Miguel Tejada Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor in Steroids Case

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:02:07 PM EST
Tags: steroids (all tags)

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Baseball's Miguel Tejada pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor of lying to Congress today. He faces up to a year in jail when sentenced on March 26.

Appearing before a federal magistrate, the 34-year-old starter for the Houston Astros admitted that he lied to congressional investigators who had asked about steroid use by major league ballplayers. Tejada also acknowledged purchasing the drugs while playing with the Oakland Athletics.

He said he had second thoughts and threw the drug away without using it. Prosecutors said they had no evidence to contradict his claim.

Sounds like a good deal for Tejada, who is expected to receive probation. [More...]

The New York Times reports:

In November 2005, the committee decided not to refer Palmeiro to the Justice Department for a perjury investigation. In January 2008, however, it did refer Tejada on allegations that he had lied when he told investigators he had never used performance-enhancing drugs and had no knowledge of his teammates’ use.

....It was not clear why federal prosecutors, who have evidence that Tejada had used steroids and human growth hormone, agreed to let him plead to lesser charges.

Marion Jones and Dana Stubblefield were required to plead to felonies.

< NY Has Record Number of Stop and Frisks for 2008 | An Agreement Missing One Side? >

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Miguel Tejada Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor in Steroids Case | 26 comments (26 topical)

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Is Roger Clemens Next? (none / 0) (#1)
by santarita on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:05:08 PM EST

Maybe baseball should have two leagues one with only steroid/performance enhancing drugs and the other steroid free.

I hope so. (none / 0) (#5)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:09:12 PM EST

Rusty Hardin played it wrong from the beginning. He and Roger are two of the biggest egotists in Houston.


Am I the only one who thinks... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:26:44 PM EST

the steroid league would have more fans? In fact, the 'roid fueled home run race between McGwire and Sosa was what brought the fans back after the work stoppage.

All this outrage makes me laugh...anybody with half a brain knew what was going on, as it was going on...and now they act shocked and appalled. Gimme a break.


Completely agree (none / 0) (#13)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:31:51 PM EST

I love the sport and always will, but I'm not naive. Like it or not, cheating has always been a part of the game. The pearl-clutchers need to get a grip on something else. What about the greenies?


You aren't the only one. (none / 0) (#18)
by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:51:15 PM EST

Bud Selig enjoyed the steroid era. So did I.


: Well, I always read that (none / 0) (#23)
by ThatOneVoter on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 03:05:36 PM EST

baseball was a testosterone-fueled sport.

Alex? (none / 0) (#2)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:05:16 PM EST

He's Miguel.

Thanks, fixed now (none / 0) (#4)
by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:07:50 PM EST

...shows you what I know about baseball players.


: I thought you were being witty. (none / 0) (#7)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:10:39 PM EST

Alex Tejada, Miguel Rodriguez, Roger Pettitte...

That would be... (none / 0) (#6)
by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:09:47 PM EST

Miguel Tejada.

Alex Rodriguez is the latest juicer-du-jour...probably where you got the Alex.

Someone from gov't is likely leaking names from (none / 0) (#8)
by magster on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:12:02 PM EST

a grand jury investigation to get Alex Rodriguez. I hope that gets punished too.

Mark McGuire: What is the statute (none / 0) (#9)
by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:15:00 PM EST

of limitations. But, does anyone is MLB players lie to Congress? I don't.

McGwire refused to answer questions (none / 0) (#10)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:18:06 PM EST

The guy who should take the heat for lying is Rafael Palmeiro. He wagged his finger at the committee and called Canseco a liar and a cheat and everyone ate it up.


I'd rather my tax dollars be spent (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:19:47 PM EST

on Bush DOJ and termination of 12 appointed U.S. attorneys.


: Absolutely. (none / 0) (#14)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:41:00 PM EST

But why do we have to choose?

Congress should take the heat... (none / 0) (#17)
by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:50:55 PM EST

for even asking the questions that led to the lies or non-answers.

None of the governments business...and none of ours really. This is a MLB/Players Union issue..or it should be.


In practice I agree with you. (none / 0) (#20)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:58:18 PM EST

I've never cared that much about the steroids issue in baseball and I certainly don't think it merits congressional involvement. On the other hand, MLB has benefited tremendously from its antitrust exemption, so Congress is justified in hauling in those owners and players to give testimony if it's in the public interest. I don't think it is, but I can appreciate why others would.


: Yeah... (none / 0) (#24)
by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 03:06:14 PM EST

the anti-trust exemption opens up the game to all kinds of government involvement.
Shame the government doesn't use it to make the game pay for their own venues, and instead goes on 'roid witch hunts...."for the kids", of course:)

Time better spent (none / 0) (#15)
by mmc9431 on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:45:52 PM EST

Doesn't Congress has enough on their plate right now? If they want to go after villians, they would serve the American public better by following through on their subpoenas that have been ignored by the Bush administration or the ones that lied to Congress.

You mean like (none / 0) (#16)
by SOS on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:50:03 PM EST

Reid, the corrupt, gambling-interest controlled bagman from Nevada?

Good luck


Of course, it is now Obama's (none / 0) (#19)
by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 02:52:27 PM EST

Department of Justice. Could have just dismissed the case against Tejeda. Didn't.


: Here's some encouraging news: (none / 0) (#27)
by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 05:52:13 PM EST

subpoenas

Not disagreeing with you (none / 0) (#21)
by magster on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 03:00:12 PM EST

but I listen to sports talk radio when I drive, and I've heard many different sport reporters say that the only real testing agreed upon by both the management and players union occurred only after Congress started congressional hearings and issued subpoenas. Before that point, steroids were a win-win for management and union as long as it was swept under the rug. So, while Congress has better things to do, their intervention made a difference.


: So you think (none / 0) (#26)
by CoralGables on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 05:34:45 PM EST

There are fewer illicit additives today in baseball and football than there were a year ago? All testing does is lead to better science to mask the results,
If I'm not mistaken Marion Jones pulled it off for 8 years before ever getting a positive test. Big bucks lead to big advancement in masking agents. The chemist is always a step ahead of the pee test.
All that was accomplished from this is 103 more names might be floating around while 300 others were luckier, smarter in the use, or had access to better drugs and never tested postive.
The NFL is probably also in just as deep with over 50% of the players being involved in designer steroids and HGH. They can be purchased at any local gym anywhere in the country and probably available in every football locker room from high school through the pros.

False choice. (none / 0) (#22)
by lobary on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 03:03:45 PM EST

Believe it or not, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee hasn't spent all its time investigating baseball's meatheads. I encourage you to visit the committee's website and take a look around. The committee conducts hearings and investigations regularly, they just don't get covered by ESPN.


Marekts are up (none / 0) (#25)
by SOS on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 03:16:04 PM EST

7939.53 +50.65

After yesterdays thumbs down to Tim maybe this is a thumbs up for Tejada.