Part 10 *(final part)* of McGwire story up on You Tube NOW

For now he is, yes. Because they haven't 'definitively' nailed Bonds yet. The reason it doesn't seem it is because Bonds is still playing, whereas McGwire has become a hermit. Bonds loves all this stuff, loves throwing it in our faces. Mac's not like that. But he's 'on the hook,' so to speak, from his Congressional testimony.

Plus, people wanted to belive Mark. They never wanted to bellieve Bonds. So when Mark 'fell,' he fell much harder because he let a lot of people down. That makes people pissed off. Nobody ever liked Bonds, so they not only don't care if he fails, they want him to.

 

You're my hero, Doc.
"Toasted Whole Wheat Flakes, Whatever"
Oh, Christ, that's funny.

 

Here is my PM to Inky to respond to his serious and respectful question to me previously (included per Rokski's advice)

Actually enhanced with additional info
__________________________________________________________________

From Inky:

"JDV, since McGwire is personally unwilling to talk about the past, how does he feel about you doing it? Does McGwire know you've done these videos and posted them to YouTube? Is he cool with it?"

____________________________

Alright a serious question deserves a serious answer.

1.) I have no idea about how Mark feels about me talking about this. I would assume he is not for it since he is private and if he wanted to talk he would.

However, when this all went down with Congress and he called me up he was happy with what I was saying because I am a better speaker than he is and have much broader knowledge of the issue than he does (sure he knows exactly what he did and did not do and has first hand knowledge of MLB but I know what is going on in other sports and far more about drugs, supplements, and training related to sports as well as testing and legal issues)

Although it is theoretically possible he was BS'ing me as well.

2.) No, to the best of my Knowledge Mark does not know I have done these videos - but perhaps someone has told him about it.

3.) Not sure if Mark is cool with it or not. I think after the Congressional testimony Mark was really depressed from what I heard (for good reason). He followed his lawyers advice and it turned out to be a disaster.

Even his PR guy told ME to wait a week to talk to him. I did not call him for a while as he was really out of it & I know Mark - he can be sensitive. When I called him a while later to just BS he had changed his number (he changes cell phone numbers ALL the time). I was not worried as I can get a hold of him if I need to and I have not been down in LA in a while anyway. I mean I know Mark and he is going to be bummed out (whether he admits it or not) until this HOF thing blows over.

As to the heart of your Q. I think part of him will not like it and be worried & think nothing will change (he can be a little fatalistic on certain things)

Part of him will love it because I am a fighter and standing up for him & telling the truth as I know it. Moreover, he will think its funny and entertaining. He always thought I was hysterical and we always played jokes on and teased each other. So, he would probably say "good old John" and show his friends and laugh I would think & hope. He would always joke that "that guy is going to be President someday"

Look, the heart of our relationship Mark trusted and respected me & Mark trusted almost nobody. He often followed my advice and listened to my council on many issues because he knew I had my head and heart in the right place & I was not looking for anything from him.

Rather, I looked after him - or did the best I could. Of course, Mark was older than me and a mega-star so there are things he helped me with as well. I mean we were close, you are talking about a guy who went to my dad's funeral & his brother helped carry the casket at Christ the King Church in Pleasant Hill, CA in 1994!

So, yes, I get angry (if defensive) when SG comes on and lies about "the past" that he is too young to know ANYTHING about. Mark had his faults but he had class & was NO ingrate- something SG should learn about.

I was privileged to work with such a fine athlete and person. The guy is a good guy...he really is and I think this whole CT thing to the Hall of Fame is killing him and hurting baseball. He can be such a good spokeperson and contribute so much. All he wanted to do after the game is coach, get married, & play golf and now look where we are?

He may remember it differently but that is my recollection.

What is the worst possible thing Mark did? Use something but didn't lie about it? At least he didn't do a Palmeiro & lie under oath to all of America & Congress! Now Mark can't even leave his freaking house practically. Who is hounding RP? That is garbage & don't give me well this is bc of the HOF & its "sacred" bs - this goes so FAR beyond that.

I think it sucks and some voters need to really check their hearts. It is not right.

If you want to vote him in then vote him in - if you want to keep him out then keep him out but leave him alone.

I can't say for sure - but this is my best guess.

As I said in the vids - Mark tried it his way and it was a total failure. Believe me I wish he would come out and tell the truth - whatever the FULL truth is and be done with it - defend yourself to the max if you are innocent or say your sorry for whatever and move on.

It is this "middle road" of silence that has hurt him and all of us the most and leads to endless speculation, rumormongering, and the story dragging on and on and on and on.

I stepped up bc I care about Mark and this issue and I am not afraid to answer Q's and take the heat. If I help him and people great, if not, well at least I tried.

Feel free to ask more good Q's

John

 

John,

Can you respect my request to be removed from the videos on YouTube. Do whatever you want with this story or the other footage, or make new footage.

-Special Guest

 

That's one of the best posts I've ever read on this site, and I mean that completely. Indian, you've said it better and more concisely than I have. This is a voice of experience, folks. This guy knows what he's talking about. Outstanding job, Indian.

Isn't it hilarious that the people who get most upset about the 'sanctity' of the game are the furthest removed from it? This is the classic 'ivory tower' argument. Mike Lupica never had to think about taking drugs to compete in MLB. Neither did George Will, or Keith Olberman. Same for Bob Costas. I could go on, but you get the point.

None of them was anywhere close to that level. And so, it is so much easier to say "I can't believe he did that." Of course you can't, you have NO idea what these guys face. It's much easier to put the whole thing in a 'did' or 'didn't,' compartmentalized little box. That's much easier. And it helps you sell the novels you're peddling on the side as you do a column here and there.

Life's not like that, people. Athletes are just like the rest of us. Hey, I could sit here and say that no one in the wake of Hurricane Katrina should have gone and stolen food from stores. But I wasn't there, I wasn't hungry like they were. It's the same thing, or very similar here: If you're not competing to stay in the big leagues, it's damn easy to say "How can he take drugs?", and feel good and mighty for saying it. Tell that to the person running against Marion Jones, or to the guy racing against Lance Armstrong. Or to the O-lineman trying to block Shawn Merriman.

This is not a cut and dry issue. It never was. This is a lot of what John, I think, has been trying to let you guys in on. He knows this world, we don't. Hell, I don't, and I'm his brother and I powerlift, too. It's different at the highest levels, and it's about shades of grey and not black and white.

Think of your own life, your own job(s). What would any of us do to keep our gig when we got to the 'big time?' Ask Marv Albert, or Jim Lampley. That's why I respect Whitlock for what he did - it takes balls to walk away from money and fame.

All these athletes are just people, many people used to being 'the man.' And that is going to be taken away because the guy next to you has an edge and you don't, or you're starting to feel your age.

I just hope a couple of people think about this stuff when they cast their HOF ballots on Mark, and others of this era. Remember, MLB knew this was going on; this didn't happen in a vacuum.

 

JDV,

No disrespect intended, but I'm pretty sure you came out swinging at my credentials the same way I did at yours. I'm willing to listen to your side of things, to prove to me you have any real reason to be considered someone to listen to on this topic.

If you choose not to do that, and continue to strike back at me, then that's your choice. But I don't beg for you to make your case. You've spent 16 pages not making it.

 

I agree with you BW but I think Mark was more "discraced" by his Congressional testimony performance when Bonds did not even have to show up??

Also, Mark takes things harder then Barry. Barry doesn't give a shit as long as he is getting paid and kicking a@@, which I love about Barry.

 

I agree with that. Bonds loves this stuff, loves being the bad guy. Mark doesn't, and never did. Remember when he retired, it was because he didn't want to compete any more at such a diminished state because of injuries. He basically took himself out, mentally. Bonds would never do that. Totally different mindset. So Bonds has and will continue to take more heat. I agree. If they can't run Bonds out before he breaks the record, Bonds will delight in flipping off everyone in the sporting world. You're right.

And I have to say, I LOVE Bonds for that. Love that mentality, even if I don't love the guy.