The Summer of 1998 was a lie....but we already knew that.

See that picture??? Where were you when Mark McGwire hit #62 to break Roger Maris's single season home run record? Remember when all of America stayed glued to their TV sets in anticapation of witnessing history?





In 1998, the thought of McGwire on steroids was in our thought process, but we wanted to stay in denial. America was beginning to embrace baseball again after the embarrassment of the 1994 strike that left Major League Baseball without a World Series. The memories of 1998 were breathtaking, until 2005 when Mark McGwire and other Major Leaguers testified before congress....or least made it look like they tried.



We wanted these guys to save the integrity of the game and make all of Jose' Canseco's allegations in his book to be absolute crap. McGwire, Sosa, and Palmero failed to do so. From that day forward, the dark cloud followed baseball. More layers in this repulsive onion became exposed with names like Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, Jason Giambi, and Alex Rodriguez.

What I watched a young inspired child was nothing but a needle-tainted lie. To play a game on a little league dreaming of being one of those roided up barbarians.

I'm not surprised by Mark McGwire's confession, and I shouldn't be. Knowing the truth is more painful than the speculation. I grew up watching The Bash Brothers, and looking with awestruck eyes when a ball landed into the stands.

Today, another piece of my childhood died. I grew up admiring Mark McGwire from his days in Oakland and even in St. Louis. I remember seeing Sammy Sosa in White Sox uniform before he was sent to the northside. I remember playing as Roger Clemens on RBI baseball for Nintendo. Seeing him dominate the mound in Fenway Park.

Is there any hope left for baseball? Or did Bud Selig strangle it until it's last breath was gasped? I want baseball to win me over again, but the trust is slowly fading. I know I sound like a baseball purist. However, this story brought me back to 1998 and made me foolish that one time, I had something to believe in. Thanks, Major League Baseball! Thanks for nothing.