When Sammy Sosa apologized in a statement last month for making “mistakes” over the course of his baseball career, the question of exactly what those mistakes were was left hanging. After reuniting with the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk and being named to their Hall of Fame, Sosa briefly met with reporters and waffled over his statement, answering “no” when asked if he was admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs. “The statement is the statement,” he said at the Cubs Convention. “I don’t want to go back and (revisit it). I did it. Everybody supported it 90%. That’s why I’m looking forward. People are going to have different ways to approach it. But it doesn’t matter to me. The good thing is that I did it. I’ve got the support. I’m here tonight. I made everybody happy, and I’m going to go home Sunday.” So to be clear, was Sosa referring to using PEDs? “No,” he said. “I’m referring to … look, 21 years out (of the game). I have the fans that love me very much. I have to apologize to them because normally they see me play so many years that I was here.” The interview ended and Sosa thanked reporters for coming. The Cubs kept his access time brief, knowing he would be asked about the controversial subject. He also conducted separate interviews with the Cubs-owned Marquee Sports Network and WSCR-AM 670, the Cubs’ flagship station. Sosa is scheduled to appear on Ian Happ’s podcast Saturday. Asked if it was tough for him to apologize, Sosa said he was a “man of God,” adding “you have to understand that having an ego is not working sometimes. … I made my statement at the right time, and right now it’s working perfectly. I just want to continue to move forward. A lot of former players told me they were happy to see me back here.” So why was this the right time to make an apology? “I’m 56, buddy, but I look 25, right?” he said. That seemed to suggest he was getting old and thoughts of his mortality pushed him to admit to his past mistakes. Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is introduced as he returns to Chicago at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. The convention continues through Sunday. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)New Cubs player Kyle Tucker is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, from left, welcomes former players Derrek Lee and Sammy Sosa to the stage during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Young Cubs fans wait for Sammy Sosa to take the stage during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs player Miguel Amaya is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Derrek Lee is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs player Pete Crow-Armstrong is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)A Cubs fan wears an illuminated Wrigley Field marquee before the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs player Matt Festa is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs fans Eddie Garcia, left, and David Berreles show off their Sammy Sosa apparel before the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returns to Chicago and is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Young Cubs fans cheer for Cubs mascot Clark before the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs player Michael Busch is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Ryne Sandberg acknowledges fans as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Sammy Sosa acknowledges fans as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs player Ben Brown is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts speaks during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Shawon Dunston greets fellow former players as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Sammy Sosa acknowledges fans as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Billy Willams gestures a bat swing as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, left, and retired slugger Sammy Sosa greet during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs players watch video highlights of the 2024 season during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Former Cubs player Andre Dawson greets fellow former players as he is introduced during the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs manager Craig Counsell answers reporters' questions at the Loews Chicago Downtown Hotel before the opening ceremony for the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)A mannequin dressed in a new Cubs alternate jersey is on display before players gather for a social hour at the Loews Chicago Downtown Hotel leading up to the opening ceremony for the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer, center, laughs with reporters after taking questions at the Loews Chicago Downtown Hotel before the opening ceremony for the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Show Caption1 of 26Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is introduced as he returns to Chicago at the opening ceremony of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Jan. 17, 2025. The convention continues through Sunday. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Expand “No, I’m not too old,” he said. “Look, you make mistakes in life and you regret it. That’s one of the reasons that I (did it). Twenty-one years (away). … It was like a perfect storm, you know what I mean? I made the statement. I don’t know if I was expecting a response right away, but (Chairman Tom Ricketts) did it right away. I have to say once again thank you to the Ricketts family, and the Cubs organization, that I’m back here and I’m looking forward to being here more often.” Derrek Lee, who also was voted into the Cubs Hall of Fame, played with Sosa in 2004 and said he deserved to be recognized by the city for what he did over the years. “One of the hardest workers you’ll ever see, he came to play every day,” Lee said. “He admitted mistakes and apologized for them and moved on. I’m sure we’ve all made mistakes and we all want forgiveness. Time to move on. It’s been a long time.” Related Articles Chicago Cubs | Column: Sammy Sosa hogs the spotlight at the Cubs Convention, but Jed Hoyer’s future remains a hot topics for fans Chicago Cubs | What we heard at the Cubs Convention: 2025 roster not complete — and Dansby Swanson is healthy heading into camp Chicago Cubs | Sammy Sosa and Derrek Lee to be inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame this summer Chicago Cubs | Photos: 2025 Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Chicago Cubs | Chicago Cubs unveil a new ‘Blues Alternate’ uniform — and the navy ‘Wrigleyville’ jersey will be retired Few in the packed ballroom seemed to care why Sosa finally decided to make a statement. They were just happy he was back. He hugged many former teammates, including Ryne Sandberg, a staunch advocate of keeping PED offenders out of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sandberg, battling cancer, got the second-loudest reception, with fans chanting “Ryno, Ryno.” Lee said the difference between Cubs fans and fans from other teams was their unconditional support of the players. “That’s what makes Cubs fans special,” Lee said. “They’re always like that, from, well, not my first day here, but a couple months into my career here.” Lee was referring to Cubs fans chanting “Hee Seop Choi” — the name of the first baseman he was traded for — when Lee struggled early in 2004. They eventually got behind the new first baseman, and he became one of their most popular players. Sosa said he would be back to Chicago more often now and seemed genuinely happy to talk with reporters, even though there were few familiar faces from his time in Chicago. Covering Sosa was almost a separate beat in the 1990s, much like covering Michael Jordan was for Chicago Bulls writers. It’s hard to imagine a player these days who was as available on a daily basis as Sosa during his prime. While Sosa had an up and down relationship with the Chicago media, some of that was due to the old-fashioned newspaper wars that have long since faded away. Sosa’s “admission” of his past “mistakes” would’ve been a story that went on for weeks back in the day. But now it’s just a story with a brief shelf life, like any other modern-day controversy in the social media era.