NEW YORK — Mark McGwire's voice repeatedly cracked with emotion today during a telephone interview with The Associated Press as he recounted telling his wife, parents and son that he had used steroids.

His voice breaking, McGwire says, "It's the first time they've ever heard me, you know, talk about this. I hid it from everybody."

During a 20-minute phone call today, McGwire says he called commissioner Bud Selig and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa earlier in the day to personally apologize.

McGwire says that when he used steroids, he never imagined he would have to talk about it to national media.