January 18, 2010 7:38 PM

Mark McGwire Still Lying, Canseco Says

By
CBSNews
(CBS/ AP)  Jose Canseco says Mark McGwire is still lying about his use of steroids and his former manager Tony La Russa isn't telling the truth either.

McGwire admitted Monday that he used steroids for a decade, including when he hit 70 homers in 1998, but denied Canseco's claims that he injected himself and McGwire with steroids in bathroom stalls.

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"I've defended Mark, I know a lot of good things about him," Canseco told ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago on Tuesday. "I can't believe he just called me a a liar. Umm, there's something very strange going on here.

"I even polygraphed that I injected him, and I passed it completely. So I want to challenge him on national TV to a polygraph examination. I want to see him call me a liar under a polygraph examination."

In Canseco's 2005 book, "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big," Canseco claimed he introduced McGwire and other stars to steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. He wrote about injecting himself and McGwire in bathroom stalls, and how the effects of the drugs were the reason he hit 462 career home runs.

Canseco and McGwire helped lead the Athletics to a World Series sweep in 1989.

"Jose is out there doing what he's doing, but I'm not going to stoop down to his level," McGwire told ESPN on Tuesday. "None of that stuff happened. He knows it. I know it. I'm not going to stoop down to that level."

La Russa was McGwire's manager for nearly all of his 16-year career in both Oakland and St. Louis. He was also his fiercest defender, especially after The Associated Press reported McGwire used androstenedione during his record-breaking season in '98. Andro, as it was known, was made a controlled substance until 2004, when it also was banned by baseball.

Photos: Steroids Greatest Hits

The manager said he didn't know until Monday that McGwire used steroids.

"That's a blatant lie," Canseco said. "There are some things here that are so ridiculous, and so disrespectful for the public and the media to believe. I just can't believe it. I'm in total shock. These guys remind me of politicians that go up and just lie to the public and expect to get elected."

McGwire, who retired in 2001, had been widely ridiculed since he evaded questions before a congressional committee five years ago, repeatedly saying he wasn't there to address his past. His confession was sparked by the Cardinals' decision in October to hire him as hitting coach.

Canseco has said he is considering filing a class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the players' association. He says he's been ostracized for going public with tales of steroids use in the sport.

"I've proved it. I'm 100 percent accurate," he told the radio station. "I never exaggerate, I told it the way it actually happened. I'm the only one who told it the way it actually happened."


CBS/ AP
Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
by lwk_1 January 18, 2010 10:05 PM EST
Mac averaged 36 homers his frist six years. From 1996-99 he averaged 61. That tells the story. What's Albert taking?
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by Berkeley-SkirtLifter January 14, 2010 4:20 PM EST
ChEAP (Chemically Enhanced Athletic Performance)

Everyone speaks of the "Steroid Era" in the past tense ... as if it's over. The use of steroids has waned but it's far from over. Plus, the players like Manny are still playing and putting up numbers.

Steroid enhanced performance will continue for years. New 'roids will be developed. New compounds will be discovered that enhance performance without 'roids.

Bottom Line:

Chemically Enhanced Athletic Performance is here to stay. ChEAP is here forever.

I'll work on an acronym for CHEAT.
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by rondivoo January 14, 2010 11:12 AM EST
Mark McGwire... ugh! Think about what he really said when he 'confessed.' He said he used steroids for over 10 years, but he he just took 'light' doses and he only did it to help him heal from injuries. He also said the performance enhancing drugs didn't help him hit homeruns or boost his athletic performances... and that his ability to hit so many homeruns and break Maris's record was given to him from God. Yeah. God sat up in heaven and said, "I'm gonna choose Mark McGwire to be a great homerun hitter... I'm gonna give him this astounding ability to be a power hitter and hit gobs of homeruns, 'cause that' is what I want to do." After all, hitting homeruns is really important to God.
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by stinamond January 14, 2010 10:40 AM EST
When Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire were having their race for home run king in 1998,I was just a postal worker. Tony Larussa was paid then as a baseball coach.How come I,as a postal worker,knew both of these guys were using roids and Larussa didn't? Mark and Tony are both lying here.Funny what was done to Canseco hasn't been done to A-ROD or Clemens. Personally,I'll take an honest &%%*()! over a lying &%%*().
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by airjackie January 14, 2010 12:17 AM EST
This is America a white sport figure need only say sorry after the statue of limitations are over so he wont go to jail for generations of using drugs and even lying under oath. Now Tiger Woods is different he cheated on his wife and we have to make sure his is destroyed and never forgiven. We have Christian Values and Tiger can't be forgiven but McGwire can. Kids now know cheating beyond forgiveness but using drugs and saying your sorry is cool. Time to kick kobe Bryant out of basketball because he's black and cheated on his wife. Gov. Mark Sanford is forgiven because well ok he's white and that's enough.
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by betterusa January 14, 2010 9:35 AM EST
airjackie, you are a pathetic and prejudice human being and showing your ignorance. Why do you want to make this a race thing? Was Vick forgiven? Was Kobe forgiven? Was Ali forgiven? Is Bonds going to be forgiven? It was unanimous that no comment favored McGwire nor have I heard any sportswriters give him a clean slate. What makes you believe he is so forgiven and all your non-white professional athletes are being crucified daily? McGwire is a liar, La Russa is a liar and Canseco is being honest. These facts are evident to the intelligent public. Join up.
by rondivoo January 14, 2010 11:02 AM EST
To me, it isn't apparent that race plays a part... I think it's more a political thing... who it is and the connections they have. McGwire has not been 'forgiven' by sports writers or the general public. We all see his hiprocrosy and the fact that he still isn't telling the whole truth. He is trying to protect what little is left of his 'image.' Kobe was forgiven and so was Michael Jordan, also Michael Vick. Tiger Woods was regarded on a much higher level than other sports figures so that is why his activites have received so much attention and criticism.
by baileyccc January 14, 2010 12:09 AM EST
Look at this mess, Canseco told the truth and is black balled from baseball, McQuire lied all those years before coming clean and he is in baseball. There is a lesson to be learned here. Posted by baileyccc
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by rwsmith29456 January 13, 2010 11:36 PM EST
What difference does it make how, where or when steroids were used. McGwire admitted to using them on his home run record. Why trot out sordid details that don't mean squat?
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by bankersvox January 13, 2010 11:12 PM EST
Isn't time we just move on ? Mark said his peace, and he is sorry, what more do you want ? I don't believe that anyone here is without some kind of sin, or lie, so who are we to judge ???
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by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01 January 14, 2010 1:28 AM EST
by bankersvox January 13, 2010 11:12 PM EST
Isn't time we just move on ? Mark said his peace, and he is sorry, what more do you want ?
========================================================

Well, someone can sincerely apologize for stabbing your mother.

In Mark's case, he's saying he's sorry he bought a knife.
by NYPD1966 January 13, 2010 10:20 PM EST
McGwire was always my favorite player..but reading this I have to side with Canseco. How messed up do you have to be to make Canseco look honest?
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by lwk_1 January 13, 2010 10:14 PM EST
What reason would Canseco have to lie? Besides, he passed a polygraph when he made his charges. Will McGwire now have the guts to take up Jose's challenge for a polygraph? As far as LaRussa goes, if he had no suspicion regarding either one of these guys, there is only one thing to say about him: He's either been lying, too, or had his head up his a$$ for all this time.
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