Other Sports McGwire admits steroid use - Page 2

Shag · 01-11-2010, 02:21 PM

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."

**Bearcat** · 01-11-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

"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."

Remember kids, there's always a right time to tell the truth.... maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but when it happens, you'll know.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 01-11-2010, 02:34 PM

It's really time to move on. I don't blame the players. I blame baseball. Sports is a business, and players protected their "assets" to the degree the league allowed them to do it.

DMAC · 01-11-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

When will Pujois admit his use?

ooooo Oh he went there!!!

Deberg_1990 · 01-11-2010, 02:39 PM

Guess Canseco isnt such a douche after all....

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:40 PM

I hate that McGwire felt he had to give an insincere apology full of BS in order to get into the HOF (he should have been in there, anyway). But this is the world we live in.

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

When will Pujois admit his use?

When he gets caught and says he was only using the stuff to come back from injuries. You know...like everyone else in baseball.

Frazod · 01-11-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Guess Canseco isnt such a douche after all....

To the contrary, he's one of the biggest douches who ever lived. Sure he was right. He also threw all his friends and teammates under a bus to make a buck on his ****ing biography.

I hope there is a special place in hell for scum like that.

tyton75 · 01-11-2010, 02:42 PM

I would like to know the honest number of players who were juicing.. I mean it wasn't just the stars..

Brady Andersen hit 50+ home runs for a season for crying out loud

**dirk digler** · 01-11-2010, 02:42 PM

Does this mean the Cardinals are a bunch of cheaters?

Alton deFlat · 01-11-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Guess Canseco isnt such a douche after all....

Oh no, he's still a douche.

Reerun_KC · 01-11-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

ooooo Oh he went there!!!

Someone had to do it! I admit though, I dont care or know much about baseball... Without roids, baseball is worthless...

Frazod · 01-11-2010, 02:45 PM

"Pujols must be on roids" translates out of bullshit into English as "God I wish he was on my team, and how am I going to alleviate this vaginal inflammation?"

Cannibal · 01-11-2010, 02:45 PM

Is MLB going to use "the asterisk" next to the dudes who broke records and took roids like they talked about doing? I would think that is all that would have to be done.

FloridaMan88 · 01-11-2010, 02:46 PM

Does McGwire really think that admitting to this 12 years after his "historic" '98 season and 5 years since his infamous showing in front of Congress is going to make everything alright?

And at the very least if you are going to finally "come clean" and "talk about the past"... do it in person and face-to-face... not hiding behind a carefully crafted statement.

**bevischief** · 01-11-2010, 02:46 PM

someone knew something and threaten to go media...
Posted via Mobile Device

01-11-2010, 02:21 PM
Shag MVP Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Casino cash: $-1326658	McGwire admits steroid use 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."
Posts: 5,186

01-11-2010, 02:39 PM	#19
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $244454	Guess Canseco isnt such a douche after all....
Posts: 68,498

01-11-2010, 02:40 PM	#20
KC_Connection Perpetual Mediocrity Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $1662783	I hate that McGwire felt he had to give an insincere apology full of BS in order to get into the HOF (he should have been in there, anyway). But this is the world we live in.
Posts: 57,787

01-11-2010, 02:42 PM	#23
tyton75 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3798386	I would like to know the honest number of players who were juicing.. I mean it wasn't just the stars.. Brady Andersen hit 50+ home runs for a season for crying out loud __________________
Posts: 3,331

01-11-2010, 02:42 PM	#24
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $214644	Does this mean the Cardinals are a bunch of cheaters?
Posts: 67,107

01-11-2010, 02:45 PM	#27
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-646615	"Pujols must be on roids" translates out of bullshit into English as "God I wish he was on my team, and how am I going to alleviate this vaginal inflammation?"
Posts: 121,727

01-11-2010, 02:45 PM	#28
Cannibal Better to burn out... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bible Thumping Country Casino cash: $10010618	Is MLB going to use "the asterisk" next to the dudes who broke records and took roids like they talked about doing? I would think that is all that would have to be done.
Posts: 9,306

01-11-2010, 02:46 PM	#29
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-607094	Does McGwire really think that admitting to this 12 years after his "historic" '98 season and 5 years since his infamous showing in front of Congress is going to make everything alright? And at the very least if you are going to finally "come clean" and "talk about the past"... do it in person and face-to-face... not hiding behind a carefully crafted statement.
Posts: 49,888

01-11-2010, 02:46 PM	#30
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $7739352 VARSITY	someone knew something and threaten to go media... Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 27,771