Cannon Firing Line
Selective Steroids
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

Former Steelers’ defensive coordinator and current Saints’ head coach Jim Haslett created a bit of stir around here last month when he not only fessed up to using steroids back in the day, but tore down memories while he was at it.

Wait a minute. Forget burying only a few players when you can throw dirt on the whole house, basically describing Pittsburgh as a steroids lab.

In doing so, Haslett confirmed a similar mentality baseball’s users have today. And, like until recently in baseball, back then, steroids were not prohibited by the league and were legal if OK’d by a sawbone.

Actually, whether it’s just being a native or due to urban legend, Haslett’s disclosure didn’t really shock us. We can’t issue a blanket denial or acceptance, but it’s been talked about for years around here. Recognizing the possibility that these statements came from a madman, let’s assume at least a portion of what he had to say reflects reality – if not with the Steelers, then with the pro football industry back then.

One thing is for sure: what Haslett did was prove our point when it comes to how to treat the current baseball steroids controversy.

Not to mention highlight the hypocrisy of it all.

We’re fairly certain many of you immediately reacted with “who cares” when you read Haslett’s headlines. Or, “why did he have to bring that up?”

And – having spoken to dozens of them – I can tell you some of the most creative talk show callers in modern history explained to me how things were completely different between what Haslett says about the Steelers and Mark McGwire today.

Creative, but hogwash.

Maybe because it was “only” Haslett and not an elite guy. Maybe because folks are willing to look at steroids differently through the passage of time and treatment of history. Either way, people want to treat what happened 30 years ago under almost identical circumstances much differently than they are willing to treat today’s incidents.

Of course, that may also have something to do with the fact it’s the Steelers, not baseball. Maybe it’s as simple as being selective depending on whether you love or hate the offending party.

The contrasts offered by the congressional “hearings” and Barry Bonds, of course, allow all this to be highlighted. If there was no baseball controversy, the Haslett comments would die a quick death. If there was no Haslett, there wouldn’t be such a perfect opportunity to confirm what we’ve been saying.

One day, it’s “throw them all in jail,” the next it’s, “E, everyone did it back in the day.” One night, it’s “none of these guys gets in the Hall of Fame,” the next, “E, seriously, our guys in black and gold really didn’t look that big back then.” One sentence it’s “asterisks, E, asterisks and permanent banishment,” the next it’s, “they try taking away our trophies and I’m grabbing my musket.”

Well, no kidding, sluggo, but when those pro-Steelers arguments are made by some of us when applied to baseball, nobody wants to hear it. But you can’t have it both ways. They’re the same. If it’s cheating now, it was cheating then. If it was okay then, it’s okay now.

The truth is – assuming there’s even some truth to Haslett’s comments – none of it should be condoned. It can be UNDERSTOOD, but not CONDONED.

By the same token, perhaps what Haslett has to say points out why you shouldn’t overreact when your favorite slugger is hauled in front of Congress. Maybe we should learn more, place it in a more considered context before throwing everyone to the curb. Maybe we shouldn’t be blind to one and not the other, if, in fact, we want to treat the issue and personalities with fairness.

Maybe, we should give this the passage of time and treatment of history.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m. on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.