You would think Selig and his flunkies would embrace the invitations and be happy that stars like Giambi, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and former slugging hero Mark McGwire would have a chance to both clear their names and set the issue to rest before the season starts.

Instead, baseball attorney Stanley Brand reacted with the kind of outrage not seen in the halls of Congress since french fries were renamed freedom fries in protest over France’s stand on the war in Iraq.

Brand called the subpoenas “an absolutely excessive and unprecedented misuse of congressional power” and suggested the House Government Reform Committee was interfering with the work of the federal grand jury in California by ordering Giambi to testify.

You might expect baseball’s union to object. It’s their job to protect players no matter what they do.

But why is management so averse to seeing the truth come out? What is it that baseball has to fear from players testifying under oath?

“What kind of message does that send?” asked David Marin, a spokesman for committee chairman Rep. Tom Davis.

The kind that you have something to hide, of course. The same kind of message McGwire’s agent sent by asking “what’s the ultimate purpose of the hearings?”

Well, to start with, it might be to find out exactly what happened in 1998 when McGwire and Sosa combined for 136 home runs. What do either McGwire or Sosa have to lose by testifying under the penalty of law that they took nothing illegal in that magical season?

It would also be nice to hear Bonds tell how he grew so big at an age when many athletes find it tougher to keep muscle mass. But Bonds was not invited to the hearing because people used to not giving straight answers themselves know they’ll never get one out of Barry.

Still, the hearings are set and the subpoenas are out. Jose Canseco is already trying to figure out a way to hold a book signing during breaks, while McGwire is shopping for some padding for his suit so at least he’ll somewhat resemble the Big Mac of a few years ago.

Meanwhile, the politicians are still opportunists, baseball’s management remains incredibly pigheaded and the players care only about covering their own backs.

As much as you want to find them, there are no good guys here.

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