Hearing Is One Thing, Seeing It Is Another

Roger Clemens was advised by attorney Lanny Breuer before answering a question during Wednesday's proceedings. (By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)
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Again, good theater is the reason the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection will have its own hearing Feb. 27 featuring many of the sports poobahs, regarding a bill that would establish testing for steroids in all sports.

I'm for drug testing, throwing out the cheats, punishing the perjurers and cleaning up sports sufficiently so that a parent might even suggest to a child that participation might be a worthy activity.

But I also agree with NFL players' union chief Gene Upshaw when he says of the upcoming hearing: "What can I say that I haven't said before? We have a testing policy in place. If you take steroids, you'll likely be caught and punished."

Of Spygate, Upshaw said: "If you tape an opponent at practice it gives you no edge. The games are won and lost on the field by throwing, catching, running and tackling. If tapes were so important, how come you're required to send the last three games to your opponent? Everyone knows everything about everyone else. Teams pick up players all the time and players talk about their former teams. The integrity of the game is on the field; it's where you play the game."

Or on Capitol Hill.

A 'Beautiful' Beginning

Clemens and McNamee have you down? A 15-minute telephone conversation with Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta can fix that as he prepares for his second season, full of optimism over his team and game.

"Life is beautiful," boomed Acta, sounding like actor Roberto Benigni, who starred in the 1997 movie of that title. Acta was excited about the prospect of welcoming his pitchers and catchers this weekend for the start of spring training in Viera, Fla.

"There [is] a dark cloud overhead, but we've still got a beautiful game with so many great athletes and wonderful players who do it right."

Acta said he's enjoying "more peace of mind" as he surveys his pitching staff and views a team many believed improved in the offseason as it moves into a new ballpark next month.

Frightening Scene

By all accounts, Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik is fortunate to be alive after a major artery in his neck was nearly severed last Sunday in a game at Buffalo.

Zednik, 32, who played six seasons for the Washington Capitals, is recovering nicely after surgery to repair his carotid artery after teammate Olli Jokinen accidentally cut him with his skate in the third period.

The scary incident reminded me of a second-round playoff game in 1988 when Washington's all-star defenseman, Rod Langway, was severely cut by a skate and was forced to miss the rest of the series.