Celebrity Bob Nightengale is right about 3 things.. (By the way, are reporters tested for drugs & alcohol?)

• 1. "The Padres are fortunate. (Correct).

(They have had admitted steroid users in the past, such as Ken Caminiti (now deceased)),

• 2. but had no active player named in former senator George Mitchell's report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

(Nightengale does not say they had no users. Just "NO ACTIVE PLAYER NAMED." Bob knows most of the players "named" on the so-called Mitchell Report were xeroxed from an IRS investigation of Kirk Radomski and Brian MacNamee, both New York area clubhouse guys. He doesn't mention this, just the "naming" re Mitchell).

• 3. There has been no need for the national media to descend on their camp."

There was no "need" for media to descend there or anywhere. In fact, if Bob Nightengale and the rest would stay away from ballparks, there would be no "need" for me to post items on this blog. I don't do this for present or future income, but for historical reference. So, if Bob Nightengale et al. continue, so do I.

• The commenters to Nightengale's article showed much more knowledge about baseball's current state than he did. (By the way, are baseball writers given unannounced drug and alcohol tests, and if not why not? How can their writing be judged free of cheating and lies if they aren't tested?):

• 1. "Battlehoss: 3h 47m ago

Just one question for the several posters ripping baseball as the all time worst sport, what are you doing even reading an article about baseball if you hate it? Must be a slow day in your lives!"

• 2. "klynch67 wrote: 11h 31m ago

The reason congress has gotten so involved with baseball is due to the poor leadership of Bud Selig. He is a spineless jellyfish with no leadership abilities. The NBA has had problems, but they have been handled in house due to David Sterns great leadership. Selig should offer amnesty to anyone in the past who would like to come forward and admit using drugs, and then implement a quarterly testing for ALL players with a ONE strike and your out policy. Admit past mistakes and then nip it in the Bud.......pun intended."

• 3. "riccogogreen wrote:
• yet mlb will accept drug commercials and drug sponsorship money.

where is that outrage?"

• 4. "cne wrote: 13h 47m ago

Baseball- a old man's sport only popular with the nostalgic. For those who are under 35 and are still watching this boring, tainted overpriced and watered down product shake yourself and move on."

• 5. "GriffeyB8 wrote: 14h 44m ago

I kind of agree with Paul LoDuca.... C'mon dude. Next question. Let it go people. Clemens is out. Bonds is out. Petitte isn't far behind. Anyone left who has used in the past will either stop now or take infinite measures not to get caught. The story is over fish hacks. Move on."

• 6. "Milos wrote: 14h 45m ago

The Padres are one team that will never be accused of cheating to win. You have to win first for that to happen."

• (other good comments followed these).

Bob is obsessed about the Yankees. Here, he broke out the Roget's Thesaurus to work in all his feelings about them in his first paragraph:

• "TORTURED"

• "ANGUISHED"

• "UGLY"

As an international media celebrity, Nightengale will continue to be invited everywhere. Most will perceive his opinions to be facts.

• Reference, USA Today article by Bob Nightengale, "Steroid Talk Looms Large Over Spring Training," 2/10/08

P.S. 'FORTUNATE' ALSO WERE THOSE LIKE PAUL BYRD AND THE INDIANS--IF YOUR NAME MANAGED TO SURFACE SHORTLY BEFORE THE SO-CALLED MITCHELL REPORT, IT LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT TO SHINE MORE BRIGHTLY ON.. OTHERS.

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