Posted on 03/17/2005 12:17:34 PM PST by Cagey
WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired slugger Mark McGwire Thursday told a congressional panel investigating drugs in baseball that he would not "participate in naming names" of players who used steroids. McGwire did not say in his opening statement to the House Government Reform Committee whether he used steroids.
Two current players, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, said they never used steroids. That duo and McGwire were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs by Jose Canseco in a best-selling book that helped prompt the hearing.
In a tense scene, Canseco sat at the same table as the other players as he told the lawmakers that he could not fully answer their questions because of concerns his testimony could be used against him.
Choking back tears, his voice cracking, McGwire said he knows that steroid use can be dangerous and will do whatever he can to discourage young athletes from using them.
"What I will not do, however, is participate in naming names and implicating my friends and teammates," said McGwire, who ranks sixth in major league history with 583 homers.
I think National Heros would be born today in that room if the players told the panel they were not going to participate in this circus based on the lies of Conseco and then walked out.
I stand corrected.
You are right on! These Congresscritters are full of crap and they are in dire need of someone telling them so!
Then you have the argument that during the 60s and 70s many players used amphetamines. I saw it when I played up into minor league ball and tried it but it just made me too nervous and jumpy when I pitched.
Someone pointed out on a talk show the players used the speed since they spent all night carousing and needed the pick me up the next day. Rose was one who used a lot of speed too. I know we did a lot of yehawing on the road and paid for it the next morning. Some double headers were death marches in the midwest heat and humidity.
I'm waiting for Conseco to slump over in his chair with a poison dart in his neck from the gallery.
So they'll head to their local bar, whorehouse or girlfriend/mistress' house.
Grandstanding at it's finest...where are the NFL players, NBA players, Hockey players, etc.
Where is Bonds?
Bonds would lay a verbal smackdown on them, so the grandstanders took a pass. Same with Sheffield. Plus they're in the middle of the BALCO investigation.
why are these congressmen sucking up and talking about naming roads after these over paid over rated... druggies....
I cant go that far......no one has proven Maris wasnt on something. /sarcasm
Lets dig up the Babe and turn him over to CSI
:-)
Semper Fi
If it turned out that Luis Gonzalez, who got the game winning hit in the 2001 World Series, was on steroids, would Schilling give his ring back?
Would the games Schilling won because teamates were on steroids count?
The clock can't be unwound. All of this asterisk talk is just talk.
I Don't believe 'roids necessarily make you a better baseball player. And I usually don't approve of Congress doing things like this, in fact I despise it. But the only people more arrogant than Congress might be major league baseball players, and if they don't want to answer the questions, I'm not sure a few days in the federal lockup wouldn't beat a little bit of humility into their thick skulls.
Exactyl! Where are the GOP leaders??? I think they have all gone bonkers!
We need a citizens oversight committee to drag in these members of Congress and investigate why they are wasting taxpayers money on this issue and why they are abusing their power to suppoena and interogate private citizens.
He takes the fifth.
Shhh, we're not supposed to talk about his rapid bulkification.
They DO all ride on the short bus. I am APPALLED at the lack of brains in most of these reps. The Senators are so effete they're worthless in a different way, but they seem as least to have normal intelligence.
St. Louis congressman askes Big Mac if he could have broken the record without Andro, he takes the fifth.
"rapid bulkification."
Does Monty count? I think that is pie induced though 8^)
"McGwire can end the debate right now, today by stating under oath that he never used steroids. End of story."
I see others on this thread alone who do not believe the other players who denied using steroids, what would be different about McGwire?
No matter what he says, it is a no win situation. If he says he did, then he gets his head shoved in a toilet, if he denies he used steroids, he still gets his head shoved in the toilet. So I agree with him on not saying squat about this whole matter.
If they want to come up with some "proof" that he used them ( which has not happened by the way ), fine, bring it on. Until someone does have the proof, he should say nothing and move on with his life.
And that goes for all the others in this matter.
As for MLB taking on this issue, they haven`t proven they are serious about it yet. First offense : a 10 day suspension "or" $10,000 fine..... That is not being serious.
This is probably the most important point in this thread. There is a dangerous precedent being reinforced. Congress keeps grabbing power from the states and private entities.
Some of baseball players are obfuscating and lying; on the other hand, some of the Congressmen are just grandstanding and play-acting.
That's not what he said. He declined to talk about the past. Maybe you interpret that they way you want, but he did not plead the fifth.
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