Other Sports McGwire admits steroid use - Page 3

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."

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

"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?"

I think Pujols is on roids and I wish he was on my team. It can be both.

CoMoChief · 01-11-2010, 02:47 PM

Him and Sosa saved baseball. MLB should be thanking them if anything. After the strike, nobody gave a shit about baseball for about 5 years.

Personally I dont care that hitters use them, because for one, hand eye coordination in hitting a baseball is about 95% of hitting. McGwire and Sosa are different the Pujols and Arod. Pujols and Arod are GREAT hitters outside of having power, they have great OB%, they have great eye for the ball, esp Pujols, you hardly ever see the guy strike out.

McGwire overall wasn't a good hitter, he'd either SO or hit it to Jupiter. Same with Sosa, though Sosa was a little bit better hitter, but they both are poster boy "MLB Sluggers". Get guys on base and hope they would blast one over the fences.

Frazod · 01-11-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevischief

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

Yes, that must be it.

Because nobody ever suspected a thing.

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannibal

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.

Might as well put the asterisk on Aaron for using amphetamines. And Babe Ruth for playing in an era with only whites.

blaise · 01-11-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Him and Sosa saved baseball. MLB should be thanking them if anything. After the strike, nobody gave a shit about baseball for about 5 years.

people say that, but it's not true. It's not like baseball was going to go away or something.

Fish · 01-11-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

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.

No kidding.

Frazod · 01-11-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Might as well put the asterisk on Aaron for using amphetamines. And Babe Ruth for playing in an era with only whites.

The Babe laced his hot dogs with cocaine. Cheating bastard.

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevischief

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

Uhh...no. Everyone already knew Mark McGwire did steroids...it's not like we needed some random guy telling us that.

McGwire said this because he's coming back to baseball this year and didn't want to be a distraction. Of course...it also carries the added benefit of getting him back in the HOF.

Deberg_1990 · 01-11-2010, 02:50 PM

I suspect we will continue to see these once Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa come up for the Hall....

KC_Connection · 01-11-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I suspect we will continue to see these once Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa come up for the Hall....

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens can't really say anything...wouldn't that be considered perjury at this point?

**Renegade** · 01-11-2010, 02:52 PM

Well at least we know the German's attacked Pearl Harbor, that hasn't changed anything

FloridaMan88 · 01-11-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Him and Sosa saved baseball. MLB should be thanking them if anything. After the strike, nobody gave a shit about baseball for about 5 years.

12 years later Sosa is white and McGwire is a vagina.

Karma is a bitch

wild1 · 01-11-2010, 02:53 PM

I don't think one-dimensional players should get into the Hall, even if they aren't cheaters.

Reerun_KC · 01-11-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

"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?"

Not really, Would be better if someone would roid up and step up to his level that is already on someones team...

dont get sand in your gina over nothing Frazzy!

Demonpenz · 01-11-2010, 02:54 PM

The faster bonds, arod, pujols, mcgwire admit it to the media, the faster we can forgive them

01-11-2010, 02:21 PM
Shag MVP Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Casino cash: $-1316658	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, 02:47 PM	#32
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $7672254	Him and Sosa saved baseball. MLB should be thanking them if anything. After the strike, nobody gave a shit about baseball for about 5 years. Personally I dont care that hitters use them, because for one, hand eye coordination in hitting a baseball is about 95% of hitting. McGwire and Sosa are different the Pujols and Arod. Pujols and Arod are GREAT hitters outside of having power, they have great OB%, they have great eye for the ball, esp Pujols, you hardly ever see the guy strike out. McGwire overall wasn't a good hitter, he'd either SO or hit it to Jupiter. Same with Sosa, though Sosa was a little bit better hitter, but they both are poster boy "MLB Sluggers". Get guys on base and hope they would blast one over the fences. Last edited by CoMoChief; 01-11-2010 at 03:00 PM..
Posts: 39,245

01-11-2010, 02:50 PM	#39
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $274454	I suspect we will continue to see these once Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa come up for the Hall....
Posts: 68,470

01-11-2010, 02:52 PM	#41
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $-1802096	Well at least we know the German's attacked Pearl Harbor, that hasn't changed anything
Posts: 2,121

01-11-2010, 02:53 PM	#43
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	I don't think one-dimensional players should get into the Hall, even if they aren't cheaters.
Posts: 6,935

01-11-2010, 02:54 PM	#45
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-253864	The faster bonds, arod, pujols, mcgwire admit it to the media, the faster we can forgive them __________________
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