Mark McGwire's "Revelation".

More than eleven years ago I was among those who took great pride in St. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire surpassing Roger Maris' all time home run record. It was a happy moment and many people believe it brought baseball back from disgrace after the strike of 1994. I still carry the vision of the ball sailing over the left field fence on that early September evening in my memories.

But, flash forward to today and that feeling of pride no longer exists. Like many others I suspected McGwire was doing steroids at the time. But, I secretly hoped he wasn't and that it was all God given talent. Now, that McGwire has formally admitted he used the performance enhancing drugs (PED) it leaves a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth.

I feel bad for the man, and it was obvious in his interview with Bob Costas Monday night on the MLB network that he was hurting badly about what he had done and then his cover-up. I know everyone makes mistakes and I have no problem in forgiving him as a baseball fan. I also hope that it brings him some peace of mind and lets him get on with his life and new role as the Cardinals' hitting coach.

I only wish McGwire had gone a step further and admitted the steroids gave him an unfair advantage over the pitchers he faced. Granted McGwire was a powerful and gifted athlete, but I have to believe the PEDs gave him additional strength and allowed him to play through injuries he might not have otherwise. During the interview Costas asked "Big Mac" several time if steroids had helped him achieve the then single season home run record. On each occaison McGwire responded by saying he had a gift of hand-eye coordination and had always been a power hitter and the only reason for PEDs was to get past injuries.

Manny's Words Ring Hollow

Manny Ramirez must like to apologize. "Steroid Dude" has apologized for his latest screw up saying he made a mistake. Yeah, no kidding. But, he did the same thing last summer. He apologized to his teammates and his fans after he knocked down the travelling secretary. Too bad I don't believe him this time either.

Regardless of his apology Ramirez won't be on the field until the first week in July.

Manny the Cheater

Manny Ramirez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games. Why you ask? Because he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Manny must be guilty as sin because he waived on an appeal and the suspension begins with tonight's game against the Washington Nationals in Los Angeles.

Oh and it will cost him over $7.7 million dollars, or roughly 31% of his annual $25 million salary.

I guess what goes around comes around. Last summer Ramirez physically abused his team's travelling secretary while with the Red Sox. All that happened was he was traded to the Dodger and then rewarded with that huge contract. Maybe there is karma.

MLB Gives Selig a Vote of Confidence

If you missed it this weekend Major League Baseball owners gave commissioner Bud Selig a vote of confidence to continue when his current contract expires.

Selig has no credibility and the good old boys who pay his salary have no credibility either. MLB was criticized by former Senator George Mitchell for it's role in the steroid scandal. But, now Selig says he is going to get to the bottom of the mess. Yeah right. As I wrote last week, that's a lot like letting the inmates run the prison. Selig knows what he will find. He will find owners who don't care because they are making more money than ever and players who have a union that won't let them be tested.

So, you can see why the owners are so glad to endorse Selig's actions. He is protecting them. The problem is you and I, the fans, are watching a bunch of juiced up phonies re-write the record book and then listen to MLB tell you how wonderful it all is. It isn't. The Selig era is a joke. And Selig who is supposed to be looking out for the good of the game is the biggest problem.

It's time for Selig to be a man and resign. If that doesn't happen then congress needs to take a look at baseball's antitrust exemption.

Barry Bonds is a Fool - Part One

Barry Bonds is about to break Hank Aaron's record for most home runs in Major League Baseball. That is a shame. Bonds is one of the biggest cheaters who has ever played professional sports.

Those who know him and work with him have repeatedly said he has used steroids to bulk up and give him the strength he needs to hit for power. He was never a power hitter when he came up to the Big Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates about 20 years ago. But his friends at Balco have helped him hide his use of the illegal substances and Bonds continues to deny usage of them. Come on Barry. Do you really think that anyone outside of your family and friends and the fans of the San Francisco Giants think this is legitimate? Of course it's not. As the old saying goes you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but never all of the people all of the time. Barry you are a fool.

And now this mental midget has become an even bigger fool. Bob Costas ran a story on HBO this week and interviewed people who know Bonds readily saying he has been taking the junk for years. Bonds responded like the real ass he is by calling Costas a midget who doesn't know squat about the game and never played the game. Yes Sir Barry, you are a real credit to the game. Then after he realized no one would side with him on calling Costas a midget Bond "apologized", but in the same breath called Costas "irresponsible". That's quite the apology from Bonds. Maybe Barry's handlers need to tell him that no one is going to side with him either in calling Costas irresponsible.

Bonds should do the honorable thing and confess he has taken the crap. At least that way the record book can have an asterisk and will reflect that he cheated to get to the home run record. But, then that won't be necessary. Baseball fans and historians will know he was the poster boy of his time for steroid usage.