McGwire admits steroid use

[Shag]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4816607

NEW YORK -- Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998.

McGwire said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used 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 also used human growth hormone, a person close to McGwire said, speaking on condition of anonymity because McGwire didn't include that detail in his statement.

McGwire's decision to admit using steroids was prompted by his decision to become hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, his final big league team. Tony La Russa, McGwire's manager in Oakland and St. Louis, has been among McGwire's biggest supporters and thinks returning to the field can restore the former slugger's reputation.

"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."

He became the second major baseball star in less than a year to admit using illegal steroids, following the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez last February.

Others have been tainted but have denied knowingly using illegal drugs, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and David Ortiz.

Bonds has been indicted on charges he made false statements to a federal grand jury and obstructed justice. Clemens is under investigation by a federal grand jury trying to determine whether he lied to a congressional committee.

"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids," McGwire said. "I had good years when I didn't take any, and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry."

Big Mac's reputation has been in tatters since March 17, 2005, when he refused to answer questions at a Congressional hearing. Instead, he repeatedly said "I'm not here to talk about the past" when asked whether he took illegal steroids when he hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 or at any other time.

"After all this time, I want to come clean," he said. "I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."

The person close to McGwire said McGwire made the decision not to answer questions at that hearing on the advice of his lawyers.

McGwire disappeared from the public eye following his retirement as a player following the 2001 season. When the Cardinals hired the 47-year-old as coach on Oct. 26, they said he would address questions before spring training, and Monday's statement broke his silence.

"I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again," McGwire said in his statement. "I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season."

McGwire said he took steroids to get back on the field, sounding much like the Yankees' Andy Pettitte two years ago when he admitted using HGH.

"During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years," McGwire said in the statement. "I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years, and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too."

Since the congressional hearing, baseball owners and players toughened their drug program twice, increasing the penalty for a first steroids offense from 10 days to 50 games in November 2005 and strengthening the power of the independent administrator in April 2008, following the publication of the Mitchell Report.

"Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up," McGwire said. "The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did."

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by frazod

Too bad Albert got suspended for 50 games last year for violating the league's-oh wait, never mind. That was Manny Ramirez.

Who does he play for again?

I guess fortunately for the Dodgers they haven't benefited from cheating to win titles like other teams have.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

I guess fortunately for the Dodgers they haven't benefited from cheating to win titles like other teams have.

Too bad the Dodgers hail from such a small market and have such a low payroll that they can't afford to attract any big name talent.

Baseball is so unfair like that.

[pr_capone]

**** Mark McGwire
**** Sammy Sosa
**** Barry Bonds
**** David Ortiz
**** Alex Rodriguez
**** any and all players who used PEDs and tarnished the game.

**** them all.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

No reevlauation needed. I think Mantle, Yogi Berra and all the rest of those players of that era that admit that they took the "greenies"(speed) in the 50's and 60's should be banned. Talk about an on the field advantage? Thats how they stayed out all night drinking and then played baseball the next day.

If that's what your criteria are, the HOF is going to be pretty empty.

I guess you have to go one way or another. I dont think cheating was looked at as such a travesty for the first 100+ years, I am not sure why it is such a huge deal now. I woudl imagine we woudl shit if we knew who all did use steroids (specifically HGH) at one time or another the last 20 years.

Teams used to abuse players who were caught stealing signs. Now there are stories of teammates tipping pitches to opposing players who are their buddies.

I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. The stats have always been distorted by drug use of one type or another, pitchers doctoring balls, the mound being raised and lowered etc...

It's all part of different times in the game. Steroid era is the steroid era. Big deal, put a notation by the record numbers and move on.

[Cannibal]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Steroid era is the steroid era. Big deal, put a notation by the record numbers and move on.

Agreed.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

If that's what your criteria are, the HOF is going to be pretty empty.

Then it should be. cheating should not be rewarded.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Then it should be. cheating should not be rewarded.

Agreed.

If these guys had not cheated then the comparative numbers to get in the hall would not be so great.

Guys with shorter yet brilliant careers like Mattingly would actually have a chance to get in and deservedly so.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Cannibal

If the Roids add 15-20 feet onto each of the homers, then you end up with A LOT home runs that would have normally been long fly outs without the Roids.

On the home run records, they should go back for statistical purposes and shorten each hit by some measure such as the same ratio (inverted) that the player added in bicep size from the previous year. Then figure out if it would've still been a home run. You can't change the outcome of the game, but you can correct the record book.

[MichaelH]

1. Is there a single soul that didn't think he used steroids??

2. why did he lie? I don't care that he used them, I care that he lied thinking he could get out of it much like my 5 year old. **** him.

[Pitt Gorilla]

The thing is, people have been using all sorts of substances to try to get an advantage for YEARS. At various points, certain things were legal that later were not legal. Should Creatine count as a PED? How about Caffeine? How about protein?

Obviously, lines have been drawn and redrawn and the players that knowingly cheated should be punished, whatever that means. It's just interesting to think how the definition of cheating continues to evolve.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

The thing is, people have been using all sorts of substances to try to get an advantage for YEARS. At various points, certain things were legal that later were not legal. Should Creatine count as a PED? How about Caffeine? How about protein?

Obviously, lines have been drawn and redrawn and the players that knowingly cheated should be punished, whatever that means. It's just interesting to think how the definition of cheating continues to evolve.

If it is a substance that is illegal such as amphetamines or steroids (including prescription abuse by money grubbing docs), your records should be scratched form the record books and any current contract is null and void. You wanted to leave a mark on the game and cheated to do it? Too bad... in 20 years, no one will remember your ass other than for cheating.

See how many people take (illegal) PED's then.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

If it is a substance that is illegal such as amphetamines or steroids (including prescription abuse by money grubbing docs), your records should be scratched form the record books and any current contract is null and void. You wanted to leave a mark on the game and cheated to do it? Too bad... in 20 years, no one will remember your ass other than for cheating.

See how many people take (illegal) PED's then.

Amphetamines didnt become illegal till 1965 and steroids till the mid 80's. What about before then?

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Amphetamines didnt become illegal till 1965 and steroids till the mid 80's. What about before then?

I'm saying that that is where I would draw the definitive line if I were in a position of power in MLB.

A line has to be drawn somewhere... seems as good a place as any to draw it.

[Jerm]

I remember LaRussa railroading the media and everyone in general for dare insinuating that McGwire used steroids....and now he doesn't have jack shit to say.

Someone should take a ****ing sledgehammer to that douche's head.
Posted via Mobile Device

[kcxiv]

Ok, now lets move on.