Mark McRoids

A bit over a week ago the sports world was hit with some earth shattering news. The one time single season home run record holder, Mark McGwire, admitted to using steroids. Then, according to my Broadcast professor, Bill Lancaster, “CNN announced that the Atlantic Ocean is indeed wet.” Now as a fan of the game of baseball should I be upset at McGwire’s admission? The truth is, I’m not. Maybe it’s because it was so completely obvious that, like my professor, I was able to deal with it because I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Curt Wenzlaff, A convicted drug dealer was interviewed by ESPN on Outside the Lines said that he used to supply steroids to McGwire and that McGwire’s goal was to “improve his performance on the field.”

“Will it help you hit a baseball?” Wenzlaff said. “Let me put it to you this way. If Paris Hilton was to take that array, she could run over Dick Butkus.”

The question then turns to: when and why McGwire was doing steroids? He says that after injuries, he just wanted to feel right again. He admitted to doing androstenedione from 1997, 1998, and 1999 seasons, and it was the 1998 season where he had his magical record-breaking home run season. Now, McGwire is officially know for two reasons: his spectacular season, and doing roids–and we find out that he was juicing on his historic season. Pathetic!

In his ultimate demonstration of lack of class and remorse, McGwire said there was “no way that a pill or an injection” was the reason he hit so many home runs.

One former player, Carlton Fisk, wasn’t shy about expressing his opinion on McGwire’s excuse for only taking steroids for the purpose of getting healthy again.

“Try having your knees operated on and catching for 30 years,” Fisk said to the Tribune. “Do you think you feel good when you go out there? [McGwire] had to stand around and play first base. So excuuuuse me.”

Fisk isn’t the only Hall of Fame inductee who is skeptical. Ferguson Jenkins, a 1991 inductee, said “[McGwire] needs to search his should and come up with a better explanation.” Jenkins continued in saying that he does not believe McGwire will end up with enough support to become a member of the MLB Hall of Fame, and would be ashamed if he did.

I gotta say, if I could vote, Big Mac won’t get any of my support because I don’t think he could have done half of what he accomplished without “help,” and I’m not talking about the kind of help he intends on giving as the St. Louis Cardinals’ new hitting coach.