Mike Downey you're a writer not a comedian

This is in response to Mike Downey's piece on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. Mr. Downey's piece, titled: "Winding up for some chin music," beginning on the front page of the Chicago Tribune newspaper and ending on page four, is an inappropriate satirical take of a fictional testimonial transcript of Roger Clemens testimony to the congressional committee, which at the time, was yet to occur.
Through this fictional testimonial transcript, Downey poses fake questions from the congressional committee and fake responses from Roger Clemens. Downey intended on creating a satirical piece on a seriously sensitive issue.
In the beginning of his fake transcript Downey pokes fun of Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's testimonies from a few years back, which also concerned performance enhancing drugs. He proceeds to insult not only Roger Clemens but the congressional committee as well.
Speaking for the committee, Downey writes, "Well, what's this balderdash about you using steroids? I can't see how a big, strong boy like you could be on steroids and not hit even hit one home run, son." And the extra word "hit" is exactly what he wrote. But that's besides the point.
Is it to be understood by readers that Downey, a representative of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, finds the steroid issue comical?
If so, why would Downey take an issue that is tainting all of the sports world and joke about it? Are young athletes to interpret steroids use or any other performance enhancing drugs comically?
If not, than why jab fun at such a sensitive issue by creating a false testimonial transcript?
Near the end of his piece, speaking for the committee and answering for Clemens, Downey writes, "Will the Houston Astros ever win the World Series?" "No." "Will the Boston Red Sox win it again this year?" "Yes." "Is there any way for the Chicago Cubs to win a World Series?" "No, there aren't enough steroids in the whole world for that."
I understand where he is coming from and how tiresome this steroid issue can get, but there is a time and place to relieve fans with comedy and that place is not the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Downey's piece belongs in the Onion newspaper rather than on the front page of a major Chicago newspaper.