For those of you who are unaware of the recent events surrounding New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez, let me shed a little light on it for you. It has recently been found that Rodriguez tested positive for banned substances in 2003 while with the Texas Rangers. At the time, it was not something that would get you a suspension or removal from the game of baseball. At the time, according to Rodriguez, it was a "loosey-goosey" era. I want to get into it a little bit on how the information surrounding Rodriguez has now tainted the view of baseball players for many fans, especially yours truly.
The thing that most people fail to realize is that doing steroids in baseball in the early 2000s was as much apart of the game as the pitcher throwing the ball to the catcher. I don't doubt that over 90% of the players at the time were using some form of steroid to 'enhance' their play on the field. The question remains however, are they still using now? Are there forms of steroids available now that are undetectable? Given the recent events surrounding Rodriguez, Pettitte, Clemens and Bonds, I wouldn't doubt it.
Back to Rodriguez. Here is a player who made the jump into the major leagues at the age of 18. RARELY does that happen in the game of baseball unless you have serious talent. That is something that I will not take away from Rodriguez, the guy can play baseball. He played in the Mariner's system and then was given the most lucrative offer in the history of Major League Baseball to play for the Texas Rangers for $256 million for 10 years. Of course Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees, who in 2007 gave him a deal for $275 million for 10 years. It's an understatement that this guy is making some money. However, being under the steroids radar has helped him achieve that, but now that it's all out there, you wonder how much he really was using. He says that it was only from 2001-2003. Do you believe him? It's tough to say.
My point about the use of steroids by all these players, is that it gives you a horrible view about what it takes to be a professional athlete. These guys are talented, you have to give them that, but in this game that isn't enough. Where you have to play 182 games, you could become injured and lose your roster spot for good. The pressure is high. But not high enough to do something like that. I've been against it from the beginning and want to see Bonds and Clemens go down for it. A-Rod will escape it all by coming clean. I commend him for that. It's a shame that all of it is coming out now, giving us a surreal look at the post as though it has been tainted.
There's one player that has avoided all of this. A player who would have had the opportunity to beat the Babe's record if he wasn't injured. My favorite player: Ken Griffey Jr. The guy is a shoe-in for the hall, and has never been linked to using steroids. I hope that it never comes out that he has. I believe baseball is heading in the right direction, but it's hard not to just sit back and think while sitting at the ballpark, "Is that guy using steroids?" You may never know.
3 comments:
I've watched the A-Rod video twice today on ESPN and even though I am a die hard Yankees' fan I am so disappointed. I know he came clean but I've held him on a pedestal from the time he started with the Mariners. :(
Good writing though J. Monson.
Yeah it sux how professional baseball is so shady. It sux how another baseball player, the acclaimed “purist” (A-rod) the guy that was supposed to legitimately break the record, has again confirmed our skeptism about doping in the MLB.
But what do you mean “he will escape it all by coming clean?” He will never escape it all; he will forever be tarnished and will never get into the hall of fame. Every time he steps to the plate, people will not forget the roids and the lies.
And he didn’t come clean. He never told us what he was taking, he acted like he didn’t know, and he never admitted it was only from 01-03. He said something like “uh mostly accurate.” How does someone not know what they put into their body, a dangerous substance? Especially a pro athlete? They make their living with their body. He only did the interview because he was caught. He was only sorry because people found out.
And I don’t even know if we can give him credit for making it to the majors the way he did. How do we know he was not using PED’s then?
Tough to say if you believe him? He told Katie Couric in 2007 he never took PED’s and now he says he did.
I like Griffey too, his swing is sweet. He did have the opportunity to beat Babe’s record, but his workout regiment was weak and highly criticized. He never took the time to put in the effort. That’s why his injury was so devastating. But why should we assume any of these guys are clean? On what basis? We have nothing with which to trust them.
There are PED’s untraceable-forms of HGH
Baseball is a wreck bro! I don't know what to think. It thought A-Rod was clean but after this...I don't know what to think! It's crazy!...and now all the stuff with Tejada?! Selig needs to do something to improve the image of MLB. Dissapointment...that's all there is at this point.
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