A-rod

In an era where steroids use isn't unexpected news from Major League Baseball former and current players, the news of Alex Rodriguez's alleged use does fall on my surprised ears. I've always been a Bonds supporter, even though I'm positive he's used steroids. That's not to say that I support the use of steroids for the egotistical and self-centered reasons that most use, or any reason for that matter. It's cheating, pure and simple.

But the news of A-rod using steroids does put a bit of a smile on my face, simply because he's somewhat of a poster boy for MLB and he's supposed to be the one to break Bond's record without using steroids. The smile only lasted a day or two only until I watched Peter Gammons' interview with Rodriguez. The fact that Gammons questions were slam dunks for A-rod is disturbing. He just kept giving him lay-up after lay-up and put absolutely zero pressure on Rodriguez to give straight, specific, and defined answers. Instead A-rod's answers just led me to want more answers. When asked if the 2001-2003 time frame was a when he was using steroids he stated that it sounded accurate. That's not vague or anything. This is a question that Gammons asked, "Given the opportunity, would you like to go to Major League Baseball and say, 'OK, what can I do to help kids across the country?'" What do you really think A-rod's response would be? 'No, I only care about myself, my stats, my money, and being the best, so the kids can figure it out on their own.' That sounds like an accurate statement to me, but it's not the one we got. Another thing that gets me is the fact that Rodriguez acts as though he is almost a victim in the steroid use. He didn't know what he was taking, he didn't ask the right questions, he felt too much pressure, he was naive. Let's have a pity party for a guy who is making more money per game than most people make in a year.

The final thing that absolutely drives me insane is the over the top arrogance and lies he was spewing in the interview with Katie Couric in 2007. When asked if he had ever used performance enhancing drugs he said, "No, I've never felt overmatched on the baseball field. I've always been a very strong, dominant position. And I felt that if I did my work since I was, you know, a rookie back in Seattle, I didn't have a problem competing at any level. So, no."

So why should anyone believe him now that he's 'coming clean' about his steroid use. For all we know, or will probably ever know, he could have been using when he was in Seattle. Rodriguez stated to Gammons, "I'm finally beginning to grow up. I'm pretty tired of being stupid and selfish, you know, about myself. The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I'm glad it's coming out today." I really wonder if this hadn't come out would he be saying, or even thinking the same thing. I highly doubt it.

It's a good thing for all us non-Yankee fans that Rodriguez can't figure out how to take his clutch performances in the media and translate those into clutch performances on the field.