McGwire’s silence suggests guilt to WADA

Mark McGwire took more hits a day after his congressional testimony, with the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency calling his evasions tantamount to an admission of steroid use.

A congressman at Thursday’s hearing wants McGwire’s name removed from a highway. Even McGwire’s former manager, Tony La Russa, was surprised by McGwire’s repeated refusals to deny using steroids.

“I think it would have been a lot better for him to say, ‘I did it and I’m sorry,’ ” former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent said.

McGwire has denied using illegal performance-enhancing drugs but refused to do so under oath Thursday when he appeared before the House Government Reform Committee, citing advice from his lawyer. McGwire repeatedly said he would not discuss his past.

“What I saw and heard was a confession,” WADA chairman Richard Pound said Friday during a symposium at Saint Louis University on doping in sports.

Committee member Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican, put it bluntly: “Is there any doubt in your mind that Mark McGwire took drugs?”

La Russa, who managed McGwire on both the Oakland Athletics and the Cardinals, said he believes McGwire’s denials.

“In my opinion, being under oath wouldn’t have changed what he said,” La Russa said at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. “I think he was overcoached. Mostly, I think it was a missed opportunity to explain that if you use substances like creatine and over-the-counter stuff that’s not illegal, you can get the benefits of a hard-core weight training program. And that was never discussed. You can get bigger and stronger doing this legally, and I didn’t hear that.”

U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, a Missouri Democrat, wants McGwire’s name stripped off the 5-mile stretch of Interstate-70 that was named after Big Mac following his 70-homer season in 1998.

Palmeiro offers to forgive Canseco

After what he called a “surreal” day testifying before a congressional committee, Rafael Palmeiro returned to spring training insisting his finger-pointing denial of steroid use came from the heart and that he is willing to forgive Jose Canseco.

“If it turns out to be a positive thing that he wrote this stupid book, and he turns himself around and if he can be a positive role model, I’ll forgive him,” said Palmeiro, who played with Canseco on the Texas Rangers from 1992-93.

Miller Park decision overturned

The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a decision that threw out a $94 million award to the families of three ironworkers killed when a crane collapsed during construction of Milwaukee’s Miller Park.

A state appeals court voted 2-1 on Sept. 30 that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America did not intentionally cause the three deaths.

The Supreme Court ruled 5-1 that the appeals court decision was incorrect and established that state law only requires a plaintiff to prove the defendant acted maliciously or with intentional disregard to the rights of the plaintiff.

Clearing the bases

St. Louis outfielder Reggie Sanders was recovering after an appendectomy, and the Cardinals don’t know when he’ll return to the lineup. … Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens strained his right hamstring and left the game against the Detroit Tigers after just 1 1/3 innings. … San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy strained his groin during the Padres’ game with Texas and could be out for two weeks.