BIG MAC USED STEROIDS, BIG MAC ADMITS USAGE, IT'S OVER, BABY

Or it sure as heck should be.

What other user of the '90's has confessed? Oh, a few. Two current World Champion Yankees. An ex-Oakland A trying to profit from his use. While I may have overlooked a few, maybe the late Ken Caminiti, I don't recall; I don't remember. But I do care.

In the '80's football great Lyle Alzado of the Raiders used steroids and died at age 43. I honestly, gullibly believed that that would be the end of it. Measure the cost with the desire, I thought.

But usage continued, continues. Manny Ramirez is the most recent example having had to sit out of 50 Dodger games because he was caught. You see, MLB now has a drug testing policy. Which still allows Manny two more chances before he is banned from the game.

But many don't want to give McGwire even one more chance. He gives lengthy interviews, he cries, he humbles himself. He calls Roger Maris' widow, he calls several friends and current players, he calls his parents, he calls baseball's commissioner all before his public announcement. Followed by tv interviews. For two days.

The man has emptied himself. But it wasn't enough. They won't forgive. They'll continue to harangue to the point that I suspect in his new job as Cardinals' hitting coach he won't finish the season. McGwire is the poster boy for the Steroid Era in baseball. He'll never be forgiven.

And that is sad.