Mark MCGwire’s return to baseball will not be easy since he is still haunted by steroid use issue. His confession, which according to people close to him was just half truths, 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 who was able to overcome steroid issues after admitting steroid use.

The younger brother of Mark, Jay McGwire wrote a book about him and his brother. Jay is a bodybuilder and claimed that he helped his brother recover from injuries and perform better thru the help of steroids and human growth hormones. The book which will be released Monday is entitled “Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball’s Worst-Kept Secret.” This will again add to the collection of steroids books of many baseball fans.

The book, according to Jay, will reveal the true story behind his brother’s steroid use. In an interview by the Chronicle, Jay said that the book is not intended to ruin his brother’s life but he wanted to send a message to others to avoid steroids. “The book is not about throwing my brother under the bus,” Jay said. The bodybuilder, who admitted that he took steroids to help him excel in bodybuilding, wants to share his own experience. “I didn’t have regrets at the time. But later on, yes,” said Jay. “At that time, I thought it was the right decision for Mark. I was a user and had good, clean stuff. I got him back on the field and performing,” he added.

According to Jay, he was able to persuade Mark to try steroids when he was still with the A’s. The purpose is to help him recover from his injuries but the results made him hit more home runs. As a professional bodybuilder, Jay saw the great potential his brother Mark had. “In addition to the healing prospects I saw ahead for Mark. I saw in him a blank canvas. I pictured what a beast he could become with the proper training, and I wanted to use my expertise to help create a masterpiece,” Jay said in his book.

Based on Jay’s account, Mark took various steroids during that time. Mark took Deca Durabolin for strength and to promote the healing of his injuries. The HGH was for him to remain lean. To make him more flexible with his weight at 260 lbs., Jay added Winstrol and Primobolan. Androstenedione was also included in his regimen.

Jay believes that steroids really helped his brother broke home run records as well as Barry Bonds who broke his brother’s record. “Somewhat, yeah. Who knows what would’ve happened if Mark didn’t use steroids?” he said. “I don’t know if he would’ve hit 70. That’s pretty freaky right there. It motivated other athletes. Baseball didn’t have a drug policy at all. It was a dream setup for athletes. I guarantee it drove Bonds to get competitive,” he added.

He also alleged that Selig and team owners knew the rampant steroids use in the 1990’s but ignored it because of the home run jolts which draws more baseball fans to watch every game. “Everyone’s making money. You keep it hush-hush. They’re not going to confront it,” he said. “Tony (La Russa) says he never knew. I have a hard time believing it. Then again, they’re winning. The crowds are bigger. Mark put 25,000 in the seats just for batting practice,” Jay said.

Jay McGwire details his personal life in the book. He wanted to excel in team sports but it was ruined when he met an accident in high school. He lost his right eye in a BB gun accident. He later involved himself into professional bodybuilding and become dependent on steroids. He almost ruined his life with grandeur lifestyle and partying. Mark, who became worried of his brother’s career, invited Jay to East Bay in 1990. However, their relationship became sour when Mark hit Jay’s stepson. Jay is now residing in Riverside County together with his wife and 3 children and opened a gym recently.

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