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.
Thank goodness Bonds wasn't forced to show up or this thing would've turned into a three-ring circus. < / sarc >
Any word on what Schilling said this morning?
Doesn't Congress have anything better to do?
What record is that? Not the single-season HR record, and certainly not the career HR record.
Steroid King Barry Bonds that holds the former, and is well on his way to breaking the latter.
Curt "Cowboy up" Shilling mentioned meeting at White House with W and vets and reeled off names in his family with proud military service. NAmed cousin as member of SPECOPs Delta Force. Bad move there. Operators don't like names in the open. If you saw the special "Blackhawk Down" on cable, this is the USAF CCT guy who was with the ranger task force. Airborne patherfinders in USAF SPECOPs
Shillings definately a "switched on" family.
He then read a long statment about how bad roids are and how MLB needs to clean it up.
I'm convinced that all Congressional participants have Bush in their long term witch hunt goals. I'm just waiting for them to start building the bridge.
I don't disagree baseball needs to clean up it's act, but why does the government have to get involved?
I don't think Bonds will become the single season champ, but sadly I do think he'll hold the career record for some time.
Because baseball cannot and will not do it alone.
Thanks for the update. I was surprised to see him subpoenaed by the committee.
So are we supposed to feel sorry for this lying steroid taking freak for protecting his roid swilling buddies? Mark, man-up and admit it, or did you lose all of your manhood in that stall when you bared your ass for Jose.
""What I will not do, however, is participate in naming names and implicating my friends "
Ahhh...The "Ray Lewis" defense.
For those who don't remember, Ray Lewis is the Baltimore Ravens LB whose group of friends 'allegedly' murdered a guy in Atlanta, GA a few years back. Lewis refused to ever implicate any of his 'posse' while on trial and the murderer is still free to this day.
I'm trying to remember why I ever liked watching baseball....
Baseball enjoys and anti-trust exemption. As a result, Congress uses that as a pretext for congressional oversight of the game.
How noble of him not to name his 'roid taking teammate. For those watching, how much weight has he lost?
I will believe McGwire over Canseco any day of the week.
not like they have anything IMPORTANT to do.
congresscritters are probably busy collecting authographs for their kids.
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