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Mark McGwire admits to using steroids when he broke HR record

  • hasbeen
    McGwire was still a monster hitter.
  • Hammerin'Hank
    I'm not going to defend his actions.....but...When he took whatever he took, it was not illegal and he still had to hit the ball. The same with all who took steroids. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
    I suppose it's happened in every sport...tell me something new.
  • From the Hills
    Hammerin'Hank wrote: I'm not going to defend his actions.....but...When he took whatever he took, it was not illegal and he still had to hit the ball. The same with all who took steroids. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
    I suppose it's happened in every sport...tell me something new.
    So it is OK to take steroids and break the records of guys who played the game without the help of performance enhancing drugs. Guys like Maris, Aaron, and Ruth did it honestly. So yea it is sort of a big deal.
  • hasbeen
    From the Hills wrote:
    Hammerin'Hank wrote: I'm not going to defend his actions.....but...When he took whatever he took, it was not illegal and he still had to hit the ball. The same with all who took steroids. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
    I suppose it's happened in every sport...tell me something new.
    So it is OK to take steroids and break the records of guys who played the game without the help of performance enhancing drugs. Guys like Maris, Aaron, and Ruth did it honestly. So yea it is sort of a big deal.
    And I'll argue that they used some type of supplement, probably nothing compared to today's standards, but still something.
  • From the Hills
    pnhasbeen wrote:
    From the Hills wrote:
    Hammerin'Hank wrote: I'm not going to defend his actions.....but...When he took whatever he took, it was not illegal and he still had to hit the ball. The same with all who took steroids. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
    I suppose it's happened in every sport...tell me something new.
    So it is OK to take steroids and break the records of guys who played the game without the help of performance enhancing drugs. Guys like Maris, Aaron, and Ruth did it honestly. So yea it is sort of a big deal.
    And I'll argue that they used some type of supplement, probably nothing compared to today's standards, but still something.
    Like what? Oh I forgot the Babe got pumped up on hot dogs, beer, cigarettes, and hookers before games.
  • Lovejoy1984
    You have no idea what players of the older generations were doing to gain a competitive edge. To act like no one from that generation didn't do illegal stuff to make themselves better is just naive.
  • From the Hills
    HighRoller74 wrote: You have no idea what players of the older generations were doing to gain a competitive edge. To act like no one from that generation didn't do illegal stuff to make themselves better is just naive.
    You may be right, but if you guys are so sure older generations were doing things to their bodies to gain an advantage please tell me what it was. Facts!!!???
    And don't give me pitchers using vaseline, spit, sandpaper, or Ty Cobb sharpening his cleats.
  • charliehustle14
    There's absolutely nothing players from the older eras could have been doing that would be more beneficial to their performance and longevity than PED's.
  • Lovejoy1984
    charliehustle14 wrote: There's absolutely nothing players from the older eras could have been doing that would be more beneficial to their performance and longevity than PED's.
    I agree with this.

    I'm just saying lets not pretend the older generation didn't try to cheat, because that's exactly what baseball is all about. Cheating every chance you get.
  • charliehustle14
    HighRoller74 wrote:
    charliehustle14 wrote: There's absolutely nothing players from the older eras could have been doing that would be more beneficial to their performance and longevity than PED's.
    I agree with this.

    I'm just saying lets not pretend the older generation didn't try to cheat, because that's exactly what baseball is all about. Cheating every chance you get.
    I agree.

    But there's a huge difference between throwing Vaseline balls and taking PED's. PED's are the pinnacle of cheating.
  • Lovejoy1984
    I agree with that as well.

    I just hate when fans of the older generation claim that those players all did it the right way, which couldn't be farther from the truth.
  • charliehustle14
    HighRoller74 wrote: I agree with that as well.

    I just hate when fans of the older generation claim that those players all did it the right way, which couldn't be farther from the truth.
    They weren't angels back then but they did do it the right way.

    The biggest difference I see is this....

    Back then, they cheated to win. Now, players cheat for personal glory (fame and ridiculous paychecks).

    Cheating back then was an art form. Now, cheating is something some doctor cooks up in a lab.
  • From the Hills
    charliehustle14 wrote:
    HighRoller74 wrote: I agree with that as well.

    I just hate when fans of the older generation claim that those players all did it the right way, which couldn't be farther from the truth.
    They weren't angels back then but they did do it the right way.

    The biggest difference I see is this....

    Back then, they cheated to win. Now, players cheat for personal glory (fame and ridiculous paychecks).

    Cheating back then was an art form. Now, cheating is something some doctor cooks up in a lab.
    Exactly right, and your username probably cheated for that purpose.
  • Skyhook79
    Hammerin'Hank wrote: I'm not going to defend his actions.....but...When he took whatever he took, it was not illegal and he still had to hit the ball. The same with all who took steroids. It shouldn't be that big of a deal.
    I suppose it's happened in every sport...tell me something new.
    Its like John Kruk said. Its not only that they took steroids to get bigger and stronger they took steroids to heal from injury fast so they could get back on the field faster to add to their stats and have the opportunity to break records.
  • crab42
    You can't tell me that the guys in 40's and 50's that were making small amounts of cash, and working 2 jobs in the offseason, wouldn't have taken a "magic pill" if it made them a better player and led to them making more money. And many guys in 50s, 60s, and 70s talked about taking stimulants to help give them energy to play... And during Babe's era, cocaine was used to give guys a boost.

    What Mac did was wrong, but in the context of what was happening in the sport I don't find this crime to be that terrible... I personally find Pete's crimes, Dave Parker/Daryl Strawberry/Steve Howell's crimes to be much worse because they could have been counter-productive to the team winning. Baseball fans have a romance about the past, and they love to act like all was better in the old days; while other sports are not held to this same standard, i.e. NFL. I don't care who used and who didn't, but I think that more tried it compared to those who didn't... I'm just sick of the witch hunts and the hollier than thou attitudes from the media and fans.
  • Gblock
    many oldtime players admit to taking "greenies" before games which is a stimulant.....as far as steroids go i feel that the pitchers were probly juicing too so it pretty much evens out
  • wkfan
    Gblock wrote: many oldtime players admit to taking "greenies" before games which is a stimulant.....as far as steroids go i feel that the pitchers were probly juicing too so it pretty much evens out

    'Greenies' are no more than dringking several cups of coffee......Equivalent to the 5-hour energy boost drink.

    Comparing steroids to 'greenies' is trying to justify that what cheaters like McGwire, Sosa, Clemens and Bonds did was OK.
  • baseballstud24
    There are so many things that athletes have accessible to them today that the old players did not have. Even legals stuff that still enhances performance and injury recovery. Hines Ward slept in a hyperbearic (sp) chamber before the superbowl so that his knee would recover quicker. Anthony Gonzalez sleeps in some oxygen reduced tent to keep him in better shape. Should any records these guys set be banned as well?
  • charliehustle14
    From the Hills wrote:
    charliehustle14 wrote:
    HighRoller74 wrote: I agree with that as well.

    I just hate when fans of the older generation claim that those players all did it the right way, which couldn't be farther from the truth.
    They weren't angels back then but they did do it the right way.

    The biggest difference I see is this....

    Back then, they cheated to win. Now, players cheat for personal glory (fame and ridiculous paychecks).

    Cheating back then was an art form. Now, cheating is something some doctor cooks up in a lab.
    Exactly right, and your username probably cheated for that purpose.
    What he did was wrong and shameful, but that's not cheating.

    Cheating gives a player an edge over what is supposed to be a level playing field. Betting doesn't accomplish that.
  • Skyhook79
    What respect I had for Tony LaRussa is now gone after listening to him try and justify McGwire's actions and that he had NO idea what was going on until McGwire told him the other day.
  • crab42
    Betting can make the playing field uneven... That's the whole reason that it's such a sin in baseball. You have to worry about the players not going all out, or a manager not making moves that he would/would not normally make.
  • Gblock
    amphetemines and coffee are nowhere near the same
  • Scarlet_Fever
    crab42 wrote: Betting can make the playing field uneven... That's the whole reason that it's such a sin in baseball. You have to worry about the players not going all out, or a manager not making moves that he would/would not normally make.
    I do agree with this but haven't they proved that Rose never bet against his team? Not to take this thread in a whole different direction.
  • From the Hills
    baseballstud24 wrote: There are so many things that athletes have accessible to them today that the old players did not have. Even legals stuff that still enhances performance and injury recovery. Hines Ward slept in a hyperbearic (sp) chamber before the superbowl so that his knee would recover quicker. Anthony Gonzalez sleeps in some oxygen reduced tent to keep him in better shape. Should any records these guys set be banned as well?
    Are these examples of practices that could have long term negative effects? No, I don't think so. But in your world of comparing apples to oranges I guess it's OK for Johnny to be shooting up with roids in High School.
  • Fly4Fun
    Skyhook79 wrote: What respect I had for Tony LaRussa is now gone after listening to him try and justify McGwire's actions and that he had NO idea what was going on until McGwire told him the other day.
    He's obviously lying about having no idea what was going on.

    You're the freaking manager making lots of money dependent on how your team plays and the health of the players. And you have no idea that they are taking PED's? Seriously, the dude is lying to protect his reputation. I can guarantee you that more people knew these guys were taking steroids than there are that are willing to admit it.