11 Jan Breaking News: Mark McGwire Admits To Steroid Use

Mark McGwire testifies to Congress in March, 2005 | AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Mark McGwire told the Associated Press today that he used steroids when he broke baseball’s home run record in 1998. He also used human growth hormone, a person close to McGwire said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“I wish I had never touched steroids,” McGwire said in a statement. “It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.”

McGwire decided to come clean as part of his return to Major League Baseball as a hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are managed by Tony LaRussa who was one of McGwire’s biggest supporters when he played under him in Oakland and later in St. Louis, where McGwire finished out his playing days in 2001.

McGwire is the second major baseball star in less than a year to admit using illegal steroids, following the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez last February. And let’s not forget Jose Canseco’s battle with the steroid demons and his admission. Looks like Jose was ahead of the curve on this trend.

Would McGwire have been able to hit those record-setting 70 home runs in a season without the steroids? McGwire said, “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.”

McGwire had a chance to come clean in 2005 when he was questioned by a Congressional committee about steroid use. At the time, he repeatedly said “I’m not here to talk about the past” when asked whether he took illegal steroids in 1998 or at any other time.

As a sports fan, this kind of news is always disappointing. What records are “real” anymore?

McGwire says “”Baseball is really different now — it’s been cleaned up.” What do you guys think? Is “the steroid era” really over? – Dr.FB

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