In the less than 24 hours since Mark McGwire's admission of steroid use during his career, and the expected avalanche of reaction -- thanks to 24-hour sports talk on TV and radio -- some of the most interesting aspects of that reaction have been how it breaks down among jocks and non-jocks.For example, Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, who has hired McGwire as the team's batting coach, believes his former player has said he was sorry and now it's over. Now it's not a story.
He apparently expects no questions, or at least less of a furor in spring training for his team. And he's not alone.
McGwire himself seems to believe he's taken his medicine, thrown himself at the feet of the media and the people, and he awaits his forgiveness. After all, we're a forgiving society.
Likewise, LaRussa's good friend, college basketball legend Bob Knight, an ESPN analyst, was interviewed about the matter and -- amazingly -- said he never understood all the furor over performance-enhancing drugs. Knight said because Gatorade replaces electrolytes lost during physical activity, it was probably more of a performance-enhancing substance than certain drugs. (Who took the fiery, no-BS Bobby Knight that was the coach at Indiana in the 1970s and 1980s and replaced him with this guy?)
Many players and pundits remain critical of McGwire's actions, the timing of his admission and even the format of his admission. Still, those who remain blindly supportive seem to share sports experiences and an ability to smile, ask for forgiveness and move along. No harm, no foul, in their minds.
What they might find, though, is that this matter could be different than some they've experienced in the past.