Penalties should be harsh for A-Rod
And to think Joe Torre actually backpedaled in light of calling Alex Rodriguez “A-Fraud” in his managerial autobiography written by Tom Verducci.
You had it right the first time, skip.
Rodriguez on Monday admitted he cheated. He used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03, the most brilliant stretch of his career.
Of all of the steroids confessions that have come out during the past three years, this one has to be the most damaging to baseball.
This isn’t Jason Giambi, a formidable designated hitter. This isn’t Andy Pettitte, a stalwart pitcher even in his twilight years. This isn’t Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds, who have drawn suspicion for the better half of a decade. And this sure isn’t Jose Canseco or Rafael Palmeiro.
This is A-Rod, a first-ballot Hall of Famer; the guy every kid in a generation wanted to be. He is considered one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game. He could own every major batting record by the end of his career.
He is a three-time American League MVP; the game’s once-highest paid player and on pace to break Bonds’ career home run record – is that even legitimate anymore? He is the person whom the University of Miami is set to rename its baseball field after.
A-Rod, a baseball icon, cheated – and lied.
Monday’s interview clashed with a December 2007 interview with “60 Minutes” in which Rodriguez answered, “No” when asked if he has ever – ever – used illegal substances.
“To be quite honest, I don’t know exactly what substance I was guilty of using,” he added Monday.
Then there’s the way Rodriguez came clean – after he was busted Saturday by Sports Illustrated.
“I’m just sorry,” Rodriguez said during an interview with ESPN. “I’m sorry for that time. I’m sorry to fans. I’m sorry for my fans in Texas. … When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.”
So instead of working harder, he cut corners. The now-33-year-old All-Star third baseman began taking banned substance and ballooned his legend. Rodriguez hit 52, 57 and 47 home runs during his three seasons with the Rangers, who signed him for a 10-year, $252 million contract in 2000.
“Back then, it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was very young. I was stupid,” he added. “I was naive and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know – and being one of the greatest players of all time.”
The question now is how will the league react? Does Superman get his cape back? Will the truth set Rodriguez free like it did for Giambi after he came clean on his own accord two years ago?
Considering the length of time he reaped the rewards of juicing, Rodriguez should be suspended for at least a season and have to pay a hefty chunk of the contract he inked with the Rangers. It’s only fair.
The league should not take pity for him, regardless of how many fans he has put in the seats or how many Yankee jerseys he’s sold.
He had a chance to admit his mistake and passed. Now, he is playing the culture-of-the-game card and blaming the pressure of being a big-league star. Please.
If anything, Rodriguez should literally walk into Commissioner Bud Selig’s office and beg for extreme penalties. For A-Rod, it is the only decent thing left to do.
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Scott J. Adams is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at: [email protected]
