When I was a young teacher who taught English and coached basketball, a lot of the school systems I was involved with had severe discipline for athletic code violations such as drinking and smoking by participants.

As time passed many, if not most, of the school systems began “rolling with society’s punches,” and expulsion from the teams was watered down to one- or two-game suspensions.

As an “old-school” coach, I never agreed with a “slap on the wrist” for such serious violations of trust by my players.

News last week that the powers that be in baseball have announced the findings of former senator George Mitchell’s two-year search into steroid and human growth hormone use offered little solace to those like me that anything serious was going to be done with those who broke the law.

There are numerous flaws in the Mitchell undertaking, starting with announcing the so-called violators of the league’s drug policy.

What are those flaws?

Legality – pure and simple. Senator Mitchell informed every one of the so-called violators of his findings. The fact is this: Careers now will be ruined. Hall of Fame recognition may be doomed.

By printing the names of 80-something violators, MLB has extended the shelf life of this mess and kept the sordid affair in the public eye.

Issuing and publicizing a list composed of a lot of current and former players is about as effective as printing a list of players who doctored up a baseball and then hit someone.

How would I handle all this if given the job to clean all this stuff up?

I’d begin by asking the Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig, to quit.

Let’s face it. Selig and his minions have sold their collective souls by looking the other way for a long time when confronted with the possibilities of steroid abuse.

Seeing the physical changes in athletes such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds and witnessing their prodigious on-the-field accomplishments should have been pause for concern. But America got hooked on the long ball, and so did Selig. Money from gate receipts was far too overwhelming to dig too deep. By the time investigations and penalties were organized, the proverbial “cat was out of the bag.”

Next, the Federal government needs to step in – as they have done briefly – and put the hammer down on the Commissioner’s office, and hard.

Bud Selig may boast that he is responding to a “call to act,” but for him, it’s too late.

This commissioner had plenty of opportunity to respond, and he, essentially, did nothing for years.

And here we stand, in the middle of a mess.

Is there a solution to all this?

I’m skeptical. Due to the number of the so-called blood-masking agents available to HGH abusers, other will always find a way to dodge the bullet.

30-Second Time Out

Newly-elected Bangor city councilor Hal Wheeler checks in to give his opinion on the proposed “new” Bangor Auditorium.

According to the likeable Wheeler, the necessity for regional collaboration on funding is paramount importance and one-third of the money must be raised from the private sector.

Like others who have responded to my call to refurbish the old building, this gentleman agrees that fixing the current structure is the best idea – thanks, Hal.

Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, may be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net