You Played Yourself: Mark McGwire
“Mark Mcgwire Admits to using Steroids. No way. Also did you know Water is wet. 2+2 = 4. The Earth is ROUND!” -@rdrean
So Big Mac FINALLY admits to using ‘roids. So what! If you didn’t think he was on the juice, then I’ve got a bridge to sell to you. If you were shocked about Roger Clemens, Andy Petite, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, or anyone else on this on-going list (It will keep going on too…) then please come to my get rich quick seminar, just pay me $5000 and I’ll tell you how to get rich today! It doesn’t matter that he took steroids. He, along side Sammy Sosa, still saved baseball.
Look, if you watch baseball at all today its only for one of two reasons.
- 1. You’re an idiot. Because you think baseball is the best professional sport
- 2. You like seeing home-runs and other massive feats of athleticism and human ability
Baseball was seeing a decline in viewers, ticket sales were down and everyone in baseball started to look like Bud Selig. But then in 1998, something special happened. Not 1, not 2, but 3 players started chasing Roger Maris’ long standing record of 61 HRs in a single season. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey, Jr. The race to break the record first became a media spectacle as the lead swung back and forth. On August 19, 1998 Sosa hit his 48th home run to move ahead of McGwire. However, later that day McGwire hit his 48th and 49th home runs to regain the lead. Griffey fell to injury problems (the beginning of many…) and fell behind the competition, leaving Sosa and McGwire to battle it out to #62.
On September 8, 1998, McGwire hit a pitch by the Cubs’ Steve Trachsel over the left field wall for his record-breaking 62nd home run, setting off huge celebrations at Busch Stadium. Rounding home McGwire was congratulated by the opposing Sosa. Big Mac and Slammin’ Sammy ended the season with 70 and 66 home-runs, respectively. Huge, massive, overwhelming feats of athleticism. And, yes, they both were juiced.
But now people watch.
A-Roid and Andy Petite just won the World Series after ridiculous off season hype-builders…. er.. I mean, press-conferences. If people are watching, what does Major League Baseball care? Why would they go after something or someone who has helped them continue to cash checks for the last decade? Winning, to a lesser extent – money, cures everything in sports. The Yankees are one of the most celebrated franchises in sports… not baseball… ALL SPORTS. Their roster is littered with ADMITTED steroid users, let alone the others who are whispered about. People still watch, still pay to watch them play. They win. If Yankee fans decided that they would boycott games because A-Roid or Petite played in, do you think that the Steinbrenners wouldn’t get rid of them? Boycotts mean lost money. Paying to watch them play means more money. Winning, and money, cures everything in sports.
But he “cheated the game!”
What about steroids is “cheating the game?” I just don’t see what the big deal is. Let me field the reasons:
- ‘Roided players have a competitive advantage
- The game is no longer PURE.
- It teaches kids to cheat to get ahead
- It is unhealthy
1.) So have everyone take steroids, evens the playing field once again.
2.) The first time we took a TV time-out, sold sponsorship or made rules to increase scoring the game quit being pure. Go somewhere with that B.S.
3.) I ALWAYS reference this, but I have to agree with Charles Barkley – Athletes are NOT role-models. There is no reason for it to be illegal, so what is the point of the rule? Besides, what kid do you know that DOESN’T know how to cheat?
4.) This is by far my favorite argument. Look, if steroids, HGH, or other performance-enhancing drugs were unhealthy, your doctor wouldn’t prescribe them to you. Used properly, you’ll be in better physical shape for longer than a normal/average human being. That’s why people use them. HGH and Steroids are not illegal. Its illegal to sell them on the streets.
I’ll even throw in a bonus combo-argument. Look, the advancement of modern medicine has changed everything in our lives, including sports. People live longer now, so you have longer records like Brett Favre’s consecutive starts streak. If people still died at 35-40yrs old, well.. he wouldn’t be starting a pro-football game. It used to be that if you blew out your ACL you were done for your career. Well, now you’re out 8-10 months as we’ve seen with Tom Brady, Willis McGahee and others. Even something as little as Asthma medicine gives players, who normally wouldn’t be able to breathe at all during a sporting event, an advantage to now be able to withstand the rigors of sport. Asthma medicine, by the way, can be a steroid.
Look, the reason Mark McGwire played himself is simple. He didn’t own up to it and let everyone get on with their lives. Jose Canseco did. A-Rod kinda did. Andy Petite did. Roger Clemens… well, three outta four aint bad. But the point here is, lying under oath in front of Congress is not the smartest idea in the world. If there is one time that you should tell the truth, well.. thats it. I know, he tried to back out of it instead of lying, but the point is the same. Own up to your problems, ala Ray Lewis, and we’ll forgive and even embrace you. Just look at Mike Vick. Society understands people make mistakes and is willing, more times than not, to forgive. People hold grudges when you lie, especially Hall of Fame writers.
Now Big Mac’s name is being brought up for the Hall of Fame and it is no surprise he’s not getting in. Will he ever? I hope so. He saved baseball.
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Agree? Disagree? We want to hear your thoughts.
