https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-publicly-reuniting-with-slugger-sammy-sosa-at-fan-convention-after-he-released-apology-statement-204636247.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9zcG9ydHMueWFob28uY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFrmvlQb7gUaEhVvjBPFSeJEJV2lGkGexEWKs-eZGNc1m3mgA3I3T0ylP9imNL50mPfWJrVRNwzQtbhKpqV9OX9pycy7jyKq9vaYz8UUNnlcn_cYGetpvxZsYoTkvQzCYVfdehW8pv5jCp8i2DFYjZHQ9lz_lixduiS8t1VYdUq6

 

"I left it all on the field for the Cubs and Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy.

"I loved to see the fans at Wrigley in the Right Field Bleachers every home game.

"I understand why some players in my era don't always get the recognition that our stats deserve.

"There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games. I never broke any laws, but in hindsight I made mistakes and I apologize.

"We accomplished great things as a team, and I worked extremely hard in the batting cage to become a great hitter.

"Cubs' fans are the best in the world, and I hope that fans, the Cubs and I can all come together again and move forward.

"We can't change the past, but the future is bright. In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

In response to that apology letter, team owner Tom Ricketts released a statement thanking Sosa for his apology and inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention, which takes place in January, for the first time.

Sosa has always been unwilling to admit he took steroids.  Notice how Sosa only hinted that he took steroids in the quotes but never actually comes out and says it.  I guess that was a good enough public “apology” for Ricketts.

Anyways, I hope the Cubs convention is at night because last I checked vampires can’t roam around in the daylight…

Edited December 20, 20241 yr by WhiteSox2023

It’s kind of funny he says never broke any laws, the whole money/drug drop off pick up thing in the airport was definitely illegal lmao

I certainly wasn't Sammy's biggest fan when he was playing but it's absolutely absurd that Ricketts forced a Steroids apology out of him to let him back back around the organization.

Edited December 20, 20241 yr by Rowand44

3 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

It’s kind of funny he says never broke any laws, the whole money/drug drop off pick up thing in the airport was definitely illegal lmao

I also remember his teammate infielder Manny Alexander got busted a year after he left the Cubs when he was with the Red Sox in 2000 with steroids in his car.  Obviously, he was already on a new team by then but I remember thinking that Manny Alexander was probably Sosa’s steroids mule when they were teammates.

26 minutes ago, Rowand44 said:

I certainly wasn't Sammy's biggest fan when he was playing but it's absolutely absurd that Ricketts forced a Steroids apology out of him to let him back back around the organization.

What apology?  Sosa technically didn’t admit to using steroids.  That’s the funniest thing about this.

I think he should apologize to the Sox for not taking steroids earlier in his career.

10 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I also remember his teammate infielder Manny Alexander got busted a year after he left the Cubs when he was with the Red Sox in 2000 with steroids in his car.  Obviously, he was already on a new team by then but I remember thinking that Manny Alexander was probably Sosa’s steroids mule when they were teammates.

Pretty sure Manny was the pickup guy in the airport but he screwed it up.  I can’t find any stories specifically about that situation, only aggregated stories about Sosa

The Cubs absolutely used the s%*# out of Sammy Sosa knowing full well he was drugged up to the max.  It never stopped them from exploiting him and profiting from the show he put on.  Screw them and their sanctimonious BS.  I sure also didn't see them do this to any other juicers that went through their franchise.

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

What apology?  Sosa technically didn’t admit to using steroids.  That’s the funniest thing about this.

And he shouldn't have to. He literally played in the "Steroid Era" 

That name wasn't given to that timeframe because a handful of guys were juicing. 

Additionally, Mark McGwire became an MLB coach, ARod and David Ortiz are on national MLB broadcasts, etc. 

Lastly, this insistence for Sosa to have to "apologize" in order to be welcomed back to an organization that is owned by someone who wasn't involved when Sosa committed his malfeasances seems petty. 

Everyone is aware that Sosa, and others, are flawed. It was a different era that shouldn't be ignored. He doesn't have to have a statue or parade, but completely ostracizing a fan favorite who was a huge part of objectively saving baseball after the strike has always been stupid.