Mark McGwire Tells AP He Used Steroids

Former major league slugger Mark McGwire tells The Associated Press that he used steroids for about a decade during his playing career, including 1998 when he set a single-season home run record.


Baseball Tonight's Tim Kurkjian reacts to the news of McGwire.


Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa talks about McGwire coming forward.


Here is Mark McGwire's full statement to the Associated Press below:

“Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.


I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It’s time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the ’90s, including during the 1998 season.

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

During the mid-’90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.

I’m sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. 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.

Baseball is really different now - it’s been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players’ association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I’m glad they did.

I’m grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can’t wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I’ve always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I’m going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.

After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I’ll do that, and then I just want to help my team.”

Obviously, the news today that McGwire has come forward is five years too late for me, but at least McGwire came forward and admitted what we had all suspected for so long.
 
This may not help his hall of fame chances, but it will help this wonderful game take the next step past the Steroid Era.

The AP Sports Story Of The Year

Steroids' blemish on baseball has been picked as the Story of the Year by members of The Associated Press.

I sure hope that Manny Ramirez doesn't try to become pregnant again. The Dodgers need this guy on the field. He can change the outcome of a game with one swing, although I think his best days are behind him.

Greater Baseball Sin: PEDs or Gambling?

Richard Justice and Howard Bryant debate the actions of steroids users compared to Pete Rose's betting on baseball.

The Positive Names Are Trickling out Slowly

The New York Times reports David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were among the more than 100 major league players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.


David Ortiz said he was "suprised" by the results.


Red Sox fans talk about the news about David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez testing positive in 2003.


I think Ozzie Guillen sums up my feelings about the list itself.
"Can somebody in baseball, please, we're all begging people, get that stupid list out and move on?"

Baseball needs to release the names. Quit saying the list is under a Court seal. If it was, none of the names would have been leaked out! Just do the right thing and release all the names so baseball can move on from this black eye of an era.

My Reaction to the News That Sammy Sosa Cheated

As you already know, The New York Times is reporting that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids back in 2003. This is the same list that brought out A-Rod as a steroid user.
As a Cubs fan who vividly remembers that 2003 season, I feel like I should let you know how a true Cubs fan like myself feels about this news.

Sosa and McGwire were both caught in the magical Homerun chase of 1998. Sosa is the only player in baseball history to hit 60 homeruns thrice.

I want to know who the other 102 names are, and pronto! It doesn't matter to me anymore who tested positive. It's not a suprise. After A-Rod, then Manny, now Sammy. I would still like to know who the rest of the names are.

(For now, refer back to "Can You Believe It has been Ten Years since this Happened?")
("Steroids ruined the game. They have ruined many people's trust in the Homerun, as people want to check the slugger's arms now to see if the homeruns are legit. Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa were all caught in the steroids cloud. It was guilt by Association for them.

In 2005, after Rafael Palmeiro vehemently denied using steroids in front of congress, Major League Baseball then announced that Palmeiro had tested positive for Steroids, continuing to destroy the game. Palmeiro hasn't found a job since.

Steroids have killed the game. It may never again get the same type of mentioning it got back in that Sensational Summer of 1998 because all of us were so blind to what was going on behind the scenes.")

I believe that even more now than I did when I wrote that last September.

Baseball needs to reveal the rest of the list so that Baseball can try, (Key word: TRY) to put "The Steroids Era" behind them. Everyone playing in this era is under suspicion. Just ask Raul Ibanez of the Phillies about suspicion.

I'm not suprised anymore. Bring on the rest of those names so we may find out who else juiced!

The faster baseball reveals the rest of those names, the faster they can move on.

Report: Sosa Failed Drug Test in 2003

The New York Times reports on its Web site that former slugger Sammy Sosa tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003.


Chicago Cubs' Fans react to the news.


You've seen Tim Kurkjian, Peter Gammons, and other Cubs fans react to the news.

Report: Sosa Tested Positive In 2003

Sammy Sosa is one of the major league baseball players who tested positive for a banned substance in 2003, The New York Times is reporting, citing lawyers who have knowledge of the drug-testing results from that year


Mark Fainaru-Wada talks about Sammy Sosa.


Tim Kurkjian weighs in On Sosa's Hall Of Fame Chances.

Tejada Charged With Lying About Steroids

One day after Alex Rodriguez admitted taking steroids, another prominent baseball player is charged with lying about steroids.

Video: A-Rod Talks About His Past

ESPN Video has just put up the whole video of Peter Gammons' interview with Alex Rodriguez about the news he tested positive in 2003. Check It Out Below.


Now that you've seen the interview, answer the poll question: Do you believe that A-Rod has been clean since 2003?

Want to say something? Make a comment.

A-Rod Joke

On the latest news that A-Rod is a Roider:

"Of Course he's on steroids! What else would you expect from someone trying to keep up with Madonna?"

Report: Alex Rodriguez Used Steroids In 2003

According to a report on SI.Com, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids back in 2003.

2003 was Alex Rodriguez's last season with the Texas Rangers, a year before he was traded to the New York Yankees.

So, A-Rod, the supposed "Savior of Baseball", the guy who was supposed to be the guy to pass Barry Bonds and become the all time homerun King, and now it is revealed that he also used steroids.

A-Rod's legacy, just like Bonds and Clemens, is now forever tarnished.


SI Reporter Roberts Recaps A-Rod Timeline


Scott Boras and Michael Young talk about the positive test.


Fernando Montes, former Director of Conditioning for the Texas Rangers, comments on Alex Rodriguez.


ESPN's Buster Olney talks about A-Rod's Positive Steroid Test.


T.J Quinn Reports that A-Rod Was Aware Of the Positive Test.

Chuck Knoblauch Subpoenaed

Four-time All-Star Chuck Knoblauch is being subpoenaed by a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball after he failed to respond to an invitation to give a deposition.

Knoblauch, who played for the Yankees, Twins and Royals, was asked to appear Thursday, the first of five depositions or transcribed interviews scheduled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee prior to its Feb. 13 hearing.

Roger Clemens is scheduled to speak to committee staff Saturday, followed by Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte on Jan. 30. Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer for Clemens and Pettitte, is due in Jan. 31, with former New York Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski to appear Feb. 1.

They all had until close of business Tuesday to respond to their invitations; Knoblauch's deadline was last Friday, because his deposition was scheduled first.

"The committee has taken this step because Mr. Knoblauch failed to respond to the invitation to participate voluntarily in a deposition or transcribed interview and the Feb. 13 hearing," committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said in a statement Tuesday.

It has not been clear whether Knoblauch has retained a lawyer to represent him.

"I haven't talked to Chuck in a number of years," his last listed agent with the players' association, Randy Hendricks, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Hendricks represents Clemens and Pettitte.

In last month's Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998, 2000 and 2001, accusations the seven-time Cy Young Award winner has denied. McNamee also alleged Pettitte used HGH, and Pettitte acknowledged McNamee injected him twice while the pitcher was recovering from an injury.

McNamee also told Mitchell that he acquired HGH from Radomski for Knoblauch in 2001 and injected Knoblauch with HGH. Knoblauch also was among nine players accused of doping in a federal agent's affidavit citing former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley.

Knoblauch was an infielder who won the AL Rookie of the Year Award with the Twins in 1991 and played in the majors until 2002. His time with the Yankees overlapped McNamee's.

All the allegations are for conduct that occurred before September 2002, when players and owners jointly banned steroids.

McNamee has said he obtained performance-enhancing drugs from Radomski, who has pleaded guilty to distributing steroids and laundering money. Radomski's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8.

Idiot Commssioner Bud Selig Will Not Resign in 2009: Given Three Year Extension

Bud Selig was given a three-year extension as baseball commissioner through the 2012 season.

The unanimous decision made at Thursday's owners' meeting came two days after Selig and union head Donald Fehr testified before a congressional committee that both criticized baseball for its steroids problem and praised the sport for strides made during the past three years.

Selig will become baseball's second-longest-serving leader behind Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who was the first commissioner from 1920-44. Selig had said repeatedly since December 2006 that he intended to retire after the 2009 season, but many in baseball didn't believe him.

"I did wrestle with it. I spent a lot of time agonizing over it, mainly with myself," Selig said. "But they really convinced me."

He became acting commissioner in September 1992, when clubs forced out Fay Vincent. After saying he wouldn't take the job, Selig was elected to a five-year term as permanent commissioner in 1998 and gave up running the Milwaukee Brewers, the team he bought in 1970 and his family sold in 2005.

Owners voted in November 2001 to extend his term through 2006, then voted in August 2004 to extend it through 2009. He will be 78 by the end of the latest extension.

"This was coming completely from the clubs," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said.

Selig received $14.5 million in the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 2005, according to Major League Baseball's last available tax return.

Baseball's labor contract runs through the 2011 season and its national television deals with FOX, Turner Broadcasting and ESPN run through 2013. Revenue, which was $1.66 billion when Selig became acting commissioner, topped $6 billion last year. He projects them to top $6.5 billion this year.

I Cannot Believe the greedy owners gave this idiot commisioner three more years simply because he kisses the behinds of the owners and the players union! Both the owners and Players Union have too much power! Although some of the things Selig instituted have been great, including interleague play, Homefield Advantage At The World Series, and the World Baseball Classic, the thing that will forever tarnish Selig's legacy is the fact that he buried his head in the sand while the Steroids were running rampant in Major League Clubhouses! Selig is trying to correct the problem now, but it is too little, too late!

Baseball needs a new commsioner As Soon As Possible, because, under the watch of current commissioner Bud Selig, the worst commisioner in Sports, this great game of Baseball is heading to hell in a handbasket.

(MLB) Jason Giambi to talk about Steroids with Senator Mitchell

Jason Giambi suprisingly agreed today to meet with Senator Geroge Mitchell to discuss steroids in Baseball. The Yankee Designated Hitter had a figurative gun to his head to get him to talk. If Giambi did not talk with Senator George Mitchell, he was going to be suspended by Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Giambi should have kept his mouth shut about steroids but he didn't. If he refused to talk any more than he already did to USA today, Yankee fans might have found someone else to blame for the Yankees troubles other than A-Rod.

Giambi is going to talk. The Baseball World can only watch and wait.