Mark McGwire admits steroid use

by Eli Greenspan on Jan 11, 2010 4:28 PM EST

Cardinals hitting coach Mark McGwire came clean Monday, admitting to using steroids on and off for nearly a decade.

"I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said in a statement. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

McGwire has become one of the least liked players in baseball after the Congressional hearing in 2005 when he refused to talk about the past. Now that he has come clean, he can reconcile with baseball fans nationwide.

"I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come," McGwire said. "It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected."

McGwire, a .263 career hitter, with 583 career home runs, a .394 on-base percentage, and a .588 slugging percentage, said that he mainly used steroids to recover from injuries and to stay healthy.

This certainly won't be the end to the questions for McGwire, who still has information that fans and reporters are looking for. McGwire's biggest regret ought to be that he can't look back at his own career achievements to see his true ability, because it was tainted the second he injected himself before the 1990 season.

Baseball has been cleaned up after two revised drug policies have been implemented to crack down on drug use. His admission won't help his Hall of Fame odds, but now he can focus on being the Cardinals hitting coach and using the Cardinals offensive production as a tool to rebuilding his reputation.

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I think his confession will only help his Hall of Fame odds. A large majority people were already voting under the assumption that he was guilty of using, so him actually saying so shouldn’t change too many minds there. Not saying he will get in next year.

I just think now he is back in the game and has an opportunity to rebuild his image. The people that have denied denied denied have gotten the worst of it and the ones who have come clean are all but forgiven. I think as time goes on he will get his fair shot.

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."

by Roland86 on Jan 11, 2010 5:06 PM EST reply actions

Confused.

I dont understand. Do you think the admission will only help or it shouldnt change minds? How did this help rebuild his image? I see this kinda the same way I saw the Pete Rose admission. You lied and we all knew it. When you finally came out and told everyone, it was to serve your own purposes.

I'm Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell's wart. Not her wart. Not her wart! I'm... I'm the wart. She's my tumor. My... my growth. My... uh, my pimple. I'm Uncle Wart. Just old Buck "Wart" Russell. That's what they call me, or Melanoma Head. - Uncle Buck

by Andiamo Cuccioli on Jan 12, 2010 7:33 AM EST up reply actions

Our society is so messed up. We have no problem with polluting our lungs with cigarettes or killing ourselves with fast food and the poisonous additives or destroy our livers by drinking ourselves to death, but look out if someone wants to put on an ounce of muscle. This country definitely has its priorities screwed up.

by tron12 on Jan 11, 2010 5:18 PM EST reply actions

It's true society is screwed up

But MLB is not society. It is an exclusive club with rules. In fact, there is a rule in the rulebook about not making a mockery of the game (e.g. Jimmy Piersall running the bases backwards on a home run.) Cheating I believe is expressly ruled “out”, and drug use can be construed as “cheating” (although nicotine is a drug, it seems to be “grandfathered in”).

So comments about smoking is harmful, bad, are definitely true, they have little to do with this situation….as much as U-boat sinkings of ships flying neutral flags.

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."-Plutarch

by One won lost won on Jan 11, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

You do realize

that steroids don’t create natural muscle, and they’re actually really, really unhealthy. It’s not about cheating nearly as much as its about not letting players hurt themselves.

First it was Paige, now it's Price.
You can find me at http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/

by Satchel Price on Jan 11, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

Was this posted by CM Punk?

by Andiamo Cuccioli on Jan 12, 2010 7:34 AM EST up reply actions

McGwire used steroids ? That's like saying water is wet

"Baseball is better than football. Think about it, eighty degrees, a cold beer and a short-sleeve shirt is better than 30 degrees, a hip flask and six layers of clothes under a lap blanket. Take your pick: suntan or frostbite. " - Thomas Boswell

by Ketcham Bruce on Jan 11, 2010 6:09 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

GTFO

Like no way! Reminds me, remember when Sosa was a thin as a nail ranger or McGwire was a skinny athletic or…

goes on bicep

by cuseindahuse on Jan 11, 2010 8:21 PM EST reply actions

Steroids do not hurt you muscles. This is what I mean by the misinformation that is pumped into our societies heads from our screwed up government. It should be legalized because it is a victimless crime. Maybe we should ban Nyquil because that can be abused as well.

by tron12 on Jan 12, 2010 12:17 AM EST reply actions

SHOCKED! I AM SHOCKED!

To find out MacGyver was using steroids! Oh wait, McGwire! Nevermind.

"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?" -Joe Kapp

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jan 12, 2010 1:42 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

The only reason McGwire has come out now is just to smooth things over with Bud Selig.

McGwire could care less about anyone else.

Now that he has come clean, he can reconcile with baseball fans nationwide.

Except McGwire has yet to even mention the fans in his various interviews so far let alone an apology to them.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Jan 12, 2010 7:04 PM EST reply actions

I can't believe it, McGwire used steroids?

The next thing your gonna tell me is there is no tooth fairy and Santa Claus didn’t bring me a “Members Only” jacket back in ’82. This is old news. We all knew that he ’roided, the last one to admit it was mark McGwire to himself.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Jan 13, 2010 2:38 AM EST reply actions