by Dan Mason

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

When the Mitchell Report was released back in December, nearly 90 current and former MLB players found themselves being accused of using performance enhancing drugs at some point during their careers. Of course there were the usual suspects, like Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Miguel Tejada. But there was also some guy named Phil Hiatt. Now, as someone who considers himself a considerable baseball enthusiast, I must admit, I had never heard of Phil, or a handful of other players listed in the 409-page report. The point being, steroids apparently were(or are) a widespread problem, from superstars, right down to journeyman utility infielders, such as Mr. Hiatt.

What has followed in the months since the reports' release has been nothing short of some kind of traveling circus, landing itself somewhere between hilarious and disgraceful. From the Roger Clemens v. Brian McNamee federal investigation, to the sudden lack of interest in Barry Bonds, to the fact that some other relatively big names seemed to escape any attention associated with the allegations (does anyone remember that Paul Lo Duca and Troy Glaus were accused?).

Now, as March now turns to April, and actual baseball games are upon us, fans of teams whose rosters include those named in the Mitchell Report are left with a potentially challenging question: "Do I still root for {insert name} now that he has been accused of cheating?" For some, the answer may be simple. If you don't consider these allegations to indicate cheating, then there is no issue. If you are a Dodger fan, Nook Logan (yes he is, in fact, a baseball player) likely will have little impact on the outcome of your team's season. But what if you are in my shoes? A Yankee fan; and the #2 starter in your shaky rotation is Andy Pettitte, who has come out as one of the primary names of the post-Mitchell report media frenzy? I can say for certain, that steroids and HGH or not, I will be pulling for Pettitte whenever he takes the mound every 5 days. Much of the fate of the Yankee season depends on his left arm. But does this equate to my supporting the use of performance-enhancing drugs? I hope not. And I don't think it does.

Perhaps Pettitte is a bad example, because he is held in high regard in the public eye, and has been open and up front about the issue since his name has come up. I genuinely believe he regrets what he did, and would change his decision given the chance. But San Francisco never stopped pulling for Barry Bonds, even when the

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