Mark McGwire and Steroid Use

Title of Article: Mark McGwire comes clean, admits to using steroids in 1998

Web Address: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Mark-McGwire-comes-clean-admits-to-using-steroi?urn=mlb,212896

This article talks about how on Monday, former baseball player and Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids on and off for almost a decade and was a PED user during the year when he hit 70 home runs (1998). Mark also was said to have taken HGH but Mark himself didn't admit to that in his most recent statements. The most important excerpts from his statement made on Monday are as follows:

"I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

"I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected."

"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids," McGwire said. "I had good years when I didn't take any, and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry."

This is very big news because Mark McGwire is a very famous baseball player who is up for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and now that it is clear that he used steroids it may effect whether or not he gets in the Hall of Fame. Mark was an amazing baseball player and had many fans so I'm sure this has affected many people's opinions about him. These statements made by him could make others come clean about their wrongdoings, but it is very unlikely that will happen in this day and age.

In my opinion, steroids are ruining the game and even making past records easily attainable with the help of steroids. Sure, you have to have lots of skill as well, but it is still a form of cheating. No one involved with steroids should be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of how they dishonor the game and its past by taking them. I'm glad Mark finally came out about his steroid use because 1). He would have eventually been questioned even more in spring training, and 2). It shows that he was sorry for his actions and that steroids are not right for players to be taking.

Avatar Tops 1 Billion Dollars

Title: `Avatar' rules with $68.3M, tops $1B worldwide (AP)
Website: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/avatar-rules-with-683m-tops-1b-worldwide-ap

This article is about how director James Cameron now has two movies of which he has directed that have topped 1 billion dollars worldwide in sales. His first one was Titanic back in 1997 and is the current leader with 1.8 billion dollars. Avatar shot past the 1 billion dollar mark and past other movies such as The Dark Knight and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Avatar is now ranked number 3 right behind Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. James Cameron hopes that his current film Avatar will pass the currently ranked #2 film so he will have directed the two top grossing films of all time.

This movie has affected and will continue to affect millions of people worldwide. Avatar is said to be the movie that will change film making history because of its use of new special effects and the whole 3D option. This article shows just how big of an impact this movie has already had on the film making industry and the lives of people everywhere. Avatar may turn out to be a turning point in film history.

In my opinion, Avatar very well could be the movie to change how future movies are made. I went to see the movie and the special effects were unlike anything I've ever seen before. It was like seeing Star Wars for the first time back in the day. This movie has it all, but the use of special effects and 3D really could change the way how sci-fi thrillers or action movies are made in the future.