It looks like St. Louis Cardinals fans are willing to forgive and forget.

ST. LOUIS — In what will surely go down as one of the more memorable days in the history of the Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up, Mark McGwire emerged to a rock-concert atmosphere, received a hero’s welcome from still-adoring fans, then faced a chaotic news conference in a dark, cramped hotel hallway — all in the space of less than an hour.

McGwire’s no saint, but he probably doesn’t deserve all the harsh criticism he’s gotten from the self-righteous media during all of this.  His apology was loaded with bullshit, but still – these journalists are mostly jealous scumbags who look to find any reason to destroy those more talented than they are.

But as far as the fans go, this is just further proof that if you’re awesome at sports, it doesn’t matter what you do and you’ll still be loved.  Broke a home run record because of steroids?  No worries.  Beat your wife’s ass like Jason Kidd did?  Standing ovation first game back from suspension.  Cheat on your wife without a condom and contract HIV?  As long as you admit it, you’re a national fucking hero.  Murder someone?  Appear on the cover of Madden.

Maybe these journalists are onto something.

[MLB.com]