White House disappointed with Manny Ramirez (Joe Biden not involved)

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NEWSCOM/FILE
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the news that Manny Ramirez had violated Major League Baseball's "Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment" program was a "tragedy" and a "great embarrassment on Major League Baseball."

Welcome relief for White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs yesterday.

Yes, he was expressing his daily disappointment over something, but this time it didn't have anything to do with Joe Biden. In fact, it had nothing to do with the administration.

The angst yesterday was over the news that Dodgers All-Star Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 days for violating the "Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program."

"I think it's a disappointment to anybody that's a sports fan," Gibbs said.

"It's a tragedy, it's a shame," he added. "My sense is it's a great embarrassment on Major League Baseball. You hope that each time this happens that others will recognize if they are doing it and stop. But regrettably, it happens over and over again."

Innocent

Don't worry. Ramirez is innocent. We have proof. He said so in a statement.

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue," Ramirez said. "He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility."

A-rod

It's not the first time, the Obama administration has discussed the issue.  In his first presidential press conference the president was asked about Alex Rodriguez' admission that he used steroids as a Texas Ranger.

"I think it's depressing news on top of what has been a flurry of depressing items when it comes to Major League Baseball," Obama said. "If you're a fan of Major League Baseball, I think it tarnishes an entire era to some degree. It's unfortunate because I think there are a lot of ball players who played it straight."

The good news is that this will never happen again. The Senate confirmed the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy yesterday.
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