McGwire admits steroid use

[miggs721]

Gosh darn is he getting ripped by the analysts on MLB Network. Rosenthal saying that this should have been a great day for him, and he blew it

[pitchleague]

it certainly was a powerful interview with Costas, but he sorta avoided some blame while accepting some. He admitted that he took the roids (and HGH "once or twice") but he did it to recover from the injuries, not to bulk up.

 

Now, if that's true, if that's the only reason you used the roids wouldn't you then get off the juice when you're healthy again?

 

 

I thought Costas did a fantastic job. And the post-interview stuff with the MLB network analysts is gold.

 

In the court of public opinion, I really don't know where Mark McGwire will be sitting after this.

[Funketown]

I'm actually somewhat disappointed with the banter over at gatewayredbirds. Over/under on the length of the standing ovation he gets on opening day?

[JET15]

5 minutes on the O/U ovation in STL. But what will it be the reaction in other parks? Half the games are in hostile parks.

 

It would have been more believable if he had admitted that he got performance gains from the roids. He could have said he's not sure how much, but, cmon, he was totally evasive on it. How could he not remember what he took? Bull. And instead of saying "I'm doing this for me", he should have said "I'm doing this to convince athletes to not do what I have done".

 

I liked the genuine apologies to the Maris family. I liked that he seemed very sorry. And Costas was great. The only question he missed... "Do you think there were any effects you're feeling now?"

[jjkoestler]

There is a 90 minute special on McGwire on Baseball Tonight. The "analysts" refuse to say anything too negative about McGwire. I would love to hear Peter Gammons take on McGwire. I have a feeling he wouldn't be so gracious.

 

A couple thoughts after watching a few clips of the Costas interview:

1: McGwire owes the Maris family a public apology. A phone call to Mrs. Maris is not enough. I suggest that McGwire donates 1/2 of his total MLB earnings (roughly $35m) to North Dakota high school athletics and charities.

2: Why is McGwire apologizing if he doesn't believe that steroids made him a better player?

3: How much pressure does this put on Sammy to come clean? Bonds?

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

The main difference between McGwire & Bonds is that Bonds is and has always been a total jerk. For the most part, McGwire has been a genuinely nice guy to his teammates and fans. Unfortunately, other than that it's hard to see much difference.

[1992casey]

Gammons was in on the MLB Network commentary. You'll probably be able to catch a full rerun. It's already been on twice.

[JET15]

Kruk was tough on him on Baseball Tonight. McGuire sait that he wished there was testing in his day, while at the same time saying that he took it for his health. He said he was a MASH unit with all of the injuries. Kruk's point: with that logic he was essentially wishing his career was shorter and much less remarkable because the roids allowed him to keep playing and do what he did.

[sgtcluels]

Didn't read much of the comments here. So if I repeat, my bad.

 

It's sickening that this isn't a bigger deal with the Cardinal fans. They claim to be the holders of the tradition of baseball and get all upset when players untuck their shirts, yet when one of their greatest cops to *cheating* and committing multiple felonies, they turn a blind eye. It's fine to do roids, only if your shirt is tucked in (Difficult since you inject into fat in the butt).

 

To me it is nothing more then a lob apology to try to weasel his way into the hall of fame by pretending remorse. He still blames the steroids era, I mean it wasn't him who decided to shoot himself up, it's the era. And now he claims he'd still break those records even with our the roids, come on McRoids, it doesn't matter if you think you could have.. the fact is you cheated.

[craigharmann]

That's right sgtcluels. I have a few college buddies who are St. Louis fans and there's nothing wrong here! In fact, McGwire needs to be held up as a hero, because he apologized. But, the problem is, whether people forgive McGwire or not, there are still consequences for actions. The only reason McGwire would be in the Hall of Fame is because he hit a lot of HRs. Now, by admitting the steroids use, along with the andro use, there's a cloud over whether or not he had an advantage over others. Therefore, there's a huge question mark as to whether or not he's in the Hall of Fame. However, I will say this. If McGwire is forgiven and put in the Hall of Fame, so should Pete Rose.

 

As for Sosa....he's off learning to speak English and bleaching his skin, so no one will recognize him anymore.

[Invader3K]

I guess I lean toward giving him the benefit of the doubt and just moving on at this point. I don't have any interest in vilifying him indefinitely, because at least he finally came forward and admitted it. That's more than you can say about Bonds, Palmeiro, Clemens, etc. He could have just stayed retired and never spoken of it again. Yes, his new job with the Cards probably played a factor, but it's not like he's going to be making a fortune as a hitting coach, so you can't chalk it up to financial incentive.

 

I do think him saying that he could have hit all those home runs without steroids/PEDs at all was disingenuous, but it doesn't bother me that much, either. I guess part of me is just tired of talking about "the steroid era", and all the general finger pointing involved.

[sheethead]

After listening to the interview, I could not agree with myself any more at this point that this is all agenda driven. If McGwire really thinks he would have hit that many home runs without roids, he is lying to himself. I can't see how he really believes that, and in saying he believes it is once again lying to baseball fans. The whole thing is a sham, and he even admits that when he said he's doing it for him. I feel sicker than if he would have just kept his mouth shut. What is wrong with these guys? Do they really think the fans are stupid?

[jerichoholicninja]

Pretty much everyone knew this all along so this isn't news to me. I'm sure he'll be writing a book and once again the cheaters are going to profit from their cheating.

[Ennder]

I think no matter what he said fans wouldn't be happy and I tend to believe that he started to do them because of injury problems while a player like Sosa probably started doing it just to get better. The whole part about hitting 70 HR without them is pretty shaky obviously.

[sheethead]

I would have been happy had he just been honest with himself and with the fans. Its all so transparent, yet he still tries to put on an act. He was trying to cleanse, but only made it worse by layering another act onto his charade.

[hawing]

Do they really think the fans are stupid?

http://www.mcgwire.com/picturearchive/simpsons/simp1.jpg

 

"Do you want to know the terrifying truth, or do you want to see me sock a few dingers?"

 

Most of you know how the Springfieldians replied.

[joepepsi]

He was waiting to see his HoF numbers before admitting to anything. He's seen guys who admit use are generally forgiven after a few months. Since he only got 23% of the vote, no doubt he's figuring what does he have to lose. Like the open container of creatine sitting conspicuously in his locker during the record setting season, this is another example of an arrogant man believing he can manipulate the media and fans.

[sheethead]

Do they really think the fans are stupid?

http://www.mcgwire.com/picturearchive/simpsons/simp1.jpg

"Do you want to know the terrifying truth, or do you want to see me sock a few dingers?"

 

Most of you know how the Springfieldians replied.

Might be at the root of why I never really latched onto The Simpsons.

[stalton]

"Dingers! Dingers!"

 

It wouldn't surprise me if MLB actually had a satellite collecting data. (Not sure if thats supposed to be blue or not)

[danzig6767]

I think no matter what he said fans wouldn't be happy and I tend to believe that he started to do them because of injury problems while a player like Sosa probably started doing it just to get better. The whole part about hitting 70 HR without them is pretty shaky obviously.

I don't. I think he's lying yet again which would be beyond stupid.

[BREWERPRIDE]

I think no matter what he said fans wouldn't be happy and I tend to believe that he started to do them because of injury problems while a player like Sosa probably started doing it just to get better. The whole part about hitting 70 HR without them is pretty shaky obviously.

I don't. I think he's lying yet again which would be beyond stupid.

He is obv. lying, he is such such a moron, he isnt sorry for anything, anyone can get fake choked up, and he was putting blame on everything and everyone but himself.

[Principessa21]

I think he's in denial. It's ridiculous to believe it didn't help him hit homers, but I can't seem to get too worked up over how he rationalizes his use. Still I hold out hope that someone will be open and honest about steroids, and not 30 years from now.

[Schlitz001]

I was commending Mark on admitting steroid use, but after seeing the interview he gave it's sad that he is still lying about what the steroids did for him.

 

He admits to 'performance enhancing' drugs and apologizes to Roger Maris' family but expects us to believe that his homerun totals would be the same had he not used steroids!?! When will these players learn that it's just easier to admit the truth then to continue to get caught in their own lies. LaRussa is not helping the issue either.

[Invader3K]

Here's something I was thinking about today. I'm getting a little bit tired of the references to "The MLB Record Book," like there's some Dead Sea Scrolls type of tome that Bud Selig keeps under lock & key in his offices. "They should put an asterisk next to his record!" Give me a break. We live in a modern digital age. People will make of the various records what they will. People will know the circumstances.

 

All the self-righteous moral indignation is getting pretty old, especially from these media types that never bothered to mention any PED use which they surely had some inkling was happening during "the steroid era."

[crewcrazy]

Here's something I was thinking about today. I'm getting a little bit tired of the references to "The MLB Record Book," like there's some Dead Sea Scrolls type of tome that Bud Selig keeps under lock & key in his offices. "They should put an asterisk next to his record!" Give me a break. We live in a modern digital age. People will make of the various records what they will. People will know the circumstances.

 

All the self-righteous moral indignation is getting pretty old, especially from these media types that never bothered to mention any PED use which they surely had some inkling was happening during "the steroid era."

I thought Rob Neyer hit the nail on the head on this subject (via Twitter): "In the vain hope of forestalling a ridiculous discussion, may I mention (again) that "record books" simply "record" what happened on field?"

 

No matter how you feel about the whole steroid issue, I think that's a point that gets overlooked. The record books are there to keep track of what happened throughout the course of baseball history. Steroids, like it or not, are now a huge part of baseball history -- to the point where we can't even pin down when this "steroid era" started. The only reason they're treated like the Dead Sea Scrolls (great terminology, by the way) is because most sportswriters have treated them that way. The writers that are so enraged by McGwire, Bonds, et al are the same writers that played such a large role in mythologizing these players when they broke the records.