Mark McGwire can thank steroids for his success

Today Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids, when he hit his 70th home run in 1998; breaking Roger Maris’ record of 61 homeruns. “I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize”, said Mark McGwire. He also claims he took steroids to heal injuries, and can thank steroids for his successful career.

Mark McGwire has apologized, and can now thank steroids, not his own skill, for usurping Roger Maris. The confession is not a surprise. The latest steroid confession from McGwire adds to what many believe demeans baseball and disrespects athletes who choose not to boost athletic performance with dangerous performance enhancers.

Mark McGwire says using steroids during his baseball career was “foolish, saying “I wish I had never touched steroids”, calling it a “mistake”.

Mark McGwire’s statement that he used steroids “on and off” throughout his baseball career could have an impact on his coaching job with the Saint Louis Cardinals, but what the impact will be remains to be seen.

Senior MLB correspondent Hal Bodley said, had Mark McGwire not admitted to steroid use the “media would have been hounding him” during spring training. He also says he wishes Mark McGwire would have admitted to steroid use in front of Congress. Bodley said “I don’t think he would have hit as many home runs without steroids.”

Mark McGwire’s admission of steroid use was inevitable. There is not much more that he can say about it says Bodley who suspects Mark McGwire will “move on” now. More baseball players might come forward to thank steroids for their own success. Mark McGwire can feel good now. His conscience is clear….but we still need to give it back to Roger Maris.

MLB.com

Herzog wonders if McGwire can survive steroid scrutiny

Since 2001, after retiring with 583 home runs, Mark McGwire has kept himself under the radar. Whitey Herzog wonders if Mark McGwire can survive scrutiny over his use of steroids with his new job as the St. Louis Cardinal’s hitting coach. Mark McGwire was exposed by Jose Conseco as a steroid user in “Juiced”.

According to Herzog, recently elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee, "It's going to be tough because Mark has to open up and he has to be real open with the press. He's going to be asked questions about steroids, he's going to be asked so many things, and he's got to be open and he's got to answer."

Herzog says Mark McGwire might decide not to take the job. 'Maybe he's still not going to do it, maybe he's going to wake up one morning and say 'I don't want to go through it.' It was announced at a late October press conference that Mark McGwire would be the Cardinal’s new hitting coach.

Mark McGwire was evasive with a congressional panel hearing in 2005, when he said he “I’m not going to go into the past”, when specifically asked about his use of the steroid “Andro” (Androstenedione) that is now illegal to use without a medical reason and prescription. For many years Androstenedione, an anabolic “designer” steroid, was not banned by Major League Baseball, despite the known health risks that include pancreatic cancer, increased aggression, and enlarged prostate.

Should Mark McGwire continue to be evasive about steroid use, Herzog says things may not work out when and if McGwire assumes his position as hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. McGwire’s hiring is controversial. Whitey Herzog wonders if McGwire can stand the scrutiny over his use of steroids.

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