McGwire reveals feet of clay

By Dan Nied [send email]

Mark McGwire won’t talk about the past, at least not under oath.

That’s fine. At last week’s House Government Reform Committee’s investigation on steroid use in baseball, McGwire’s form answer said more than enough.

But at the same time, he trashed himself and every accomplishment listed next to his name.

By repeatedly telling lawmakers that he was “Not here to discuss the past” McGwire ignored the first basic rule of screwing up in America and tarnished the legacy of the great summer of ’98, when he and Sammy Sosa battled back and forth to set baseball’s single-season home run mark.

Now he is just man created by steroids, a punchline to an already tired joke.

Of course McGwire took steroids. What else are we supposed to believe? By ignoring questions from the
panel, McGwire admitted his guilt and did nothing to further the cause of extinguishing steroids in
baseball.

Yes, is seems Big Mac was all hopped up on power pills when he became America’s darling. Back then, he was a real-life Paul Bunyan, riding the high of baseball’s greatest record, hiding a secret that should have been so obvious at the time. But media and fans were so engaged in his winning stage-personality and the way he would hug his chubby son after the really big home runs that they made excuses for him. We all did.

But seven years after he was the greatest power hitter ever, McGwire was backed into a corner by the House of Representatives. And in the fight-or-flight world of confrontation, he fled like a bank robber.

What McGwire could have said to the reforms committee is that yes, he took steroids. His whole image was a total lie. He made millions on the drugs and it helped him win the hearts of America.

But he could also have said he regrets every bit of it. He could have expressed worries of the side effects steroids present. He could have lamented that he regrets his actions. He could have apologized
and asked what he could do to stop the spread of steroids among young athletes.

But he curled up with his tail between his legs, fearing the image destruction that would come with
such an honest answer.

That is where he ignored America’s great public relations rule. If you screw up, admit it and apologize. This is a very forgiving country and time heals all wounds. Once America forgave McGwire, he
could work to correct his mistakes and warn others not to follow the same path.

But by dodging questions in Matrix-like form Thursday, McGwire showed no remorse for his actions and wasted a golden opportunity.

But he wasn’t going to talk about the past.

I guess he didn’t realize that ignoring this won’t make it go away. And it sure won’t help anyone else.