Sports Blog

I will be watching with great interest to see what happens to Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle. They may be facing jail sentences today for refusing to reveal their source(s) on their reporting of confidential grand jury testimony in which they exposed BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by top U.S. athletes. Kudos also to the San Francisco Chronicle for having the guts to publish the leaks.

You may not know these 2 guys by name yet, but if it wasn’t for them, we would likely never have learned the identities of high profile athletes such as Jason Giambi and Tim Montgomery and their admitted steroid use. Barry Bonds, as you know, was also a central, key athlete subpoenaed by the Grand Jury. Based on his testimony, there is no doubt in my mind of Barry’s wide use of steroids – you, of course, can draw your own conclusions.

I could argue both sides here – witnesses who give grand testimony expect total confidentiality. Reporters routinely protect the anonymity of their stories. So here we are. Who’s right? Today’s outcome is pivotal to the news media and could potentially send shock ways through the justice system.

The use of steroids by amateur and professional athletes is finally out in the open in a big way. Now the big question – Does the First Amendment trump the Federal Justice System?

….I’ll be watching…