American Morning
McGwire: I used steroids
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://am.blogs.cnn.com/files/2010/01/mcgwire.jpg caption="Mark McGwire hit 583 home runs in his career, including a then-record 70 in 1998."]
By SI.com Staff
Mark McGwire has admitted taking steroids in 1998 when he broke Roger Maris' home run record.
"I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize," McGwire said in his statement. "I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the nineties, including during the 1998 season. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.
"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry. Baseball is really different now - it's been cleaned up. The Commissioner and the Players Association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did."
McGwire is entering his first season as the hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, and his return to baseball prompted his admission. "It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected," McGwire said. That echoes the phrase he used repeatedly during a Congressional inquiry into steroids in baseball in 2005, when he stonewalled questions about whether he had ever used steroids by saying, "I'm not here to talk about the past. Read more
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he did not lie he chose not..... are you serious this is the standard these days lie lie lie lie lie until you cant lie anymore and then shed some fake tears maybe throw in a remark about the lord and all is forgiven as a society we need to stop forgiving and hold people accountable especially those in the public eye this is like mike vick when all he did was tell lie after lie after lie until he couldnt tell anymore lies because they had him and people still buy jerseys its absolutely disgusting this country was built by real men with guns now its a disgrace
You people that are saying he "lied" are demonstrating that you are totally unfamiliar with what happened, his comments before Congress, and the interview other night.
He did not lie, he chose to not say anything - at all. That is what frustrated people in the first place.
If you are really interested, watch the full 45 minute interview - not the 2 minute clips most networks are showing.
mark Mcgwire is still the man he needs to be in the hof who cares what he took everybody is taking them now days its just part of life people need to get over it or get a life
He still would have not come clean if not for the job! When Exactly did
he use steriods. Tell the whole truth. They are banned, period!
You lied when you could have come clean! You need to stop crying
and walk away...Man up McGuire!
These people saying everyone has sinned...forgive. OK. but there
are still consequences. Cardinals man up as well! Your are weak!
Really! Is the american public that nieve! Steroids has been a part of professional sports for many years. For healing and for enhancement! They are payed millions and expected to play at our expectations!
Well should I feel sorry for him or feel bad. Maybe I should give him a medal of honesty. Then I think he is a big baby scare the tell the truth, like he didn't know what was doing. He did lie front of all nation, what I think he shouldn't be near ball park. People like him disgrace to sportsmanship.
Everyone makes mistakes! Now, when Mark McGuire admits it, after taking steroids for 10 years to keep healthy; come on, I'm not that nieve. If I was voting for him getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he would never get my vote. It is not credible to believe steriods did not help Mark McGuire hit 70 home runs. Sure, he was a good hitter with lots of talent but so were Cal Ripian, Hank Aaron and others who did not take steriods; thus no 70 home runs. This tv debacle is an insult to Roger Maris' record and all of baseball.
Whatever happened to 'Tell the truth' in this Country?! Two of our forefathers united us on a foundation of honest responsibility and accountability: Washington and Lincoln. Freedom depends entirely on honest responsibility- two sides of the same coin. McGuire and many other current celebrities in finances, politics, sports, etc. are still not telling the whole truth. We as a nation must hold them strictly accountable to decisively regain our founding principles and firmly place selfish greed where it belongs: in the trash. Only then can sports (and our society) again become fair games that we all can play!
What I want to say about Mark Mcwire is that I don't see what makes him different from anyone else even through he did not answer the question when asked about steroids he said that didn't have anything to do with why he was there for that hearing. The only reason he admitted to using was because of the position he was offered, they told him he had to come clean with using ,other than that ,I don't believe he would have come forward, I think somehing should be done about it, Marion Jones was sent to jail for some time, but I know she lied when asked if she was using, the same difference she used steroids so did Mark Mcwire it is still cheating, they took her medals from her and they got his name big as day on Hwy 70, they need to take that down in hurry ,other players have admitted to using and something was done about it ,the people just want to say it was brave of him to admit to it ,he had to ,so where is the fairness, using steroids is using ,for whatever reason, then he said he believes if he wasn't taken steroids he believes he would have still made the home runs which we will never know because he was taking steriods, what a crock, I guess it does't affect his body like everybody else's, it had no effect at all on his strength what so ever, come on let's get real. He's still human.
I think he should be forbiden to be around leauge baseball and all his records taken away.
What Pete Rose did was minor to what McGwire did
and Pete was ban forever
Phil
Surprise!
How gullible does he think we are. He CHEATED-and Lied about it. He only wants to make more money with a new job. How many people get that chance unless they are big money people.
Bottom Line: Mark McGuire Cheated. What he did in the past or could have done without steroids is a mute point. We'll never know because Mark took his God-given talent and abused it.
The Cardinal organization's quick response to gladly hire him after his admission, leads one to believe maybe the Cardinal organization also had a hand in Mark's abuse.
Americans are always able to forgive but what Mark does for baseball after he gets a second chance will be his "mark" on baseball not his playing career.
If Mark chooses to live a lavish lifestyle from here forward based on a foundation of lies, then maybe we should give him a third chance or more until he gets it right... after all who cares about all those players who abided by the rules and played the game the way it should have been played the first time. Not much notoriety for those guys... except integrity and honor for themselves and their family and the game of baseball.
This is a non story. The only story is that it took him this long to come clean. We are all adults. Actions have consequences. He may have cut his life short.
Mark McGuire is a disgrace to baseball but he is not alone. These individuals that I will not refer to as athletes because they are not need to be stripped of any titles, records, etc they may have received. I too remember watching when Roger Maris's record was broken but what we all did not reallize at that moment it that it was the heart of the Maris family, the hearts of the fans that was ultimately broken. If baseball wants to right this wrong, reinstate the Maris record.
He seems to want it both ways. He admits to taking performance enhancing drugs but expects us to believe that these same drugs did NOT enhance his performance. He LIED before the American Congress and only now wants to minimize his involovement so he can secure his new job. Too little too late.
At the time Mark used steroids, they weren't banned. I recall more people were speculating that the MLB was "juicing" the balls!
While he may have known at the time it "was" giving him an edge, how can we say for sure that our heros of the past weren't "juicing" in other ways. Drugs have been around for a long time and for years past, things were much easier to hide.
A hell of a lot more hits may have resulted in home-runs these past 3 seasons if hitters bats weren't breaking so much. The MLB needs to remedy this for the safety of everyone (players and fans) and the sake of the game.
I forgive him. Mark should do volunteer work for some youth baseball and teach them how wrong it is to hide the Truth.
When America starts looking at pro-sports players for what they are -Greedy, we can stop caring when they disappoint! These people are not and should not be role models. Why not look up to someone who deserves the respect?
Why is anyone surprised that McGwire took steroids? They ll do or have.
He doesn't even deserve the attention. Why not ignore him and deny him the platform to cry -and lie.
I think we put too much emphasis on sports heroes when there are much more deserving people in the world who should be our heroes. The media repeats the story over and over again ad nauseum. I am so tired of hearing about the problems of celebrities, sports figures, politicians, etc. I could care less who does what to whom. I care about people who really do something in the world and make a difference.
McGuire lied then and he was not a big enough man to admit he cheated in front of Congress. I'm surprised the St. Louis Cardinals are stooping this low to stand behind him at all.
What could McGuire possibly teach anyone as a hitting coach as his accomplishments were only because of performance enhancing drugs?
Oh and by the way, Kiran?...please get rid of those two clown blouses with all of the ruffles. They really are only good for Barnam and Bailey.
they stripped marion berry ,and put her in jail and took all her medal's from her the same should happen to him, sorry does not cut it he made millions strip him see how he likes it. if you want to be fair be fair.
When Mark McGuire was taking Steroids they were not banned. It is not the fault of the players who cheated. It is the fault of MLB for not stopping it. Lets face it MLB did not deal with it because it helped bring baseball fans back that had walked away after the strike. I have heard many times over the years if you are not cheating then you are not trying. I do not give Mr. McGuire credit for breaking the Roger Maris record. I do give him credit for hitting 70 homeruns in a steroid laden decade. In my opinion, he should go to the Hall of Fame and under his name it should say that he admitted to steroid use
I don't believe mcguire one single bit.because all baseball players
are doing it.mcguire ain't no diffrent.he lied to us fans and he lied
to the game of baseball.I don't look up to baseball players anymore
because every player take steroids and they're killing the game.
baseball isn't a game anymore.it's more like a mafia sport now.
if you use steroids you don't go to the hall of fame.they should be in
the hall of shame.
Sorry for the mispelled words. I'm really upset.
Roger Maris's record should still stand. Since steriods are the reason for a new record then the old record should stand.
He should be forgiven but his titles should be taken away. Unfornately he needs to be the example of what is to happen when an athlete cheats, lies to congress, and shows disgrace to the customers of the game: The Fans. On the flip side what will the MLB do? Give a slap on the hand and tell the fans that we don't understand the pressures of the game and allow him to keep is post. I'm sure if I steal from Wall Street, I will probably get a second chance, right? Sorry McGwire.
President Nixon had watergate, President Clinton got impeached but remained in office..........both men still have their titles. One of them is living on tax payer money for his lucrative retirement. Leave Mark Mcguire alone................at least he is honest and telling of his own free will and accord............he didn't cost the taxpayers millions upon millions like Nixon and Clinton did.
I think they guy should step back and talk to some people about his problem in private
So McGwire is only now owning up to only 'I remember trying it' and his defense is 'It was part of the ERA I was in' ???
Is that the LYING era?
I've been taught to always forgive. As far as I am concerned, he is forgiven for setting such a horrible example to all of our boys. But as he obviously looked like the incredible hulk, you cannot tell us it did not influence breaking the record. Remove the record – it's a chance to send the correct message to our children. Mcquire should 'step up to the plate' and offer the removal of the record. Until he does so, he is the same man as years ago.
Mark McGuire is a professional athlete. In his day, they didn't have drug testing, and he done nothing more then to peak out his performance in a shady sort of way. HOWEVER, McGuire, now is coming forward, BEING HONEST, and laying his career on the line as much as it hurts. Everyone wants to scold him, spank him and discipline him for what he done when NO RULES were in place for what he did. Look at it this way..........President Clinton was impeached, but NEVER removed from office and the people didn't demand anything. Why should McGuire be impeached and removed from record books, when the president wasn't. After all, Clinton is living on a lucrative retirement..........two standards American.........
Seriously, last time I checked...steroids doesn't improve hand-eye coordination...it improves your muscles...now if he overused Ginseng or carrots...then there would be a problem...haha
It is hard to be sympathetic with Mark McGuire since the ONLY person has ever gone to jail for using steroids and lying about it was a woman. Ask Marion Jones if he needs a break and a second chance. I was furious when she was prosecuted when all those rich baseball players sit around sniffling about their hall of fame chances. Why doesn't someone give Marion Jones a second chance.
His race to the record books rekindled my interest in baseball, now Mark McGwire has reaffirmed my distrust in these overpayed "Sports Stars". He can now join the ranks of Vick and Woods.
steroids make you stronger but it cannot help you see and meet the ball. that requires talent and skill and that should not be taken away form these atheletes.
Mark McGuire took steroids? Shocking! (Sarcasm). He and his family benefited greatly from his "success" as a result. Now he states he wants to protect his family and he is sorry. I do believe he has remorse, but I also think he should not be in the hall of fame, he should not hold the titles he holds, and should pay for his transgressions. If that means doing time for perjury, so be it. After paying whatever debt he must pay, he needs to be given his second chance.
Mike Vick paid for his transgressions and has been given a second chance. The same should be offered to Mcguire.
Mark McQuire evidently had talent to play baseball to start with. I am sure he could have broke the home run record without steroids. Steroids didn't make his talent for the game. Besides he is not the only athlete that has taken steroids. Who are we to judge?
McGwire is in denial about his steroid use. We'll never know if he could have beaten the record without drugs because he chose to take them. He should not be in the Hall of Fame.
If Pete Rose did not make the hall of fame, for gambling then what
Mark McGuire has done is probably more of a injustice to baseball then
what Pete Rose has done.
I would like to know what the legal side of mark coming forward is going to be now admitting to taking steroids is also admitting to committing purgery in the highest court.
Glad that Mark McGuire came clean. Now its time for Tiger Woods to come clean and admit that he was able to break the record for most extra-marital affairs by taking the performance enhancing drug Viagra.
The man had a gift for home-runs. In '87, before steroids, he hit 49 home-runs. In Little League, his very first at bat was a home-run. People should listen to the entire interview.
What McGuire did took courage. We should accept his admission of guilt and get past it. The words of a Willie Nelson song come to mind " Forgiving you is easy but forgetting takes a long, long time". Let's put this in the past with all the other indiscretions of prominent people. We all have failed to measure up to standard at some time.
McGuire is no different than Bernie Madeoff. He lied and cheated and made millons of dollars off of steroids. His titles should be taken away and he should be fined millons of dollars. He is a disgrace to baseball. He lied to Mickey Mantle's family Fake tears so he can get a job making more money, don't fall for it a second time.
Is Mark McGwire for real ? Take his name out of the record books and
ban him from sports . He still can't tell the full truth .
If he testified before Congress and lied, he should be arrested and tried for perjury. He is a cheat and liar and should be identified as such and made to pay the price.
McGuire is no different than Bernie Madeoff, He lied and cheated and made millons of dollars by using steroids. His tittles should be taken away and he should be fined millons of dollars. He is a disgrace to baseball . He lied to Mickey Mantle's family . Fake tears just to get a job for more millons.
If Micheal Vick can get a second chance for violent criminal acts, Mcgwire should have no questions getting one.
Great show.
Would even be greater if everyone on your air would take a pledge to stop saying "actually" every other sentence, since that only serves to fill air.
Otherwise, like your show!
Rick
Hillsboro, Oregon