The McGwire asterisk*
Posted by Jeff Bailey, Executive Producer
on January 12th, 2010 at 07:34:54 am , 4417 views
"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!" You know that ironic line from the movie 'Casablanca', where Captain Renault feigns outrage while seconds later pocketing his gambling winnings. I had that same thought yesterday -- I'm shocked, shocked to hear that Mark McGwire used steroids.
"I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said in an interview with the Associated Press. "It was foolish and it was a mistake."
Yeah, yeah. No kidding.
McGwire said he knew he had to fess up once he was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals to be their hitting coach. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said "this statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark's re-entry into the game much smoother and easier."
Riiiiight.
So who's next to come clean, so to speak? Roger Clemens? Will Barry Bonds admit he really did know what was in those injections he got? I'm one of those who thinks he did.
And what do you do with McGwire's stats? Do you put an asterisk next to them in the record books, just like Roger Maris had to endure all those years after breaking Babe Ruth's home run record? McGwire said he has apologized to the Maris family. Will McGwire make it to Cooperstown as anything other than a visitor?
18 comments
Comment from: Hosed by the system [Visitor]
Its ALL a game with these people.......
In more ways than one.........
In more ways than one.........
01/12/10 @ 07:49
Comment from: BT [Visitor]
There should be NO asterisk because they cheated to get the record. Therefore it should be removed.
Roger Maris holds the REAL record!
The baseball commissioner needs to grow some balls and toss these steroid records along with the players.
What the hell does it teach our kids. It's okay to cheat? They can kiss my ...
Roger Maris holds the REAL record!
The baseball commissioner needs to grow some balls and toss these steroid records along with the players.
What the hell does it teach our kids. It's okay to cheat? They can kiss my ...
01/12/10 @ 09:07
Comment from: Westhavener [Visitor]
It teaches kids 2 lessons:
1)Deny, deny, deny, until you have no choice. Then say your sorry.
2)Don't get caught.
2 rules to being sucessful in life!
1)Deny, deny, deny, until you have no choice. Then say your sorry.
2)Don't get caught.
2 rules to being sucessful in life!
01/12/10 @ 13:21
Comment from: Westhavener [Visitor]
One of the most hypocritcial sport is baseball. He openly admitted to using steriods in his career now he can coach. But Pete Rose cant be affiliated with baseball. They embrace this admitted cheater and scorn the other.
Bonds and McGuire cheated and baseball benefitted. After losing a season of baseball they ignited a game that many people said they would "never watch again". Without those 2 cheaters baseball would be like hockey. If you dont know what hockey is. Definition: An irrelevant sport on the Versus network.
Bonds and McGuire cheated and baseball benefitted. After losing a season of baseball they ignited a game that many people said they would "never watch again". Without those 2 cheaters baseball would be like hockey. If you dont know what hockey is. Definition: An irrelevant sport on the Versus network.
01/12/10 @ 13:18
Comment from: Rob [Visitor]
I totally agree! Compared to McGwire, Pete Rose did NOTHING! Ban McGwire from everything having to do with baseball. No records, no Hall of Fame, no NOTHING!
01/17/10 @ 18:15
Comment from: Sachem [Visitor]
People seem to forget that cheating by using steroids or HGH was legal in baseball in 1998...so technically he wasn't doing anything wrong.
He was still a great athelete, regardless of the substances he took...and he earned a place in the Hall of Fame...he'll always have an asterisk, even if it's not officially in the record books.
It's not a good lesson for kids, but there are worse messages being taught to our children everyday.
He was still a great athelete, regardless of the substances he took...and he earned a place in the Hall of Fame...he'll always have an asterisk, even if it's not officially in the record books.
It's not a good lesson for kids, but there are worse messages being taught to our children everyday.
01/12/10 @ 15:24
Comment from: West Havener [Visitor]
This where you spearate the men from the boys. I think if they were upfront about what happened it would be a dead issue. But my issue is the deception. Dont act like those Charles Atlas sized arms are el natural. Dont get in front of a grand jury and act like you had no idea. Now you wanna say you used your whole career. When asked to say the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, you fibbed. Plenty of blame to pass in this one. I blame Bud as much as everybody else. He knew but he kept it quiet because he didnt want to hurt the popularity. Damage was already done by the time any light was shed on the subject. Thats the way he wanted.
01/12/10 @ 16:24
Comment from: Darron [Visitor]
Yes, yes, baseball had no steroid policy, blah blah. How about the fact that steroids and HGH are both controlled substances in the country where MLB is played?
Does baseball explicitly have a rule saying your not allowed to murder the catcher when he's blocking the plate? How about a rule preventing a player from stealing the equipment of the other team? If a player does these things should he be defended becaue there's no explicit baseball rule against them?
Baseball doesn't need to ban steroids anymore than it need ban cocaine or heroin...these things are against the laws of the country, so by default, they're outlawed in the sport.
Does baseball explicitly have a rule saying your not allowed to murder the catcher when he's blocking the plate? How about a rule preventing a player from stealing the equipment of the other team? If a player does these things should he be defended becaue there's no explicit baseball rule against them?
Baseball doesn't need to ban steroids anymore than it need ban cocaine or heroin...these things are against the laws of the country, so by default, they're outlawed in the sport.
01/14/10 @ 14:18
Comment from: Daniel [Visitor]
Well let Pete Rose back into baseball. Here we have a guy who took steroids and lied about it in a congressional hearing before the U.S. government and is coaching baseball as a hitting coach. All Pete Rose did was gamble. Let Pete Rose back into baseball.
01/13/10 @ 07:52
Comment from: Derek [Visitor]
BT, they cant grow balls cause the 'roids shrunk them too much ! LOL
01/13/10 @ 20:52
Comment from: St.N/eno Glenna MacDonald [Visitor]
All they need is one good strong pot of coffee and they will be running around the bases whether they hit the ball or not,just for the fun of it,and to burn off the caffine.Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi!
~Peace Glenna~
~Peace Glenna~
01/14/10 @ 08:15
Comment from: john [Visitor]
The "It wasn't against baseball rules" excuse doesn't work after 1991. Please read the following from an ESPN "The Magazine" story regarding steroids:
On June 7, 1991, commissioner Fay Vincent sent a memo to each team and the players union that stated: "The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited ... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs ... including steroids." The seven-page document didn't cover random testing -- that had to be bargained with the union -- but it did outline treatment and penalties.
source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=steroids&num=3
On June 7, 1991, commissioner Fay Vincent sent a memo to each team and the players union that stated: "The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited ... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs ... including steroids." The seven-page document didn't cover random testing -- that had to be bargained with the union -- but it did outline treatment and penalties.
source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=steroids&num=3
01/14/10 @ 11:59
Comment from: mbreen [Visitor]
Personally I think there should be repercussions for Mr McGuire for lying to Congress. Isn't that against the law too?
All of these cheaters should be thrown out of baseball permanently, including entry into Cooperstown. And if any of them have been entered into Cooperstown they should be thrown out and their records erased. To hell with asteriks. Pete Rose is barred from any affiliation with baseball for only gambling - and who saw Pete ever give less than 150% effort when he was playing, much less cheat?
Shame on Bud Selig and Major League Baseball for letting these low-life druggies stay involved in baseball.
All of these cheaters should be thrown out of baseball permanently, including entry into Cooperstown. And if any of them have been entered into Cooperstown they should be thrown out and their records erased. To hell with asteriks. Pete Rose is barred from any affiliation with baseball for only gambling - and who saw Pete ever give less than 150% effort when he was playing, much less cheat?
Shame on Bud Selig and Major League Baseball for letting these low-life druggies stay involved in baseball.
01/15/10 @ 13:19
Comment from: Dave [Visitor]
Lets face it, the ONLY reason McGwire wishes he never used steroids is that he got caught. He used them to get the HR record that he wanted so much. He should be eligible for Cooperstown but the writers should NEVER vote him in
01/20/10 @ 05:56
Comment from: joe [Visitor]
It was no surprise to a baseball fan. Like Pete Rose he did something wrong, unlike Pete Rose he lied. He and the rest should be banned for life and all accomplishments obtained by cheating not counted.
01/20/10 @ 17:23
Comment from: Ben [Visitor] · http://att.net
I'm sorry about the steroid situation,but I really think Pete Rose[Charlie Hussle] should be in the "HALL" He is also "Mr. Baseball" in my eyes. And I am A Dodger Fan,lifetime.
01/25/10 @ 16:45
Comment from: Roid Rage [Visitor]
Didn't he lie while under oath? Is he exempt from purgery as well?
02/05/10 @ 10:06
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