Mark McGwire decides to come clean on steroid use:
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.
Here’s the statement in full. He blamed his use mostly on injuries, although he did try them before the 1990 season:
“During the mid-90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a rib cage 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.”
I wonder how this story will match up with what FBI agents learned in “Operation Equine.” Secondly, will McGwire be forgiven, or will he get the Pete Rose treatment? I’ll lean toward forgiveness, since Mark never said anything definitive about his steroid use. What happened with Rose was that his supporters turned on him once they realized he lied about not gambling. I don’t think Mark ever had his finger wagging lie moment, and that might save him.
Plus there’s the rule that if you bet on a game in which you have a duty to perform (even as a manager) that puts you on the permanently ineligible list. Even today steroids don’t have that death penalty.
And did Selig condemn him for cheating? Nope, he thanked him for being honest five years too late. Lordy.
The writers hate Barry Bonds (and Roger Clemens) too much to let Mac off the hook–if they let Mac in while keeping Bonds out, they’re going to have Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton picketing outside their places of business in perpetuity. Keeping Mac (and, starting next year, Palmiero) out will give them a figleaf to take the edge off of their idiocy and unprofessional behavior in keeping the greatest hitter and greatest starting pitcher of the last thirty years out of Cooperstown, at least until they lose the right to vote completely.
Decent interview between Costas & McGwire on MLB network.