Jan 11 2010
Finally Home Run Legend Mark McGwire Admits Steroids Use
The home run king finally admits that he took steroids. In a statement to the Associated Press, Mark McGwire acknowledged that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade. McGwire was dragged into steroid controversy when he was implicated by his former teammate Jose Canseco. His name was mentioned in the book “Juiced” authored by Canseco. The slugger also appeared in the Congressional hearing in 2005 but denied that he took any performance enhancing drugs.
McGwire also apologized to the fans for his steroid use. “I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize,” he said. “Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.”
After the steroid accusations, Mark MacGwire’s name was always linked to steroids use. His denial and keeping silent on the issue did not stop the media in finding evidences that will prove his use of performance enhancers. When a former dealer was arrested by FBI agents through Operation Equine, he was also implicated. Based on records, anabolic steroid dealer Curtis Wenzlaff supplied McGwire and Canseco with steroids when they were still playing for the Oakland A’s. Greg Stejskal, who led the investigation, already warned the Major League Baseball of the steroid problem but they were ignored by the management.
McGwire’s involvement into steroids did not help him in the Hall of Fame even if he has a very impressive record. For three years now, McGwire only recieved less than 30% of the votes which means he is still far from becoming a Hall of Famer. HOF guidelines require players to possess integrity, sportsmanship and character. Sports analysts believe that McGwire’s chances to be included in the Hall of Fame will increase if he admits his steroid use. Just like what Alex Rodriguez did when he was forced to admit in February last year that he took “Boli”, an anabolic steroid. A-Rod was persecuted by baseball fans but was later accepted when he made an apology and made an impressive return to the field.
He retired in 2001 and maintained a low profile life. He avoided discussions on his steroid use but late October he was brought back to St. Louis Cardinals as a hitting coach. John Mozeliak, the Cardinals general manager, told the public that McGwire will be addressing the steroid allegations when he return to the game. And finally, after the long wait, McGwire took the courage to admit publicly that he was once a steroid user.
Mark McGwire said that it’s time for him to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. “I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989-90 off-season and then after I was injured in 1993 I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the 90s including during the 1998 season,” he added.
Now let us wait for the reaction of baseball fans. Would they accept the apology or persecute the former baseball star? Should Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens follow McGwire’s decision? Should we erase his home run record because it could be due to the performance enhancers he took during that time?
[...] years of keeping mum on the steroid allegations against him, Mark McGwire suddenly made a public apology. He issued a statement Monday about his steroid use for almost a [...]
[...] there are people who are happy on the confession of Mark McGwire, it would be those who have launched anti-doping campaigns specifically against steroids. Although [...]
[...] Mark McGwire received criticism for his late admission of steroids use, the recent interview with his steroid [...]
[...] Banks, the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer said that Sammy Sosa should also make a confession like what Mark McGwire did. “Come clean with it,” Banks told the Chicago Tribune. “Explain it to them [...]
[...] sluggers Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds were accused of using steroids to improve their performance. These players both [...]
[...] major league is dominating the headlines for a few weeks now because of the admission of Mark McGwire that he used steroids during the peak of his career. But other sports organizations are coming into [...]
[...] and the public opted to welcome them back into the game. However, it is a different story for Mark McGwire. After admitting his steroid use last month, McGwire is still under scrutiny and criticism on his [...]
[...] could be partly blamed for his situation now. With the release of his younger brother’s book, Mark McGwire should expect for more stories reigning the headlines. His fate is different from Alex Rodriguez [...]
[...] just trying to sell a book. This is one of the remarks of Mark McGwire on the new book written by his younger brother Jay. The book, “Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and [...]
[...] could not still believe the stance of Mark McGwire when he made his confession. He said that the steroids he took were only meant to help him [...]
[...] special assistant is hoping that Barry Bonds will come back to help the team in some ways just like Mark McGwire who was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals as a hitting coach. He told Mercury News many things about [...]
[...] nearly a decade of being out of the game and admitting to steroid use and facing so many obstacles, slugger Mark McGwire did not expect a welcome like this in the field. There were numerous fans who lined the stands; [...]
[...] we expect Bonds to do a Mark McGwire confession? The answer is no. It will never happen even if he returns to baseball as a coach. Bonds talked [...]
[...] who admitted that using steroids and HGH helped them to perform better in sports. An example is Mark McGwire of Major League Baseball who admitted to the use of several steroids and human growth hormone when [...]
[...] Mark McGwire, who admitted to steroid use last year, received a dwindling number of votes from baseball writers. He lost 3.9 percent of the votes as compared to his 2010 mark which was 23.7%. Writers are still critical when it comes to steroid use. The current efforts of McGwire to rebuild his reputation like helping in the anti-doping campaign of the Taylor Hooton Foundation could not influence the voters. [...]