It's times like this I'm sort of glad Portland doesn't have a professional baseball team.

After 20 months of work, today George Mitchell released his report on steroid use in professional baseball. The former Senator from Maine blew the lid off of the speculation, naming names and detailing thorough histories of steroid purchases amongst players and organizations. For brief reference, a summary article of the report can be found here and the report itself can be viewed here. What it says is pretty clear: steroid use in baseball is real, here's the history, and here are some recommendations as to how we can move forward and fix the problem.

It's no secret that I'm a baseball fan. I played it in my youth, and have followed the L.A. Dodgers as long as I can remember. Today's report hit me like a punch full-on in the gut. I knew it all in my head, but my heart just didn't want to believe it. Today those naive beliefs lie shattered, and all we can do is pick up the pieces.

What does the report say? It is several hundred pages long, and begins as such:

For more than a decade there has been widespread illegal use of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances by players in Major League Baseball, in violation of federal law and baseball policy. Club officials routinely have discussed the possibility of such substance use when evaluating players. Those who have illegally used these substances range from players whose major league careers were brief to potential members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. They include both pitchers and position players, and their backgrounds are as diverse as those of all major league players.

Obviously, the use by sure-fire hall-of-famers is the most shocking. Roger Clemens, arguably the best pitcher of his era, was in on it. So was Miguel Tejada, who just yesterday was traded away by the Baltimore Orioles. And Andy Petite, the crafty lefty who helped guide many Yankees teams to glory. Reading through the catalog of names, your eyes just gloss over. These are our heroes, the people our children look up to? We had formerly given them benefit of doubt, innocent until proven guilty; but that time is now at an end.

Leaving the in-between (minus one later detail), what can be done about this problem? Mitchell offers his summary solution:

That is the purpose of the recommendations that are set forth in detail in this report. In summary, they fall into three categories: (1) Major League Baseball must significantly increase its ability to investigate allegations of use outside of the testing program and improve its procedures for keeping performance enhancing substances out of the clubhouse; (2) there must be a more comprehensive and effective program of education for players and others about the serious health risks incurred by users of performance enhancing substances; and (3) when the club owners and the Players Association next engage in collective bargaining on the joint drug program, I urge them to incorporate into the program the principles that characterize a state-of-the-art program, as described in this report.

Indeed he's right. Education and investigation are key, but it's important we frame it in light of America's youth, who watch these men on their national stage. Sports are glorified, and we need to continue to promote smart steroid education for our high-school and college-age sons and daughters. Steroids hurt the body, and we need to remind everyone of that. Moreover, we need to get some outside groups to account for these professional organizations. There has been such a disheartening laissez-faire culture surrounding steroids in the past decade. But it makes sense; good stats and beefy players mean more revenues. Everyone wins, sort of, and it's simply sickening.

Finally, I'd like to dredge up a section of the report which exemplifies my shock. Let's demystify these "heroes" for who they really are: people, like you and me, who made bad choices and who have flaws. We don't need to overly vilify them either, but we must be careful before we place them on pedestals. The section below comes from an internal e-mail within the Red Sox organization on Eric Gagne, a former Dodgers pitcher who, for a few years, was the most dominant man ever at his position. During that time, I watched in awe as he dominated his opposition and made me proud of my team. But it was all smoke:

Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne . .

Gagne gave his max effort, but only in combination with the edge he needed. He might still be dominant post-steroids, but that's going to be up to him (unless his body breaks down after coming off of the stuff). We'll see what he and the others have left, if they're off of the juice. But rose-colored glasses are a thing of the past; they'll have to earn back our trust and prove they are playing, indeed, in honesty. These were the people we idolized and earned fame and millions of dollars for it?

At that point, and only then, can they re-assume any sort of hero status. Not until the lies and deceit end.