I'd like to start off by saying that I have become an enormous Mark McGwire detractor over the last decade. The hero from the Bash Brothers poster in my childhood bedroom holding a huge bat and leaning on a cop car has become a distant memory and has since replaced by an emotionless record breaking fraud. Its hard to say whether he or Barry Bonds is the poster boy for the steroid era, but you could argue either one and certainly find your reasons. That being said, I am, for the first time in this era of baseball, satisfied with the admission given by McGwire today regarding his steroid use. So many times have athletes avoided the issue (see Clemens, Sosa), given half-truths (see A-Rod, Giambi), or outright lied about the issue under oath (see McGwire, Palmeiro) that it was refreshing to see a complete admission today. I know this has become a very stale subject, but today's statement from McGwire was significant in its comprehension and honesty.
He stated that "I used them on occasion throughout the 90's, 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 in the steroid era." I admire the fact that he admits the long tenure of his steroid use, specifically mentioning the 1998 record breaking season. It would have been just as easy to be vague about his steroid use and what effect, if any, they had on his career but he chose not to. His numbers obviously support that they had an enormous effect (his 3 biggest HR years were 1997,98,99) and that's what makes this so refreshing. The link between steroid use and performance was so obvious that only a complete admission would be taken seriously, which is why I never thought we would see it happen.
In this age of false records and impure idols, I respect the fact that Mark McGwire was willing to unveil the truth today. Whether or not it was because of his new position as hitting coach for the Cardinals is irrelevant to me. Other players have managed to dodge the truth for years and have their steroid use seemingly forgotten about. McGwire has cemented the fact that his legacy will be forever tarnished and his steroid use will never be forgotten about, but for him, and for baseball, that just might be a good thing.
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