McGwire Admits Steroid Usage

As I'm sure you've all heard by now, Mark McGwire has finally came out and admitted to using steroids. No brainer, right? The former Oakland A's and St. Louis Cardinals slugger says he used steroids throughout his career, including the 1998 season when he broke MLB's single-season home run record, dethroning Roger Marris's long-standing and highly coveted record of 61 dinger's that stood for 37 years. The former AL Rookie of the Year Award winner played 16 seasons in the Major League and finished with 583 career long balls. But although he admitted to using the banned substance, his reason remains for "health" instead of using them for home run help.

In an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network, McGwire was asked why he finally came out to using the banned substance after lying about it in front of a congressional hearing on steroids back in 2005. McGwire's answer -- "I just had to get it off my chest." McGwire says the performance enhancing drugs played no part in the 1998 home run chase, nor did it help him hit balls over the fence. McGwire also went on to say that his numbers are genuine and were from god given talent and hand-eye coordination. The most shocking of all and most hysterical in my opinion, is that McGwire says he blames the era for his PED usage, when he's the one that started it. Both McGwire and former Oakland Athletics teammate Jose Canseco are the dynamic duo of steroid usage. Whether or not 'Big Mac' admits he's the poster child of the steroid era, his career will be best known as one that's tarnished.

As unexpected as his out of the blue admitted steroid usage was, I wonder if he would've came came out if he still held the single-season home run record, as it was shattered just 3 years after it was set by Barry Bonds who hit 73 HR's in 2001. What puzzles me regarding McGwire and other players that have used banned substances, is that they feel they still deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, since they've admitted to their wrongdoing. But what's the difference between those that have admitted to doing them and those who haven't? Both sides are wrong for doing them in the first place. & Whether or not McGwire wants to admit he used them for home run help, they still helped him hit the ball farther than he would have without them.

Either way you look at it, McGwire did help the game in a way, as his home run chase with Sammy Sosa helped revive the game of baseball. The two shared a friendly rivalry and helped the sport get back on it's feet when other sports like football and basketball were atop the list. However, Cooperstown won't look at that as a benefit to help Big Mac punch his ballot. But many are questioning if his admitted steroid usage will help him in terms of Hall of Fame voting. If McGwire plans to be inducted into Cooperstown, not only will he have to battle it out with the voters, but he's going to have to battle with Mr. Canseco as well. In Canseco's book 'Juiced', he tells how he would inject both he and McGwire with steroids inside of the clubhouse's bathroom stalls. McGwire still denies all allegations and says it never happened.

With the truth finally out and off of his chest, McGwire gets set to make his return to the game. This time as a hitting coach for the Red Birds. As he makes his trip around the big leagues, it'll be interesting to see the reaction amongst the fans. In a committee held by the Cardinals yesterday morning, McGwire received an ovation when he was introduced and seen publicly for the first time since his interview. He seems more than ready to return to the game of baseball, but is baseball ready for him? More importantly the Cardinals? Could McGwire's presence be more of a distraction rather than a help as the Cardinals hitting coach? Only time will tell, as the spotlight will be on 12-time All-Star come opening day.