RJA # 8

"Absolutely," he said. "I truly believe so. I was given this gift by the man upstairs. My track record as far as hitting home runs ... my first at-bat in the league was a home run. They still talk about the home runs I hit in high school. They still talk about the home runs I hit in [American] Legion. They still talk about the home runs I hit in college [USC] -- I led the nation in home runs. They still talk about the home runs I hit in the Minor. This was all before the steroids but all I am seen as now is that cheater.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=7900244&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_mlb&ymd=20100111

People have many excuses for why they use steroids. Many say they did not know they were using it, others said that they did not think they were illegal, and last alot of people say they use it for health reasons."I did it [for] health purposes," (McGwire), this is the lamest excuse I have ever heard. I would rather hear him say that he just did it. This just astonishes me that he could risk his hall of fame just so he could play for a couple more seasons.

Mark McGwire was gifted since he was born to hit home runs. He proved that his whole life through by playing baseball and standing out as a elite player. McGwire home runs are still talked about to this day, in his high school, college, and the minors. McGwire is saying he is not a cheater cause all those home runs being talked about were before he ever used steroids.

The subject I picked for RJA # 8 is about Mark McGwire talking about his side of the steroids. He talks about how he did it for health reasons and that he was just as good at hitting home runs and playing baseball without steroids. He is in a interview with Bob Costas on HBO. He says even without the steroids he is still talked about for his legendary baseball skills in High school, college, and Steroids. I used this part because in my paper I am wanting to add the side of the athletes and their views and why they used steroids. I also want to add in a part of the excuses that athletes and other people use to try and make their image look better.