The Burrall Blog – It’s Too Late, Mark

1/11/10 – 10:05 PM

So, are we now supposed to have pity for Mark McGwire after he admitted that he took steroids in the 1990′s?  Is it supposed to make a difference that he actually wanted to admit to steroid usage five years ago before Congress, but was advised not to do so?

Well, it doesn’t make any difference to me and I don’t have a damn bit of pity for McGwire.  He was a cheater.  He cheated during the 1998 season, when he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record.  In fact, I was in attendance in St. Louis on the night when McGwire hit his 62nd home run.  Now, I feel cheated and betrayed.  What I saw and what baseball fans experienced that season was a sham.

Tonight, McGwire was on television with his tearful admission.  Oh, wonderful!  Look at the big man reduced to his croccodile tears!  It was absolutely pathetic.  Why was he crying?  He wasn’t upset about using steroids.  He was upset that he got caught, just like all the others who were during this sad time in Major League Baseball, which is now known by many as the “Steroid Era.”

I’m still a baseball fan.  I’ll still attend games and watch plenty this season.  But, I don’t like cheaters.  And that’s what Mark McGwire was.  That’s what Alex Rodriguez is.  That’s what Andy Pettitte is.  It’s probably what Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were.  And I don’t have use for any of them.  Neither should any other baseball fan.