Posted by tom 1. Genetics play a huge factor--everyone will experience different benefits AND side effects. This includes injuries and strength/size gains. Not to mention there are dozens of different steroids with varying effects/intensities/purposes. Not many people realize this. 2. That said, steroids can wear down tendons and ligaments because the pace of muscle growth exceeds the pace of tendon/ligament growth. That's why are can be increased risk of injuries and muscle tears. That's also why some bodybuilders (or any other regular steroid user) supplement their cycles with growth hormone, if they can afford it. GH is thought to help the joints when the muscles are growing fast. Stacked with testosterone, it is theorized to help "permanize" some muscle gains. It is also excellent in keeping bodyfat levels down, allowing a person to eat virtually whatever he/she wants and still be fairly lean. 3. I believe McGwire may have started using regularly from around 1992 (the beginning of his "goatee" era LOL), his "comeback." That's when I notice the size difference, and he gradually got thicker from there as well. But I find it more evident when you compare him pre-goatee to beginning-goatee, than from beginning goatee to end of his career. 4. Those "acne scars" you see around his jaw/neck aren't from nothin'..... do you see them pre-90s? 5. He's always been a home run hitter--that's no question. Steroids, I believe, gave him distance. Also, I would be lying if I didn't think that it gave him some extra home runs on top of his already impressive home-run output (home runs that would have been warning track or deep fly balls otherwise). 6. You mentioned his home run numbers didn't surge until around '95 or '96.... I believe it could have simply been due to the fact that he just really found his "grooving" stance/swing. Throughout his career, Mark seemed to have experimented with a variety of stances and swings: pidgeon-toed, legs far apart, legs close together, more upright, more crouch, back elbow up, both hands on bat in follow-through, one hand off, etc. From around '97 on, he mainted pretty much the exact same stance and swing, and I think it's because he finally found a comfortable execution that maximizes his power stroke, and stuck with it. I know that personally I can swing and hit the ball far better in certain stances and swings than in others. Still, his home run output was impressive with whatever stance he experimented in. 7. Steroids can do WONDERS for endurance...and that is huge considering a grueling 162-game season. That is why Mac can keep consistent all year long while others burn and fizzle out. All that being said, this is my personal belief and I hope I've shed some light about steroids. For a legitimate medical drug, it's really gotten a far worse rap than other legal drugs that have proven to be a direct link to death: cigarettes and alcohol. We can blame this on sensationalized media. What started the issue back in '91 under the Bush administration (GW's dad) was cheating in youth sports. Then the media would come up with every scare tactic to get kids away from roids (which I agree with---kids should absolutely not go near them!). Side effects from roids? Do the media tell you that "shrunken testicles" are actually temporary and only while you're on? Of course not--that would defeat the purpose of sending a public service announcement. ok, enough writing from me LOL I'm still a Big Mac fan for life! The point is he didn't break any rules if he used, and still would have hit a ton of HRs, although not quite as many or as far.
on 10/29/2006, 14:50:30, in reply to "Sorry"
this is what I know about steroids (you'll just have to trust me that I know far more about them then the average bear, having worked with people on them and being involved in the bodybuilding industry in one form or another in the past):
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