Big Red Comes Clean

Throughout the entire baseball steroids scandal, fans have been subject to denials, flat out lies and sadly, very few honest moments from the accused players.

Mark McGwire's steroid admission Monday marked what appears to be one of the honest moments. After spending almost five years living in self-imposed exile, completely away from Major League Baseball, McGwire reemerged to set the record straight.

What started with a press release, quickly turned into an hour long live interview with Bob Costas on the MLB Network. McGwire tried to rationalize his steroid use to Bob Costas by saying he would have assaulted the record books with or without the roids. This is highly debatable because depending on the steroids McGwire used (he says he doesn't remember), there's substantial evidence connecting PED's to improved vision and fine tuning fast-twitch muscle fibers - two major factors when it comes to hitting a round ball hurling towards you at 90 + miles per hour.

For McGwire to think his numbers would stand regardless of the steroid use is like saying the Jackson 5 would have been famous without Michael.

It's worth noting that Big Mac dramatically overhauled his swing between his 1987 rookie season when he belted 49 home runs (he claims he was clean then), and 1996 when he started to hit bombs at ridiculous rates. McGwire shortened his swing and switched from a to a one-handed follow through. This undoubtedly provided a boost to his numbers.

Could McGwire have hit 50 plus home runs during the 98 season if he was clean? It's likely. But 70, followed by 65 in 1999 is absurd, and hasn't even been sniffed by a non-roider? Never.

But it's McGwire's genuine regret for using steroids that sets him apart from every other current and former player who has come clean. Obviously the implications for McGwire are much higher than say Shane Monahan.

At various times during his interview with Costas, McGwire either teared up, or openly cried. Even Pay-Fraud couldn't fake tears during his steroid admission. (He should have started dating that broad who starred in "Bride Wars" earlier) . This was McGwire being a human being who made a very real mistake. One that he clearly regrets.

To McGwire's credit, he isn't coming clean to hawk a book (Pete Rose, Jose Canseco), or because he's attention starved. His steroid admission has everything to do with his return to baseball as the Cardinals hitting coach. McGwire understands the distraction he could become and he's defusing the situation.

Even during his 2005 congressional testimony, McGwire was the only accused player aside from Canseco or spokesperson of the world, Curt Schilling, who didn't perjure himself (Rafael Palmeiro), or conveniently forget how to speak english (Sammy Sosanospeakatheenglish).

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens would seemingly rather be married to Octomom than acknowledge they were roided out of their minds during their peak years. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz continue to blame their positive steroid tests on unknowingly taking banned supplements. They are all liars and frauds.

McGwire always came across as a good guy. Along with Cal Ripken, McGwire played a very big part in helping repair the fractured relationship between baseball and the fans following the strike shortened 1994 season. That is something that cannot be ignored.

It took a big man to shatter Roger Maris' single season home run record in 1998.

It took a bigger man to admit he cheated.