Big Mac, Hold the Sauce

Mark McGwire has come out from hiding. It was announced on Sunday that he would return to Major League Baseball as a hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. General manager, John Mozeliak, decided it was best for his team to hire one of the poster-children for the modern steroid era.

I’ll never forget watching “Big Mac” pelt home run after home run in the late 90’s and early 00’s. It was magical. Breathtaking. It glued people to their TVs, especially in August as the race for the home run record heated up. After breaking the record, his reported use of steroids leaked. After a few years, when McGwire retired, the big friendly giant who endeared himself to America, drifted awkwardly into the sunset. He was not forgotten, just chose not to take part in the game any longer…until now.

It is interesting that he was offered the job. What can he teach young hitters? McGwire, steroids or no steroids, was one of the game’s best home run hitters. He had a gnack for the long ball. But, by no means was he ever labeled as a pure hitter. One’s ability to coach is not always connected to their playing ability. Catchers, for instance, make good pitching coaches. McGwire, however, just does not strike me as a guy who has mastered the most pure, fluid, fundamentals of hitting.

What’s more interesting is that McGwire took the position. Why now? Why did he choose now to get back into baseball. He is surely going to be interrogated heavily about his past. Why is he subjecting himself to this? Does he need money? Something is fishy. If he truly loved baseball, would he have walked away so easily eight years ago? Maybe it is a rekindled love, and if that is the case, more power to him. Still, baseball is keeping the steroid era flame lit but bringing guys like McGwire back into the game’s bloodflow. Should they prevent him from being hired? No. Not at all. But there is no way they can be happy about it. Alterior motive? There has to be!

You're Still the One

Part 1

Brett Favre is my favorite football player in the world. He might even be my favorite athlete period. It used to be awesome to be a Brett Favre fan…now all everyone does is hate. Haterade central.

Brett Favre was once known as the “All-American Athlete.” He played the game with a passion—a kid-like smile and joy—and with the skill and fire as good as anyone that has ever played the game. Now, he is the always in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The off-season period of the NFL always meant it was time for Brett Favre to publicly deliberate his future with the Packers and in the NFL. He kept coming back and coming back and being successful doing so. People were upset, but it would fade away. Then, he retired. March 6, 2008. I cried. No, wait…I balled.

Most were skeptical why Favre would retire after a very strong 2008 campaign. Their hunch was right. A few months later he said he wanted to come back—unretired—and that is where the downward spiral began.

Almost a year and a half later and, as a basketball announcer might say, ‘Brett Favre can’t buy a bucket.’ Nothing he does is recognized positively. All because he did what he felt was best for him…unfortunately; it wasn’t best for the public. It upsets me. My idol. A hero turned villain in the court of public opinion. I am venting. Why is it Joe Couch Potato’s right to pass judgment on a person for a situation they know nothing about? Favre legacy? I hope not tarnished long term, but for the time being, his name is sacrilege. Favre makes Fuck the other F word.

Professional athletes are human. They deliberate. They make mistakes. They do their best—most do. How can you turn your back on someone whom you loved for 18 years? A person that brought smiles to your faces and made you drop your jaw every week, amazed at his talent.

This is a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ world. It is scary. It is unfair.

…To Be Continued…