Remember That Steroid Investigation? George Mitchell's Not Done Yet

Surely you recall the Jose Conseco-prompted federal steroids investigations, that moment of great American pride when Senators got their first shot, ever, to appear on the 6 o'clock Sportscenter. (Everyone's hair looked fantastic.) You remember: Mark McGuire wasn't here to talk about the past, Sammy Sosa conveniently forget his English conjugations, and Rafael Palmeiro set himself up for a embarrassing and career-ending substance test. Good times.

Well, that investigation is still ongoing and lack of cooperation from both the players' union and individual teams are slowing the process down. In attempts to quicken that creeping pace, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell is bringing the white-hot light of federal investigation to sunny spring training locales:

Mitchell told baseball owners last month that his work has gone more slowly than expected and threatened to seek congressional help if he doesn't get better cooperation in his probe, which started nearly a year ago.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said some teams had been more cooperative than others.

His staff spoke Tuesday with members of the Minnesota Twins' front office and medical staff, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday.

"The interviews are being conducted at this time because a number of witnesses are together in one place and the spring training sites for the major league clubs are close together," Mitchell said. "It has been and continues to be my practice not to comment on the details of the investigation. We will answer as many questions as possible in our final report."

Steroids are a relatively serious topic, sure, but this sort of makes me smile. The idea of Mitchell berating uncooperative baseball players in dark, dirty maintenance closets - Jack Bauer style - well, it's not hard to chuckle at that thought.