rants for 1/12/2010

So. Mark McGwire finally admits on air and in mostly contrite attitude that he used steroids on and off during the 90's. Thanks Mark, next OJ will come out and say that he indeed killed his wife. That even, can seem less certain than surprise about McGwire's steroid use. Let alone the acne on his neck in 98 and being as big as humanly possible.

Beyond the lack of surprise, McGwire still did a nice "ole'" on so much of this issue. He skirted the idea that it enhanced his hitting performance, that it only was for health improvement (which is so hilarious ironic most of the writers ignored that erroneous statement completely) and that he still would've hit as many home runs without it. I'm sorry Mark, but I call bullshit. Steroid's negative effects on the body are well documented however they were an invention created originally for benefit. They make you stronger, faster, and more powerful. I don't discredit that you spent laborious hours in the gym during your career, steroids don't fully make that physique. What they do is allow the healing of the muscles to take place faster, to take those reps harder and grow back muscle faster.

Guess what? Strength completely enhanced your career.

At 25 years old, how is my generation supposed to feel? I remember so well sitting on the couch with my father watching the home run chase and it completely captured and mesmerized me as I watched that line drive just get over that wall. Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Brady Anderson, (we didn't forget about you buddy, 57 homers after a myriad of years grazing merely 15) Miguel Tejada, Manny Ramirez, ad infitum.
Does it take away from the contributions to those years of baseball? ABSOLUTELY NOT. In the scheme of things you all did what you did and should be recognized for it, even maybe in cooperstown. That's right I said it. If your numbers show it, I don't want that taken away from the contributions of baseball. However it is only relevant and obvious that those numbers should have asterisks.

Let baseball come clean about this era, and once so, let us just enjoy what it did for us beyond the steroids. It was still baseball, and we will all appreciate it more when the deception is at least erased. At least then we can enjoy it for what it was.