The New York Times reports: Lou Piniella expressed support for Mark McGwire last month when the former Cardinals slugger admitted using steroids, and the Cubs manager expects Wrigley Field fans will do the same."I think Cub fans will treat him fine," Piniella said. "We have a great rivalry. He'll be accepted well. I think they feel he confessed and it's over with."
Piniella also believes McGwire will have no trouble gaining the respect of Cardinals players in his role as their new hitting coach.
"He confessed," Piniella said. "In this country, they forgive and forget. Who is out there that can't confess to something? We in this baseball fraternity forgive him."
Get the full story: NYTimes.com
Photo: Mark McGwire speaks to fans at the Cardinals' convention in January. (Jeff Roberson/AP)
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Hey give Sammy Soso a break.He needed all them muscles to haul around that giant boom box of his that he played his Salsa Music on...HEYYYY MAMBO.....(Enter Carmen Miranda jokes here)
I don't know if Lou watched the whole interview, but McLiar didn't confess. He laid out a story as to why I should feel sorry for him and he cried a little. He actually said that he wished he hadn't played in the steroid era, like it was just bad timing and that he had no culpability whatsoever. He actually said he only did it to come back from injury faster to justify being paid so much money. In '98, he played in 155 games. What injury was he hurrying back from that season? He actually said that it didn't help him hit HRs and yet he apologized to the Maris family.
Lou, it is impossible to truly confess and be lying at the same time. McLiar deserves my wrath and I will give it to him at the top of my lungs every chance I get until I'm satisfied.
I love Lou, but in this case, he is dead wrong. The first chance I got to be within earshot of McLiar, I'm giving him an earful. And the second chance and the third chance...
now all we need is for Sammy "the syringe" Sosa to come clean...........
He says he didn't hit the home runs with the help of the steroids. This means he's still high on something. Maybe he injected steroids to his tungs to enhance the lying capability of himself.
Do not speak for all Cub fans, Lou. McGuire was a cheater and played on our arch rival Cardinals. Cub fans have long memories, most of us still hate the Mets!
Don't speak for me, Lou. And be a man and stop your left fielder from doing that stupid hop, while you're at it. You're a shell of your former self. Also, McGwire didn't really confess to the number one accusation. He claims he hit all those home runs without help from steroids. That's not confession, that's delusion.
Sorry Lou, but in this country we only forgive if the person is worth forgiving. If the person is a lying sack of crap like McGwire, then how can you forgive him? And of course you in the baseball fraternity forgive him. After all, it was you and your baseball fraternity that allowed it to happen in the first place.
Please realize Lou that McGwire is not on the Cubs, therefore you are not required to kiss his large steroid-taker sized butt every time someone asks you about him. All you have to say when asked is "McGwire is a member of the Cardinals coaching staff and we look forward to playing against him all season long."
You are crazy to think we are going to forgive and forget. You can forgive and forget many things, but doing steroids in baseball is not one of the things I as a true baseball fan can ever forgive and forget. I use to really like Mark McGwire. I enjoyed watching him as a kid growing up, but to now find out that he was cheating for most of his career, I have no respect for him whatsoever. I hope he is a complete distraction to the Cardinals all year.
How about speaking for yourself Pinella. I may not be in Wrigley Field this season, since i don't live in Chicago, but i am a lifelong Cub fan, and i'd prefer you don't speak for me. Just because you accept cheaters, and as far as i'm concerned McGwire was probably one of the worse abusers of steroids that there was in baseball, doesn't mean you can speak for Cub fans. Truthfully, i'm definitely in the same corner as the previous poster, and am so looking forward to when you move on Pinella. You're nothing like what we expected as a manager, and in fact i'm not sure you can even be considered a manager these days.
Where did this friendly version of Pinella come from?I wanted the Cubs to hire him to bring some fire to this team.Instead we get stuff like"we gave such and such the game off to get a nice little rest" or "we are on a nice little run right now".Does anybody use the word nice more than this guy?Listen to his interviews sometime.He uses the word nice like Richard Prior used cuss words.Losing games doesnt seem to bother him anymore.And now he wants to hold hands around the campfire with McGwire and sing coombaya?Geez give me a break.Quick Hendry, offer a reward for the return of the old Pinella.