Nothing like two guys that aided in butt-raping the sport of baseball catching up and spreading good cheer via the press.

Barry showed some McGwire love when he (finally) showed up to the 2000 Giants team reunion:

“I have a really good friendship with Mark McGwire. I’m proud of him,” the 45-year-old Bonds, back in the Bay Area for a reunion at AT&T Park of the Giants’ 2000 NL West champion team, said when asked what he thought of McGwire’s January admission. “We’ve had a great relationship throughout our entire lives and throughout our career. I’m proud of what he did. I’m happy for him.”

McGwire heard the news and was all like “Awwww. That’s so nice of him. Remember when we used to talk about steroi…oh right. Still waiting on you to ‘come out’”:

“It’s very cool. Barry is a great player, was a great player in this game, many MVPs,” McGwire said. “The guy could do it all. It makes me feel really good. It’s really cool to be back in the game. … I’m a big boy, I understand that things happen in your life and you’ve got to confront them, and you also have to move on from them and learn from them.”

Still just waiting on you Barry. You let us know when you want to talk and we’ll all pretend like we are shocked and fall out of our chairs. We’re pretty good at it now. “What?! Rosie O’Donnell is gay?! Get out.”, “Wait. Clark Kent and Superman are the same person!?”, “No way! Lindsey Lohan died! Shocked. I’m shocked.” (Put this last one in your pocket).

This is great hearing Bonds and Mac talk it up! They should get the whole team back together…what’s Sammy Sosa up to these days?

Oh yeah, he retired and shrunk down back to his pre-roids weight where he looked like Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

via ESPN

Dammit.  You pussies.  The State Senate has voted to rename Mark McGwire highway.

McGwire has now admitted he used steroids, and the state Senate voted unanimously Monday to rename the section of interstate the Mark Twain Highway. The measure now goes to the House.

The bill also would name sections of a few other highways for noted Missourians.

We wanted the highway to stay with the current McGwire name not just because he was still pretty kick ass in 1998. (Sure he did ‘roids, but that’s not news anymore)  but also because its just a crap chunk of 70 that I’m pretty sure we can spare and most importantly, our state senate really should be focusing on something more important than whether or not a slab of asphalt should or should not be named after McGwire.

[Columbia State Senator] Schaefer says it might be wise to name roads only for the deceased, because they can’t do something worth changing the name over one day.

Good thinking Schaefer, lets name roads only after people that no one remembers who they are.  If we are being real for a second, if someone died and is awesome enough for a a tribute, we are going to name a real street or a building after them, not a chunk of 70 that people only complain about driving over.

For the record if something happens to us, please name a park after us.  We would like it to be in North St. Louis and have clearly designated areas for crack dealing as well as hobo knife fights.

via KSDK

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with our state senators?!  First they hate on poor defenseless nudie bars, then they try to strong arm the zoo, and now…well they are kicking a man while he’s down.

A Missouri state senator is trying to remove Mark McGwire’sname from a five mile stretch of Interstate 70 that runs through St. Louis. It’s the same lawmaker who pushed for the road to be renamed in honor of McGwire after his 1998 home run fueled season.

State Senator Ryan McKenna says that it’s now inappropriate in light of McGwire’s steroid admission.

Ok, so McGwire was taking the roids while we all collectively gave him a fan-job. Yeah, thats bad. But you know what? At the time he was basically a god and all we did was take a little stretch of a highway in the ugliest part of downtown and basically fake named it.  Yes, fake named it.  Its not really the Mark McGwire highway, its just highway 70…with a sign over it.

And now Senator McKenna wants to take the sign away.  Probably just so he can look cool and win the next election to state senate…you know because of all the power he wields.

That’s all.  He’s not “un-naming” anything, he just wants a sign taken down.  At this point, who gives a crap?  The dude knows he screwed up, and at this point who cares about a sign on the north part of downtown.  No one seems to care about the other ones there, like “Please don’t shoot other people.” or “It would be great if you would take a dump on the street homeless guys.”

We know its probably unpopular decision, but we at Punching Kitty say Don’t Take McGwire’s Sign!

Who’s with us?!

via KSDK

Over the last weekend the national media descended on St. Louis for a chance to talk steroids with Tony LaRussa, Albert Pujols and of course Slightly-Less-Big Mac.

Pujols had some really nice supportive things to say about McGwire to the press, but we can’t shake this feeling that Pujols is a little confused about what Mark confessed too exactly…

Maybe not though.  McGwire did seem pretty happy dancing with those “Single Ladies” in that video.

We here at Punching Kitty headquarters weren’t exactly surprised by Monday’s revelation that former home run champ and current St. Louis Cardinals batting coach Mark McGwire finally came clean, admitting that he did in fact take steroids during his career.

However we can’t say that about everyone.

One South County Cardinals fan apparently fell back against the wall clutching his chest while whispering “dios mio!” to himself like some old Latina woman.  Then he got angry and proceeded to do what angry people do, they go to the internet.

In a Craiglist posting entitled “Old McGwire Newspapers” our man has this to say (screenshot below)

Been holding on to these old Post Dispatch special edition newspapers when [McGwire] broke the home run record. No value now. Maybe you can use them for fire kindling.

You think he’s sad now, just wait until he finds out pro wrestling is fake!

In a story about as shocking as the day Rosie ODonnell came out of the closet, today St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach and former home run champ Mark McGwire confessed he took steroids during his major league career, including 1998.  Which of course is the year that JD Drew first played major league baseball…oh and he and some crazy black guy hit a bunch of home runs.

McGwire said he also used human growth hormone, and he didn’t know if his use of performance-enhancing drugs contributed to some of the injuries that led to his retirement, at age 38, in 2001.

“That’s a good question,” he said.

He repeatedly expressed regret for his decision to use steroids, which he said was “foolish” and caused by his desire to overcome injuries, get back on the field and prove he was worth his multimillion salary.

“You don’t know that you’ll ever have to talk about the skeleton in your closet on a national level,” he said. “I did this for health purposes. There’s no way I did this for any type of strength use.”

I’ll give him credit for this though: McGwire actually called the family of Roger Maris to tell them first and apologize!

McGwire hit a then-record 70 homers in 1998 during a compelling race with Sammy Sosa, who finished with 66.

On Monday, McGwire called Pat Maris, the widow of Roger Maris, who had held the home run record with 61 in 1961, and admitted taking steroids.

“I felt that I needed to do that,” McGwire told Costas. “They’ve been great supporters of mine. She was disappointed and she has every right to be.”

Told by Costas that certain Maris family members have said that they now consider Roger Maris’ 61 the authentic home run record, McGwire responded: “They have every right to.”

When asked by Costas why he preferred to stand for the interview, McGwire replied “Are you kidding?  I’ve had more things poke me in the ass than Paris Hilton.  I don’t really poop any more, it just kinda ‘sweats’ out of me back there.”

We here at PK aren’t hypocrites though.  We advocated that Big Mac come out and just say what everyone already knew.  Stop acting like we are all morons and just say it!  He did.  We are cool now.  We aren’t going to be like some of the press that urged him to come out only to kick him in the jimmy when he finally did.

Stop by any time for a beer Mac!

Quotes and video clips via ESPN

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, long-time Cardinal skipper Tony LaRussa will return to the Cardinals for at least the 2010 season, which is pretty much what every one thought would happen.  The Cardinals return next year with at least the best hitter in the game in Pujols and the tandem of Cy Young candidate pitchers in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, together that is a recipe most managers, especially Tony, just can’t pass up.

What is a surprise is that Tony has brought along an old friend: Former home run champ and current baseball recluse Mark McGwire as the team’s new hitting coach.

Crrraaazzzy!

What will it be like in spring training with the media?  Will the players that haven’t played or worked with him before work with Big Mac?  I don’t know, so take our poll at the bottom of this post to let everyone know your thoughts.

What I do know, is that I’ve been sitting on this video for the minute Tony officially decided to return as manager: