For Love or Money?

I remember my first day in high school. I was nervous. And not just nervous about the new building or the frightening height of the upperclassmen. I was nervous because I had to follow my sister there. You see, my sister was really popular in school. So much so that it was the year after she graduated that I was referred to (for the first time) by my first name instead of "her younger brother." I remember the guidance counselors in my school telling me what my sister's GPA was when she graduated, and asking if mine would be that high. My sister was also a cheerleader, and I can admit it was frustrating knowing I would never have as many girls show interest in me as guys showed interest in her. So what is a younger brother to do? I did pretty much anything I could to get attention. Having a popular sibling is tough. But I'll tell you what I didn't do...

I didn't stab her in the back for personal gain.

Not like Jay McGwire did.

Mark McGwire has been under tremendous scrutiny since his retirement from Major League Baseball about whether or not he took performance-enhancing drugs. It's been a sore topic, especially since the wave of major leaguers that have admitted their own steroid use. McGwire has been eligible for induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame for a few years now. And because of his alleged steroid use, incorporated with his vehement denials, McGwire has barely been able to wiggle the needle of interest among voters. A lot of it has to do with the fact that McGwire is seen as a catalyst for the "steroid era" in baseball. Another big part is the simple fact that McGwire won't just come out and admit that he did. Because let's be honest with one another. We know that McGwire took steroids.

We know that Pete Rose gambled on baseball.

We know Roger Clemens took steroids.

We really know Barry Bonds took steroids.

We also know that Andy Pettitte did.

And of those five players, who has the highest public approval rating right now? Andy Pettitte. And why?

He admitted it. And then he apologized for it. Remember we do live in a forgiving society.

So Jay McGwire, in all his wisdom, has taken it upon himself to tell the truth for his brother in his new book proposal, titled "The McGwire Family Secret: The Truth about Steroids, a Slugger and Ultimate Redemption."

This absolutely disgusts me.

I don't care that Jay and Mark don't talk anymore. Mark's a man! He can live in denial all he wants! But the best part of all this is the reasoning of Jay McGwire. He says, "My bringing the truth to the surface about Mark is out of love. I want Mark to live in truth to see the light, to come to repentance so he can live in freedom -- which is the only way to live." I feel gross for saying this, but that almost makes me laugh. He's saying this out of love?! Hardly. How about money? Oh, now we're talking. How about jealousy? Mark was a media darling throughout his career. Remember 1998? McGwire and Sammy Sosa had households tuned in every single night to see if one or both of them would slam another one. That must be humiliating for the no-name brother of a sports superstar.

Jay McGwire can call it love all he wants. We all know the truth. We know the truth about Mark. And now we know the truth about Jay. It isn't love. It's the sad cry of a jealous little boy.