for using andro and how he acted in front of Congress, you should probably be considering the same feelings for Sammy Sosa. No one found any andro in Sammy’s locker, but by the same token, neither tested positive for anything, illegal or otherwise, and it’s all just speculation. Furthermore, Sosa forgetting the English language was equally as gutless as McGwire’s refusals to talk about the past.

As to your questions:

1) Thanks for the link. The story is a fluff piece completely transparent in its attempt to improve McGwire’s Hall chances. But that’s USA Today’s business.

2) He should not be penalized harshly as he did not break any rules of major league baseball. So officially, the answer is no.

3) Comparing McGwire’s alleged involvement in the steroid era of baseball is an entirely different argument from gambling issues – whether as a player or manager. Apples and Oranges.

As to the NFL and steroids. There is no perception of purity to the NFL. What I mean is, people have always wanted the biggest, fastest, baddest gladiators beating the snot out of each other on a Sunday, and pharmaceuticals have helped create this. No problem. The NFL knows what sells its product. However, with baseball, there is this overglorified, inherently romantic notion of a storied pastime – nevermind the amphetimine use or coke use or steroid use or whatever that’s been a part of the game for 50 years. Most casual fans, when they look at baseball want to see ‘Hey Dad, Let’s have a catch.” Most casual NFL fans want to see someone get “JACKED UP!”.

Well, he was one of the best power hitters of his era. He drew a lot of walks. However, he didn’t hit for much of an average and struck out a lot. He could be a good hitting coach for power hitters.

He is a proven andro user. That was not illegal at the time in 1998. He is not a proven user of anabolic steroids. Yes, I have extremely strong suspicions that he used anabolic steroids. That has not been proven, though.

No one should be canonized for admitting wrong doing. You shouldn’t have done the wrongs in the first place. However, McGwire would have a much better chance of making the Hall, if he would talk about the past. He could have said he used anabolic steroids and rightfully accused MLB of looking the other way.

As it stands now, McGwire will decide what cap he will wear in Cooperstown. Is it going to be a Cardinals cap, an A’s cap, a Huntsville Stars cap, or a USC cap? After all, the Hall of Fame has no say so over what caps visiting patrons wear. Visiting patron is all McGwire will ever be in Cooperstown.

Just a power hitter, which doesnt exactly qualify him to be a hitting instructor.