Dark cloud over Washington

They're wobbling on their perch atop the NL East, but the Washington Nationals are still my feel-good story of the season.

I just have a thing for scrappy teams that play greater than the sum of their parts. I like how the Nats are getting a big year out of warhorse Livan Hernandez, excellence from young closer Chad Cordero, and emotional leadership from Jose Vidro, who has long been expected to join the parade of talent that has fed other franchises with the likes of Randy Johnson, Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez and Vlad Guerrero for more than a decade.

It also does my heart good to see grand ol' Frank Robinson, who has taken his share of lumps in 15 years as a manager, being rewarded with accolades and excitement after years in the silent wasteland of Montreal. Now if the Nats can just get the proper owner they deserve.

Stop the stirring music.

Bud Selig recently said he expects Major League Baseball to sell the Nats within the next few months, but there is a dark cloud over Washington. Tom Davis [R-Virginia], the conservative chairman of the congressional committee that is investigating steroid use in pro sports, has threatened MLB with the possible loss of its antitrust exemption if it sells the team to a group that includes George Soros, the billionaire backer of liberal causes and groups.

Soros contributed almost $25 million to defeat President Bush in the last election. He's also spent much of life and fortune promoting democracy in the former Soviet bloc, Africa, and Asia. Davis pointed out that Soros was convicted of insider trading in France (the case is on appeal) and favors a more liberal approach to dealing with marijuana use, something Davis feels is a red flag at a time when baseball is trying to rid itself of steroids.

Complicating matters is Congressman John Sweeney (R-New York), the vice chairman of the committee that oversees D.C.'s budget, who has said the Nationals can forget about public funds for a new stadium if Soros gets the nod. "From a fan's perspective, who needs the politics?" Sweeney said.

I'm not championing Soros's group over any other, but the reek of partisan politics is strong. What's next? Congress acting to have left field declared foul territory? Ban lefties? Kick left-wingers out of the NHL? I don't think I hallucinated that silly little "freedom fries" movement a few years ago.

But seriously, this matter raises major questions. Should Congress be involved in this sale? Should there be a political litmus test for the owners of sports franchises? Who decides what it is? How far should elected officials go to keep people they deem undesirable out of what are essentially private businesses?

Soros is not even the point man in his ownership group. That is former Washington Capitals part-owner Jonathan Ledecky. Do Ledecky's political beliefs matter?