL PLACES.

I MEAN LET'S FACE IT.

EVEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FREQUENTLY LIE TO OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AND WHEN THEY ARE CAUGHT THEY ARE REPRIMANDED WITH A LETTER AND KEEP ON GOING.

EVEN ONE CONGRESSMAN JUMPED TO HIS FEET AND YELLED "YOU LIE" TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION.

CLEMENS FACES SIX FELONY COUNTS ON ACCUSATIONS THAT HE LIED TO CONGRESS UNDER OATH WHEN HE SAID HE NEVER USED STEROIDS OR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES.

EIGHTY FIVE OTHER PLAYERS WERE ALSO ACCUSED BUT DIDN'T APPEAR BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE.

THE GOVERNMENT, THINKS THEIR CASE IS ROCK SOLID.

SO DID THE PROSECUTORS IN FLORIDA IN THE ANTHONY CASE.

HOW DID THAT ONE TURN OUT?

MANY WILL ASK AS THIS TEDIOUS TRIAL GOES BACK AND FORTH WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING IN THE SPORTS BUSINESS ANYWAY.

I MEAN RIGHT NOW THE COUNTRY IS MOVING TOWARD A DEADLINE IN AUGUST WHEN WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS UNLESS SOME DEAL IS MADE ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PARADING 45 WITNESSES WHO WILL TESTIFY THAT CLEMENS USED DRUGS TO ENHANCE HIS PERFORMANCE.

THE TRIAL WILL BE A VERY LONG BALL GAME.

CLEMENS, THE FORMER RED SOX STAR, REALLY DOESN'T DESERVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY.

BUT, REMEMBER WHAT THE JURY IN FLORIDA SAID.

JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK HE IS GUILTY HE IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN SO.

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE TRYING THE WRONG PERSON.

BUD SELIG, THE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER AND THE BASEBALL OWNERS ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE STANDING BEFORE THE BAR.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LET THE GREAT GAME OF BASEBALL DESCEND INTO THE MEANINGLESS STATISTICAL MESS THAT WE HAVE.

IT WAS THE TOP LEVEL OF BASEBALL THAT LOOKED THE OTHER WAY AS BASEBALLS FLEW OUT OF BALLPARKS AND PITCHERS THREW BULLETS AND RECORDS FELL.

EVERYONE WITH COMMON SENSE KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS UP.

PLAYERS WERE GETTING BIGGER, STRONGER AND FASTER AS THEY GREW OLDER.

BUT TICKET SALES GREW AS FANS FLOCKED TO STADIUMS.

SO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER MEDIA FEEDING FRENZY.

I'M SURE THAT NANCY GRACE WILL HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

YEAH JUST LIKE THE LAST TRIAL SHE COVERED.

WILL HE OR WON'T HE TAKE THE STAND ETC.

I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR ROGER CLEMENS.

BUT WHAT COMMON SENSE DOES IT MAKE FOR CONGRESS TO BE DOING ANYTHING RELATED TO SPORTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

YOU WANT SOME PROBLEMS?

HOW ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING, GAS PRICES, UNEMPLOYMENT AND AFGANISTAN.

BASEBALL IS THE COMMISSIONER'S JOB.

CONGRESS HAD NO BUSINESS BEING INVOLVED IN THE FIRST PLACE...AT LEAST UNTIL THEY CLEAN UP THEIR OWN ACT.

THIS IS GEORGE HALE WITH MY PERSPECTIVE ON SPORTS

Print this Story