I have to admit, Mark McGwire is a sympathetic figure -- in a sense. When I see him on TV, weeping and apologizing, I want to say, "Aw, what the heck, ya big lug" and give him a noogie.
At the same time, what choice did he have but to confess to steroid use? He's on the verge of starting the season as a hitting coach for the Cardinals. He couldn't keep that cloud hanging over him. Plus there's the Hall of Fame thing.
I'd have had far more respect for him had he come clean during the congressional hearings when he said he wasn't there to talk about the past. But now he is. How conveeeeeenient.
I'm also not completely buying the argument that he took 'roids not to hit homers, but to heal quicker. Players knew in the 1990s that steroids also increased bat speed and strength. Even if he did mainly take them to heal faster, I'm sure he didn't mind the side effects of another 10 or 15 feet on his home runs.
McGwire seems a nice guy who made a dumb mistake. But just like all the other steroid cheaters, he waited until he had to come clean. Which makes the apology less convincing. And makes me dislike those who haven't come forward even more.