Sammy Sosa feels persecuted over steroid speculation

Former Cubs star Sammy Sosa compared himself to Jesus Christ when asked by a blogger about speculation he took performance-enhancing drugs.“It’s like Jesus Christ when he came to Jerusalem,” Sosa told chuckbloggerstrom.com. “Everybody thought Jesus...

POLITICS
21 February 2017 Tuesday 16:39

Sammy Sosa feels persecuted over steroid speculation

Former Cubs star Sammy Sosa compared himself to Jesus Christ when asked by a blogger about speculation he took performance-enhancing drugs.

“It’s like Jesus Christ when he came to Jerusalem,” Sosa told chuckbloggerstrom.com. “Everybody thought Jesus Christ was a witch (laughing) — and he was our savior. So if they talk (bleep) about Jesus Christ, what about me? Are you kidding me?”

The interview was with former Cubs media relations employee Chuck Wasserstrom, who writes a personal blog. Sosa agreed to the interview because he “trusts” the author, according to the blog.

Sosa told Wasserstrom he would return to the organization to sing the seventh-inning stretch or attend the Cubs Convention if asked, but added: “I’m not going to go up there and say, ‘I’m here. Please bring me back and give me a chance.’ No way. I’m not hungry. I have too much pride. They know where they can find me. They’re in their way; I am in my way. If they want to have a meeting — of course ... I’m a gentleman. I’d never say ‘No’ to that. If one day it happens, I’d be happy. And if it doesn’t, we can talk again on Skype.”

Sosa admitted he made a mistake when he walked out on the Cubs at the end of the 2004 season, again insisting he got permission from manager Dusty Baker through a former trainer. Sosa lied about leaving early in the game, forcing the Cubs to announce they had videotaped evidence of him leaving.

His teammates weren’t happy about the way it played out, and one of them smashed his boombox with a bat. Sosa was traded to Baltimore after the 2004 season, fell out of favor with the organization and never came back to Wrigley Field.

Sammy Sosa Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Sammy Sosa is sworn in during a House Committe session investigating Major League Baseball's effort to eradicate steroid use on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2005.

(Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

Sosa admitted leaving the ballpark early was a “mistake.”

“I should have stayed there. It was the last game,” he said. “My intention was to finish my career in Chicago. That was my intention all the way. I never wanted to leave Chicago. I should have handled that situation differently, yes indeed. I recognize my mistake. But look, I have my pride, and I know I had a tremendous career in Chicago.

“When nobody knew who Chicago was, I put Chicago on the map. Like you said, if I could have done it again, I would have done it differently. The only thing we cannot do is turn back time. We can’t do that. But hey, we have to move forward. I understand I made a mistake. I regret it, definitely, but I have to move on.”

Sosa said he enjoyed watching the Cubs end their championship drought and praised Joe Maddon’s job. Sosa had problems with two of his former Cub managers, Don Baylor and Baker.

The Cubs have been reluctant to welcome Sosa back until he admits his transgressions, so perhaps this was a first step towards a reunion. But he still appears to be unable to openly address his alleged PED use, so that appears unlikely, at least for now.

“Hey, if they send me an invitation, then I would definitely say ‘yes,’” Sosa said. “This is my house — no matter what happened (at the end). My numbers — nobody is going to take them from me. Not even Mr. Cub Ernie Banks hit that many home runs. And I did it with style (laughing). But if they invite me, why not? One day, if they invite me, a lot of people will be very happy about it.”

Caption Scenes from Monday's Cubs spring training workout

Scenes from the Cubs' spring training workout in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 20, 2017. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Scenes from Monday's Cubs spring training workout

Scenes from the Cubs' spring training workout in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 20, 2017. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Tim Buss, dressed for the occasion, leads Cubs' warmups

Cubs strength and conditioning coordinator Tim Buss leads warmups in a top hat and sports coat on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Joe Maddon on Tim Buss, nuns and getting to know Eloy Jimenez

Cubs manager Joe Maddon reacts to strength and conditioning coordinator Tim Buss' attire during Monday's warmups and discusses having nuns at spring training and getting to know top prospect Eloy Jimenez on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Cubs' Jason Heyward takes batting practice

Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward takes batting practice on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, in Mesa, Ariz. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Caption Ben Zobrist on Cubs' first day of live batting practice

Ben Zobrist reacts after the Cubs' first day of live batting practice on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

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