It makes a man ... a better man, a great athlete ... a super athlete ...

Today Senator George Mitchell's report (read; pdf) regarding the (ab)use of steroids and human growth hormone (i.e., "performance enhancing drugs") came out. Many prolific players' names were mentioned as "evildoers" and it certainly puts many "Hall of Fame" careers in doubt.

[For point of reference, Mark McGwire never tested positive for anything, but due to a refusal to "talk about the past" his potential Hall of Fame status is doubtful at best. He was notably absent from this list. (See?! I told ya so!)

P.S. Read as Stephen Dubner asks, "Is Today Mark McGwire's Best Day in Years?"]

Here we have a credible report implicating the likes of MVPS and a 7-time Cy Young award winning pitcher (i.e., Roger Clemens).

Actually, I'm pleased to see some pitchers' names on there. I've long held that roids were a pitcher's malady as well, but only the hitters get the scrutiny.

I was most disappointed Chuck Knoblauch's name came up. He was a good Texas Aggie whom I watched play college ball back in the day.

Some of these guys were turned in some mediocre careers and so were probably never suspected. But if it makes a great athlete a super athlete, then it would make a mediocre athlete a good athlete and a poor athlete a mediocre athlete. The roids can only take you so far.

The report was pretty Yankee-intensive, wasn't it? Yet, no Jeter or A-Rod.

So ... how do the Hall of Fame writers go about determining who is dirty and who is not? What role does suspicion play versus more credible evidence, etc.?

How innocent are players until proven guilty? What does it take for a player to be "proven" guilty?

In case you've not read the report ...

Here's the list of players that appear in the report: (HT Reepicheep; Here is an annotated list, indicating page number where player is referenced and the context/accusation)
1. Roger Clemens
2. Jack Cust
3. Tim Laker
4. Josias Manzanillo
5. Todd Hundley
6. Brian Roberts
7. Miguel Tejada
8. Paul Lo Duca
9. Barry Bonds
10. Andy Pettitte
11. Gary Sheffield
12. Eric Gagne
13. Jason Giambi
14. Troy Glaus
16. Gary Matthews Jr.
17. Jose Guillen
18. Rick Ankiel
19. Kevin Brown
20. Benito Santiago
21. Chuck Knoblauch
22. David Justice
23. Mo Vaughn
24. Rondell White
25. Mark Carreon
26. Nook Logan
27. Jay Gibbons
28. Hal Morris
29. Matt Franco
30. Jason Grimsley
31. Gregg Zaun
32. Mike Bell
33. F.P. Santangelo
34. Glenallen Hill
35. Denny Neagle
36. Ron Villone
37. Ryan Franklin
38. Chris Donnels
39. Todd Williams
40. Phil Hiatt
41. Todd Pratt
42. Kevin Young
43. Mike Lansing
44. Cody McKay
45. Kent Mercker
46. Adam Piatt
47. Jason Christiansen
48. Mike Stanton
49. Stephen Randolph
50. Jerry Hairston Jr.
51. Adam Riggs
52. Bart Miadich
53. Fernando Vina
54. Matt Herges
55. Gary Bennett Jr.
56. Jim Parque
57. Brendan Donnelly
58. Chad Allen
59. Jeff Williams
60. Howie Clark
61. Daniel Naulty
62. Lenny Dykstra
63. David Segui
64. Larry Bigbie