I watched the Costas interview. It struck me that McGwire still has not figured out all the implications of what he did. He still has the athletes view, "my power is mine; i'd have hit the homers anyway," but he recognizes what he did was shameful and is a permanent tarnish on what he accomplished. he did not say that he surpassed Maris and did not dispute the notion that, at least to the Maris family, Maris is still the HR champ. I think he does not recognize that, even if he took the steriods to prevent injury, by preventing injury, he extended his quality playing time beyond what his body naturally could have done in 1998, therefore the 70 would have been something less. The "I only took minimal amounts to prevent injury" line shows that he is not a doctor (but neither am I). I think he believes that his legit efforts (shortening his stroke, generating backspin, film work) do not get recognized enough, and will not be because of his steroid use. Also, he still is not going to push anyone else under the bus, refusing to impute anything on any other player. The deal he says he cut with Waxman and Davis, only to talk about he future and not his use, reflects the belief "I was wrong, I'll take my punishment, but I'm not draggin anyone else in," which came through even when he was talking to Costas.
I would not vote him into the HOF because he did not set the single season records clean and I question his longevity. having said that, I hope he is a great hitting coach and makes everyone forget Walt Hriniak.
