This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody. But at least now Mark McGwire has finally admitted to using steroids. Oh, and I'm sure it's no coincidence he's admitting this a few days after he earned just 23.7 percent of votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame.In his statement to the Associated Press, he admitted he used steroids on and off throughout his entire career, dating back to the 1989/1990 offseason and including his record-breaking 1998 season. A source close to him said he used HGH as well. After telling congress in 2005, "I'm not here to talk about the past," he's finally here to talk about the past.
"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."So now that he's come out, do we forgive him? Does he eventually make the Hall now? First, some have said his numbers alone don't merit an induction. Sorry folks, but if you have 583 career home runs and shattered Roger Maris' single-season home run record you have reason to be in the Hall of Fame.
Second, I'm having some trouble forgiving him. Unlike Alex Rodriguez, McGwire is admitting to using steroids throughout his entire career. If you want to subtract the few years A-Rod and Barry Bonds supposedly used steroids, they may still have the credentials to be Hall of Famers. But when you admit to an entire career tainted with steroids, it's tough to forgive. Sorry, he did win a Rookie of the Year Award without steroids, supposedly.
The only thing going for him was his final statement about the current state of baseball.
"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."I'd hope he has this attitude toward Major League Baseball. Why? Because he's still in the game! He accepted a position as the hitting coach for the Cardinals in 2010. I'm not sure if it's in the best interest of the club to keep him in that role, because now fans may put into question any feats Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday might accomplish. I've always believed Pujols is clean, but having an ex-juicer like McGwire as his hitting coach may put his future records into question.
I wonder if anyone else from the Steroid Era will come out now (I'm talking to you Bonds and Sammy Sosa). Now is the best time to do it! I'm sure more on McGwire's case will come out in the next few days. Stay tuned.
