When you see a picture of Sammy Sosa, there are two things that probably come to mind: someone who used to play for the Chicago Cubs until he was busted for alleged doping, or that pseudo-white guy who looks nothing like Sammy Sosa. Sammy still looks only vaguely like Sammy Sosa, but he doesn’t care what you think about that.

Back in 2009, Sammy appeared in public looking much paler than usual. A former Cubs employee who was friends with Sammy claimed he was going through a skin rejuvenation process. Sammy later claimed it was the result of a night cream he was using to soften his skin and it just so happened to also cause a little bleaching. Some also thought it might be the result of steroid use or a skin infection, but come on – it was totally skin-bleaching cream.

Sports Illustrated recently caught up with Sammy for the 20th anniversary of the 1998 Major League home run record chase (which ended in a pile of embarrassment when a bunch of players – like Sammy and the home run winner Mark McGwire – tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs). It’s sort of impossible to talk about Sammy, who now lives part-time in Dubai, without bringing up the bleached elephant in the room, but he’s not bothered.

“Look at what I am today. This is my life, and I don’t take garbage from nobody. I do whatever I want.”

Sports Illustrated also spoke to Sammy’s 21-year-old son, Sammy Sosa Jr., who echoed his dad’s feelings about not caring.

“It doesn’t affect him, but I’m sure he feels a certain way. Like, ‘Man, I gave so many years and so much hard work for you guys, and now you want to undermine all that because of some decisions I’m making – some personal decisions that don’t affect you at all?'”

Sammy’s son also says he doesn’t really know much about his dad, adding that Sammy Sr. is very mysterious and closed-off. Okay, now I’m starting to think that maybe this new Sammy isn’t actually Sammy at all, but a poorly-made replicant from a factory with limited access to paint colors. And the real Sammy Sosa is secretly living in the basement of the Cubs’ clubhouse. Sammy Jr. should try calling out a random model number sometime to see if this so-called Sammy responds to it.

Pic: Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

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