McGwire's Confession Both Honorable and Despicable

CLEVELAND - Mark McGwire made a huge NBA fan (me) interested in major league baseball in the summer of 1998. With his high-profile and epic pursuit of a hallowed home run record, I was transfixed by the sheer power and drama of what turned out to be an illusionary competition between he and Sammy Sosa.

What a shame.

Yesterday, McGwire finally confirmed what had long been suspected by the media and general public. He was an avid user of steroids during a pro career that was adorned with monstrous home runs for which he became very popular. His admission wasn't exactly altruistic; he is slated to become the new hitting coach for his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals this coming season. It has been reported that he needed to "clear his conscience" before undertaking this long-held goal.

While it is amazing that McGwire admitted such a disgraceful and damning thing, it also speaks to the despicable nature of his willingness to engage in steroid use in the first place. The steroid issue has been a major problem in the big leagues for many years now, but since I openly rooted for McGwire in '98, I feel a bit betrayed as does many of his fans. He was a peerless home run hitter of unlimited power and embodied athletic machismo as well as any pro in his prime. But I do understand that all of us are humans wrought with flaws. For those reasons, I will forgive McGwire for his ill-advised decision.

Funny thing is, it was most likely because of what his steroid use enabled him to do on the field that I became enamored with him in the first place.

Weird.