Mark McGwire’s M*A*S*H Reference

I’m not a big fan of sports but even I recognize the name Mark McGwire and, like many others, read about his admission that he used steroids last week. What I did not read was his reference to M*A*S*H. It’s not quite a reference on television, I admit, but it is an interesting connection to M*A*S*H. I received the following e-mail from someone who either did not leave their name or had the name lost during its transit through the Internet:

Mark McGwire, in his confession to using steroids – 1/11/10 – McGwire’s initial reason for turning to steroids was understandable, if not completely forgivable. He said he was a “walking MASH unit” in the mid-’90s, so frustrated with his injuries that he considered retirement.

I think it says a lot that he knew we all would understand what a “walking MASH unit” is.

According to this transcript from the San Jose Mercury News, the exact quote is as follows:

As far as using it on a consistent basis, the winter of 93/94. I did it on health purposes. If you look at my career in 93, 94, 95, 96, I was a walking MASH unit.

McGwire used the reference again when he called Joe Posnanski this of Sports Illustrated. Although I understand what he meant I’m not sure it works all that well. The steroids were more akin to a MASH unit, performing “meatball surgery” on McGwire so he could head back out to the front line (which in this case was the ball field). A better comparison would be between McGwire and a wounded soldier.