McGwire's Return All Wrong, Extends MLB Steroid Woes

I’ll come right out and say it.

I’m downright ticked off that former Major League star and admitted cheater Mark McGwire is being allowed back into the good graces of Major League Baseball as hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals.

For the record, I don’t care how many times Albert Pujols or Tony LaRussa stands up for the hiring of McGwire, I believe it is wrong and think the performance-enhancing steroid-user should be banished from the sport.

Before I go any further, let me just say anyone who was genuinely shocked by McGwire’s admission of steroid use has either been living on another planet for the last decade or seriously needs to have his head checked.

After living with his lies for more than a decade, McGwire finally admitted what much of America already suspected.

"The toughest thing is my wife, my parents, close friends have had no idea that I hid it from them all this time," he told the Associated Press in an emotional, 20-minute interview. "I knew this day was going to come. I didn't know when."

McGwire apologized and admitted he used steroids and human growth hormone off and on for a decade, starting before the 1990 season and including the season he broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998.

"I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said. "It was foolish, and it was a mistake."

Mistake or not, I believe McGwire’s transgressions should permanently keep him away from today’s current players. I am absolutely shocked that Major League Baseball allowed his hiring as it tries to distance itself from its most disgraceful period.

The Cardinals are also being very hypocritical in hiring McGwire after distancing themselves from some of the former steroid users who played for the franchise.

"If that's a taint to some extent with people, or whatever, large extent, this is America," La Russa said. "You're free to your opinion."

LaRussa may not care that he is treading a slippery slope in hiring McGwire, but many others, including former Cardinals’ slugger Jack Cark, do care and have voiced their opinions.

Clark went ballistic over the news of McGwire’s hiring, ripping all steroid users in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“A lot of them should be banned from baseball, including Mark McGwire,” Clark told the publication.

“All those guys are cheaters—A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez). Fake, phony. Rafael Palmeiro. Fake, a phony. [Roger] Clemens, [Barry] Bonds. [Sammy] Sosa. Fakes. Phonies. They don’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

“They should all be in the Hall of Shame. They can afford to build it. They’ve all got so much money. And they could all go there and talk about the next way to rub something on your skin. The whole thing is creepy.

“They’re all creeps. All these guys have been liars,” Clark added. “They’re not really a man’s man. They’re just whimpering boys who are just sad to watch.”

Apparently, baseball fans across the country agree McGwire disgraced the game. Here are some Internet comments about McGwire.

Mark - why did you do it? I'm sure your dream was to be in the Hall of Fame, but you ruined your chances and have sullied your name forever. It's almost as if you never played baseball. This will haunt you for the rest of your life. —bb puterguy

McGwire is a liar and a cheater, and he has used that to make money. He needs to get a job with AIG, where they lie and cheat all the time. He does not deserve any sympathy and belongs in the Hall of SHAME. And what kind of example is he for his son and all the other kids who looked up to him as a role model. Simply disgusting, no question about it. —Ara 12344321

When McGwire petitions baseball to have Roger Maris and Hank Aaron's records restored, then I will listen to his apology. He is still in denial. —blevineCFL

Crying always helps, Mark. You knew you were juicing, you knew it was wrong or you would have admitted it years ago when you testified before Congress. I do not know what the remedy should be, you can't take back the home runs or the games won, but there needs to be some type of remedy. I personally think anybody who is found to have taken steroids should not be allowed in the Hall, if Pete Rose can be banned for life for betting against his own team (which I think was a good decision) then why not all of these guys who were on the juice? Sammy you gonna admit it now? —Emw511

Again readers, I’m not alone in my belief that McGwire should be banished from the game. I also wonder about the possibility of one of the Cardinals’ current players asking McGwire about the dos and dont's of steroid usage.

Whose to say his presence won’t encourage one of the team’s younger players to "bulk up" faster than normal in an effort to get more playing time?

Why Major League Baseball is even allowing itself to be put in this situation by the Cardinals is beyond me, but I genuinely believe it is wrong and sends a very poor message to today’s players.

Current New York Yankees stars Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez have both admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. The L.A. Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games last season for taking the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, an illegal drug known for masking the use of steroids.

Until Major League Baseball rights its many wrongs, like the single-season and career home run marks, and rids itself of every steroid user, the game will be forever tarnished.

One place MLB can start, is by tossing Mark McGwire out the door on his ample rear end.

Readers can cast their votes on Mark McGwire and whether or not he should be banned from MLB.

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