This is becoming an issue with me, the government of the United States is poking their noses in everyone's business and it really bugs me. Do we, as Americans, have any rights any longer? It surely does not seem that way.

Since the inception of the Patriot Act under the Bush Administration, we have lost all rights to privacy and the government continues to find loopholes or circumvent normal channels to do whatever it takes to bring down anyone found of violating something that they deem illegal against the U.S. Government.

In a decision this past Wednesday the federal appeals court ruled 2-1 to allow federal prosecutors access to 2003 urine samples of 100 baseball players that tested positive for steroids. Now please understand that this has nothing to do with my gripes about these lawyers going after Barry Bonds. It has to do with our right to privacy, unwarranted search and seizers and the government doing what they want. It truly pisses me off that this is being allowed to take place

MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr criticized the ruling Thursday, saying it was a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"We respectfully disagree with the two judges who comprised the majority in this case. As the dissent noted, if this opinion is allowed to stand it will effectively repeal the Fourth Amendment for confidential electronic records."

The players union and owners agreed to keep the records confidential during the labor agreements they signed in 2003/2004.

In dissent, Judge Sidney R. Thomas voted to uphold Illston, writing that the government's action "suggests an abuse of grand jury process."

In dissenting from much of the majority opinion, Thomas wrote: "It's a seizure beyond what was authorized by the search warrant; therefore it violates the Fourth Amendment.

"The scope of the majority's new holding could not be greater; it removes confidential electronic records from the protections of the Fourth Amendment. ...

"Perhaps baseball has become consumed by a 'Game of Shadows,'" Thomas added, referring to the book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, "but that is no reason for the government to engage in a 'Prosecution of Shadows.'"


While I do not condone the use of steroids in baseball or any sport, I firmly believe that violating someone's right to privacy is an act that is totally against my morals as a person, father, or human being.

I hope and pray that the higher courts will see this as it is and overturn the ruling. The players union has vowed to fight Wednesday's ruling and I am sure it will fight to the Supreme Court if necessary.