News: McGwire Admits To Steroid Use

Okay, so maybe this isn't really news to most of us...Only way it could've been is if it'd turned out he wasn't using steroids.

Today in the midst of starting his new job as the hitting coach for his old team the Oakland A's St. Louis Cardinals, the former 12 time all-star, Rookie of The year, World Series champion and member of the MLB All Century team, Mark McGwire, admitted through a written statement that he did in fact use steroids during his playing career, multiple times.

In 2005 McGwire was called to appear before congress in a hearing on steroid use where he famously declined to give any testimony. Although he declined that day, in various interviews pre-ceeding the hearings on the matter he had vehemently denied using PED's and would only admit to taking Androstenedione; an over the counter muscle enhancer that the MLB permitted at the time.

I take no joy in McGwire's sobering moment....I had a hunch he was juicing back when I saw his physique during the 1999 season, but for some reason (and like the rest of the nation) I was more enthralled in the records he was chasing rather than how he was performing on such a high level, belting home runs out of ballparks with sheer ease...

It's a damn shame really, I was a big fan of McGwire's during his Bash Bros. years in Oakland and always thought he was a great ball player and slugger. I don't try my best not to judge him, however I do gotta call a spade a spade and this man cheated to get ahead. While the rest of the guys dealt with the ability and talent god gave em' and made due, McGwire was selfish and sought to further his career and prowess--the easy way. Now I realize full well that there were many others doing exactly what he was doing, but that was just the tide, not the only one thing...Kudos to him for coming clean, that's gonna be good for his soul, but his records should be clearly marked with that bold asterisk post haste...

-BIG D O