After last week, Major League Baseball will never be the same. At least, that's the hope.

A report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs by players, delivered in a damning blow-by-blow report by former Sen. George Mitchell on Thursday, has triggered calls for significant and long-term changes in how the keepers of America's pastime handle what has become a pervasive problem in sports.

We should expect no less. The use of these drugs by big league ballplayers, besides being harmful for the beloved American game, sets a dangerous example for a younger generation of athletes, who see a tempting route to success without having the wisdom to understand the risks.

What's worse is that this example of bad behavior extended beyond a few bad apples to those in positions of authority.

All of the 30 Major League teams had players who used steroids or human growth hormones, the report said. Those who controlled the game — commissioners, the players' union, club owners — were all complicit in not acting forcefully to stop the drug use. The report linked 89 players to drug use, including some of the biggest stars of the game. And Mitchell believes there may be many more.

The problem was pervasive for so long, beginning around 1988, that Mitchell dubbed it "baseball's steroids era."

And now the fallout has begun. Calls have come for going beyond the enhanced anti-drug measures called for in the report. Commissioner Bud Selig is considering disciplinary action against individual players, even though Mitchell recommended against it. And Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., wants stronger drug-testing policies than the ones recommended.

It's encouraging to see this strong, immediate call for action. Let's hope that the actual changes are just as immediate and strong. That would be an example worth following.

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