http://www.liveleak.com/browse?q=Slugger Sun, 19 May 2013 15:38:23 -0400 Liveleak http://edge.liveleak.com/80281E/u/u/ll2/logo.gif http://www.liveleak.com/browse?q=Slugger Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:21:28 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=38f_1345675886 falsephrophet A $14.5 million settlement was reached Wednesday in the case of a Wayne family whose 2008 lawsuit claimed the maker of Louisville Slugger bats, a sports retailer and youth baseball organizers were responsible for brain damage their son suffered when he was hit by a line drive while pitching in a 2006 LittleLeague game.Steven Domalewski is accompanied by his parents, Joe and Nancy Domalewski, to therapy Wednesday. From left, lawyer Ernest Fronzuto joins parents Joe and Nancy Domalewski at their home earlier. The ball struck Steven Domalewski in the chest, causing his heart to stop beating and depriving his brain of oxygen for about 15 to 20 minutes. The settlement between the parents of Steven Domalewski and bat maker Hillerich &amp; Bradsby Co., of Kentucky, national retailer The Sports Authority, Inc., and New Jersey Little League was finalized before state Superior Court Judge Garry Rothstadt in Paterson .The lawsuit has drawn attention to the possible risks of using lightweight aluminum bats in youth games. Critics have claimed balls hit with a metal bat travel faster than with a wooden bat and havequestioned whether they should be considered safe for Little League use.Joseph Domalewski, 52, said his son, now 19, has grown as big as him. But he's nearly blind from his injury and has a limited vocabulary. He cannot walk without assistance.He sees a chiropractor and physical therapist regularly and when September rolls around, he will return to a school for special needs children in Clifton .The hope is that one day Steven Domalewski will be able to live independently, his father said. But that day is a long way off. "We're thankful to God for the progress that he makes every week," the father said, adding "his vocabulary is still very small. He can't walk on his own. I have to walk him."Domalewski's injury made headlines and drew attention and sympathy from families, lawmakers and professional baseball players. Since Steven was injured, his father, Joseph, has been speaking out against the bats. Several North Jersey towns banned non-wood bats and the New York City Council banned non-wood bats in high school games. The Domalewskis contended that the model YB504 youth aluminum bat used in the June 2006 game is much lighter and stronger than traditional wood models and aluminum bats made 30 years ago. The lighter bat, with its hollow barrel, sent the ball rocketing back at Steven, then 12, who was 45 feet away on the pitcher's mound."We hope that this settlement will bring about some changes," said Woodland Park attorney Ernest P. Fronzuto, representing the Domalewski family.In court, Fronzuto reviewed the numbers with the Domalewskis, who said they were accepting the defendants' offer in the best interests of the ongoing care of their son - the financial agreement provides the Domalewskis with money to care for Steven for the rest of his life, his father said. Terms of the settlement do not appear to require Louisville Slugger to stop manufacturing metal and graphite bats, nor require Little League Inc. to stop using them. According to Fronzuto's breakdown in court, of the $14.5 million, $698,035 goes toward the family's attorneys fees. Another $4,037,991 goes to family's attorneys as part of a previously agreed upon 25 percent contingency fee of any settlement or jury award resulted from the suit. The matter, which had been scheduled for trial Sept. 10, will now go before state Superior Court Presiding Chancery Judge Margaret Mary McVeigh at a later date to go over how the settlement funds will be managed and disbursed. The defendants' share of the settlement was not specified and attorneys declined to say how much was paid by each. Rothstadt ruled last month that there was enough evidence in the case for it to proceed to trial, and denied the defendants' motion that he dismiss it on a summary review of the facts. He also ruled that the Wayne Police Athletic League, who the defendants had sued to be included with them in the case, had not been at fault and dismissed the organization from the lawsuit. The defendants named had accused the PAL of gross negligence in failing to properly maintain its baseball facility; lacking a written safety plan; and not providing adequate first aid.The line drive struck the boy in the chest in the millisecond between heartbeats, causing his heart to stop beating and depriving his brain of oxygen for about 15 to 20 minutes. He spent eight and a half months in the hospital and was rendered severely handicapped.Over the years, he has continued to undergo intense physical therapy and has made improvements, including taking steps with help from his father. Last year, he attended his prom at the Passaic County Elks Cerebral Palsy High School. Rick Redman, a spokesman for the manufacturer of the Louisville Slugger, said, "The matter has been resolved," declining further comment. Hillerich &amp; Bradsby has previously denied the suit's allegations, while expressing sympathy for the Domalewskis. Little League Inc. has also stated that it regretted Steven 's injuries, but has stood firm in its position that there is no evidence aluminum bats are more dangerous than wooden ones."With this settlement, Steven Domalewski will receive the lifetime care he will require as a result of this tragic accident, a type of accident that is extremely rare in youth baseball," said Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League Baseball, Inc.The family had sued for emotional pain and suffering, punitive and other damages under product liability and consumer fraud laws. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=38f_1345675886 falsephrophet $14.5M settlement reached in family's Louisville <span class="highlight">Slugger</span> lawsuit $14.5M settlement reached in family's Louisville Slugger lawsuit Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:07:49 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bab0a7fd23 Red23 Some lad beats up some innocent kids and learns what karma is. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bab0a7fd23 Red23 <span class="highlight">Slugger</span> gets slugged Slugger gets slugged Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:00:35 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8a6_1266508257 gregory_peckory By Kathie O. Warco, Staff writer, kwarco@observer-reporter.com A Charleroi woman was arrested Sunday for allegedly hitting her son with a baseball bat during a confrontation at their home. Linda Lee Newstrom, 49, of 601 Rear Meadow Ave., is accused of hitting her 21-year-old son, Jeffrey Newstrom. When police arrived they could hear a woman screaming inside the house. Charleroi police Superintendent Mike Maytas said Linda Newstrom apparently came home highly intoxicated. She and her son then got into an argument. She told him to leave the house. As he started gathering his things, she reportedly came after him. Jeffrey Newstrom told police his mother again came after him as he tried a second time to gather his belongings and he had to push her off of him. When he went upstairs, she followed him, grabbing a Louisville Slugger baseball bat. He told police that she swung at him three times, missing the first two and connecting on the third swing. Linda Newstrom reportedly admitted to police that she went after her son. She allegedly told police, "I brought him into this world and I'll take him out of this world." Maytas said Linda Newstrom, who accused her son of hitting her, tried to go after him again while police were inside the house. Linda Newstrom was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct. She was released from Washington County Jail after posting $3,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday before District Judge Larry Hopkins. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8a6_1266508257 gregory_peckory Mother accused of hitting son with bat mom, son, baseball bat, domestic dispute, Louisville Slugger Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:16:58 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a8b_1220455018 smitty9000 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a8b_1220455018 smitty9000 louisville <span class="highlight">slugger</span> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:57:07 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24e_1234200611 pipni2 The Game is to find the opponent and hit him with that heavy baseball bat thing..all BLINDFOLD...that bat type thing is atleast 20-25 kgs heavy... normal person can't even lift it .... This time one spectator was taken as Opponent... ;) http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24e_1234200611 pipni2 Rural Sports- OWNED pakistan, india,rural,sports,funny,slugger,owned,pwned Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:24:20 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=102_1357352529 akifsm During its inaugural season Marlins Park proved to be pitcher friendly by only giving up 113 home runs counting for third fewest in baseball. But one high school slugger was able to change that perspective very quickly. Covina, CA high school slugger David Denson proved that Marlins Park could be very friendly to the batter as he smashed a ball 515 feet easily breaking Travis Harrison previous record of 504 feet at Tropicana Field in Tampa and Daniel Vogelbach 508 feet at Chase Field in Phoenix during the recent Power Showcase event. David Denson on the same level as Stanton Not even the Marlins slugger Giacarlo Stanton was able to match his power as Stanton's longest home run was 494 feet in Coors Field. Denson was using an aluminum bat but standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 252 pounds this man's power is not to be questioned. Denson is committed to playing college ball as he is headed to the University of Hawaii to prolong his professional career. According to Yahoo! Sports, Denson won the home run derby style competition in Miami with three of his home runs going over 500 feet. According to Larry Brown Sports , DPL Baseball says Denson hit 19 home runs in the showcase, including three off the scoreboard. The showcase's website says Denson won the home run derby with his 19 blasts. Usually high school kids hitting balls over the fence with their aluminum bats isn't that impressive but when he hits one off the jumbotron, it deserves recognition. The Miami Marlins might want to keep a close eye on Denson after bascially giving away their entire team during their disappointing season. The MLB might be looking at the new Harper and which ever team obtains his talents will have their fanchise player for a long time. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=102_1357352529 akifsm Power Showcase: David Denson hits a 515ft home run at Marlins Park cool Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:47:38 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5c8_1351225989 marinemom SAN FRANCISCO -- Nick Kimmel has been a baseball fan his entire life, but he never could have imagined four years ago that the game he loves would play such an important role in helping him get through recent events that were both tragic and challenging. In 2008, Kimmel decided to forego a partial scholarship offer to play baseball at Arizona State University, and instead enlisted in the Marines. Today, he's piecing his life back together after losing both legs and an arm in an explosion while on his second tour of duty last year in Afghanistan. Several Major League Baseball players, offering their time, resources and, most importantly, their friendship, have helped with the healing process. Giants pitcher Barry Zito is at the top of that list. Kimmel threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night, escorted by Zito, with whom he struck up a friendship during Spring Training earlier this year. Kimmel was one of 25 wounded Marines invited to Arizona to participate in Zito's Strikeout for Troops Foundation event, and since then, the two have stayed in close contact as Kimmel works to move on with his life as a triple amputee. This wasn't the first time Kimmel had thrown out a first pitch at a baseball game, but it was the first time he walked out to the mound on his own, without needing a wheelchair for assistance. In addition to Zito, Kimmel was also escorted by Hall of Famer Willie Mays. Just before he threw a strike to Giants closer Sergio Romo, Kimmel received a long standing ovation from the sellout crowd at AT&amp;T Park and from almost everyone in uniform in both dugouts. "I'm just so excited for him to be going out there, and I'm just honored to be a part of it," Zito said. When Kimmel met Zito at Spring Training, he was only a few months removed from the Dec. 2 explosion that severed three of his limbs. Initially quiet and timid, Kimmel eventually warmed up to Zito and several other Major Leaguers recruited by the pitcher to participate in the Strikeout For Troops spring event, including Mark Kotsay, Brad Ziegler and Jake Peavy. "He was really down," Zito said. "He was really quiet at first, but we established a relationship over the last eight months. Kotsay, Peavy, a lot of the other boys ... we text with him. He'd send little videos on the progress of his prosthetics, to all of us, in a group text. We were all supportive." And they were diligent about keeping in touch. "Growing up, baseball players, you're just awestruck," Kimmel said. "They don't even seem human. Now, they're just my friends." Kimmel lives in San Diego, and thanks to the Padres -- who gave him season tickets at no cost -- he attended all but 10 home games. For someone who says he "grew up living baseball," having that kind of access to his home team -- he also has an open invitation to attend batting practice whenever he wants -- was a treat. Kimmel garnered a ton of attention before the game Thursday, beginning with a news conference with Commissioner Bud Selig and four World War II-era baseball veterans who served the United States: Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda and legendary broadcasters Bob Wolff and Jerry Coleman. Kimmel, sitting in the front row next to his father, Rick, received a standing ovation in a jam-packed news conference room filled with several recognizable baseball dignitaries, including Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, retired slugger Frank Thomas, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and former Commissioner Peter Ueberroth. All of the men on the panel extended kind words to the Purple Heart Award winner. "I've had heroes in my life -- Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth," Lasorda said. "But I look at this Marine here ... this is my hero." Said Coleman: "When I to young groups, I ask them, 'What's your greatest weapon?' 'My arm, my leg.' 'No, it's your brain.' That's what you want to do, Nick, get that going. It'll work for you just fine." As Kimmel stood on the field preparing to throw out the pitch, he felt neither anxious nor nervous. Understandably, given what he's been through, throwing a baseball in front of 40,000 people is, really, no big deal. "The Marine Corps kind of numbs you to this kind of stuff," Kimmel said. "It hadn't really hit me a little bit until I got off the plane this morning. From all the missions that I've been trained to do, over and over and over, I'm not saying this is monotonous to me, but the nerves aren't really there. The stress isn't really there. "I've done so much high-stress stuff all the time, it's kind of another day of walking into the park, really. Other than it's a world-wide scene and it's the World Series." The visit may have been just another day at the park, but it's likely one few who witnessed in person will forget. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5c8_1351225989 marinemom Triple Amputee U.S. Marine Corporal Nick Kimmel Throws First Pitch At World Series Game. Nick Kimmel, USMC, U.S. Marine, World Series Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:36:45 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3ae_1335620030 gorgonzatropolis Detroit Tigers slugger Delmon Young went on a drunken, anti-Semetic rampage outside a posh Manhattan hotel early this morning - shouting "F-ing Jews" to a group of tourists before throwing one to the ground, sources said. The $6.5 million outfielder was so drunk that he had to be hospitalized after his arrest. Young directed his rage on four men who were in town for a bachelor party when he saw them talking to a yarmulke-and-Star of David-wearing pan handler outside the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue at 2:40 a.m. He allegedly shouted "You bunch of F-ing Jews!" and pushed the first member of the group that he could get his hands on - Jason Shank, a business man from Schaumburg Ill, sources said. The 6-3, 240-pound Young allegedly shoved the much smaller Shank, 32, into a hotel wall, and then tackled him before the scuffle was broken up, sources said. Shank and his pals quickly escaped into the Hilton. Young gave chase but was stopped by a guard, who made him prove he was a hotel guest, sources said. Someone in Shanks group called 911 - and the Tigers terror was arrested on charges of aggravated harassment in the second degree, a misdemeanor with a hate-crime element. Shank only suffered scratches and bleeding to his arm. Young was taken to Roosevelt Hospital to dry out before he could be processed. He was later taken to Midtown North Precinct, where he slept off the rest of his stupor. Young, who missed tonight's game against the Yankees, was arraigned around 7 p.m. and freed on $5,000 bail. Young's lawyer, Dan Ollen, called the bail "silly" and "ridiculous." "He's a world famous baseball player" who has every reason to come back to court, he said. "He has no criminal record," and "the chance of jail in this case is extremely unlikely." Ollen added that a videotape of the incident shows Shanks groups were the instigators. "Someone in the other party says something that causes him to react," Ollen said. He refused to elaborate after court, and said there's no audio on the tape. Young earlier said in a statement: "I sincerely regret what happened. I take this matter very seriously and assure everyone that I will do everything I can to improve myself as a person and player." Tigers brass said: "We need to allow the legal process to take its course. This is just the latest trouble for the hot-tempered Young, an outfielder who was suspended for 50 games in 2006 in the minors for chucking a bat at an umpire. A former Twin, Young joined the Tigers last last season and homered in his first playoff at bat for the team in last year's ALDS against the Yankees. This year the team signed him to a one-year $6, 725,000 contract. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3ae_1335620030 gorgonzatropolis Detroit Tigers' Delmon Young physically attacks man for being Jewish black, white, jewish, anti-senitism, hate crime, racism, baseball player Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:39:59 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=999_1284563173 SamSpudz Get twisted drunk and turn up the volume! The Dubliners & The Pogues perform The Irish Rover on the Dubliners 25th Anniversary Late Late Show in 1987. (note: Using new FLV converter, hopefully it will work, enjoy) The Irish Rover Traditional On the fourth of July eighteen hundred and six We set sail from the sweet cove of Cork We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks For the grand city hall in New York 'Twas a wonderful craft, she was rigged fore-and-aft And oh, how the wild winds drove her. She'd got several blasts, she'd twenty-seven masts And we called her the Irish Rover. We had one million bales of the best Sligo rags We had two million barrels of stones We had three million sides of old blind horses hides, We had four million barrels of bones. We had five million hogs, we had six million dogs, Seven million barrels of porter. We had eight million bails of old nanny goats' tails, In the hold of the Irish Rover. There was awl Mickey Coote who played hard on his flute When the ladies lined up for his set He was tootin' with skill for each sparkling quadrille Though the dancers were fluther'd and bet With his sparse witty talk he was cock of the walk As he rolled the dames under and over They all knew at a glance when he took up his stance And he sailed in the Irish Rover There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee, There was Hogan from County Tyrone There was Jimmy McGurk who was scarred stiff of work And a man from Westmeath called Malone There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule And fighting Bill Tracey from Dover And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann Was the skipper of the Irish Rover We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out And the ship lost it's way in a fog. And that whale of the crew was reduced down to two, Just meself and the captain's old dog. Then the ship struck a rock, oh Lord what a shock The bulkhead was turned right over Turned nine times around, and the poor dog was drowned I'm the last of the Irish Rover http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=999_1284563173 SamSpudz The Pogues and The Dubliners sing The Irish Rover. With Lyrics! the pogues, the dubliners, ireland ,irish, the irish rover, rover, drunk, drink, alcohol, shane mcgowan, ronnie, drew, yeehaaww, Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:19:23 -0400 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f51_1275887830 blackrabbit66 Talk about an odd couple: conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and outspoken gay-marriage advocate Elton John. But, according to a News Corporation (which owns Fox News) wire report, the Rocket Man, 63, serenaded the 400 guests into the wee hours Saturday night to celebrate the marriage of Limbaugh, 59, to Kathryn Rogers, 33, in the Ponce de Leon ballroom of Florida's fabled Breakers hotel in Palm Beach. Sir Elton's fee: $1 million, the report notes. Amid dozens of giant bouquets of white roses (and very tight security), reports the Palm Beach Post, guests at the wedding included former Bush adviser Karl Rove; actor-politician Fred Thompson; former Kansas City Royals slugger George Brett; Fox News commentator Sean Hannity; former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft; former Clinton adviser James Carville and his wife, GOP analyst Mary Matalin; and golfer Tom Watson. A wedding guest also tells PEOPLE that among the others was Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The couple met six years ago, while she was running a charity golf tournament and Limbaugh was in the process of divorcing for the third time. Sunday morning, a source tells PEOPLE, the newlyweds hopped Limbaugh's private Gulfstream jet for a honeymoon in Mexico, Africa and a couple other spots. Rogers is a direct descendant of President John Adams, and her father attended the U.S. Naval Academy with the future Arizona Senator (and 2008 Republican Presidential candidate) John McCain, reports NewsCore. The wire service also quotes the new bride as saying of the couple's 26-year age gap: "I'm sometimes not able to relate to the average person my age." http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f51_1275887830 blackrabbit66 Elton John Performs @ Rush Limbaugh Wedding rush limbaugh, elton john Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:34:22 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=895_1263255837 3v1ld34d ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire ended more than a decade of speculation on Monday, acknowledging that he used steroids during much of his Major League playing career, including in 1998, when he broke Major League Baseball's single-season home run record McGwire made the revelation in a statement issued to news outlets on Monday afternoon. McGwire addressed the situation further in an interview with Bob Costas on MLB Network. "I used steroids during my playing career, and I apologize," McGwire said in the release. "I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989-90 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." The Cardinals announced in October that McGwire would be the team's hitting coach for the 2010 season, and in three separate statements on Monday, club representatives pledged their continuing support for him. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig likewise issued a statement in support of the retired slugger. "I am pleased that Mark McGwire has confronted his use of performance-enhancing substances as a player," Selig said. "Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation. This statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark's reentry into the game much smoother and easier." According to McGwire's statement, his usage of PEDs spanned a large portion of his career, which included parts or all of 16 seasons. His first full season in the Majors was 1987, so he acknowledges beginning to use after his third full season. The 1993 campaign was the first in which he played fewer than 139 games, as he was limited by foot injuries. After missing large chunks of the 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons, McGwire returned to form with a vengeance in 1996, hitting a then-career-high 52 home runs and batting .312 with a .467 on-base percentage. He followed that up with a big 1997, and was traded to St. Louis that year, then broke Roger Maris' single-season homer record when he hit 70 in 1998. Tony La Russa, who was McGwire's manager for the vast majority of his career, came to his friend and teammate's defense. "No one on the teams I managed worked harder or better than Mark," La Russa said in a statement issued by the club. "And now, his willingness to admit mistakes, express his regret, and explain the circumstances that led him to use steroids add to my respect for him." McGwire's full statement reads as follows: "Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago. "I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career, and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989-90 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season. "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era. "During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a rib-cage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too. "I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry. "Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The Commissioner and the Players Association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did. "I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in St. Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come. "After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my Congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team." http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=895_1263255837 3v1ld34d McGwire admits to steroid use 3v1ld34d,entertainment,mlb,baseball mark mcgwire,steroid Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:20:13 -0500 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ae7_1263255570 3v1ld34d It's official: Retired slugger Mark McGwire admitted he used steroids during parts of his 16-year career in Major League Baseball. McGwire, who smacked 583 homers and drove in 1,414 runs, announced today in a statement that he used steroids as well as human growth hormone during his playing days. The former Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman confessed that he was using steroids in 1998 when he was competing with then-Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa for the National League home run title. By season's end, McGwire hit 70 home runs to Sosa's 66, and Big Mac broke the single-season home run record set by Roger Maris in 1927 when he belted 60 homers. "I wish I had never played during the steroid era," admitted McGwire. He added: "I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected." Suspicion into the possible steroid use by McGwire grew following his appearance before congress on March 17, 2005 alongside fellow ballplayers Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro. He declined to answer any questions about his past and only spoke about moving forward. In his statement, McGwire wrote: "I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 offseason and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season." According to the Associated Press, McGwire's decision to come clean was prompted by his decision to take over the hitting coach position with the Cardinals. St. Louis skipper Tony LaRussa is an ardent backer of McGwire and thinks his reputation will only improve by coming back to baseball. McGwire, 46, who has received only minimal support from baseball writers voting for him for the Hall of Fame, tallied 23.7 percent of the vote this year. With his admission to steroid and HGH use, he will likely receive more votes and possible induction to the HOF in the future. McGwire, who retired at age 38 due to injuries that may have been related to the side effects from his steroid use, may be used as a pinch hitter this year in addition to his coaching responsibilities. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ae7_1263255570 3v1ld34d Mark McGwire admits to steroid use 3v1ld34d,entertainment,mlb,baseball