What a day yesterday, huh? ARod finally came clean about taking performance enhancement drugs in 2003, as a member of the Texas Rangers. First off, this was very courageous and smart of Alex to do so. He could have easily denied all allegations and nothing could have happened to him, other than the public scrutiny for the rest of his career. Those tests were supposed to be anonymous and I doubt those samples can be used as evidence against ARod. After watching the success Pettitte by opening up and telling the truth, ARod clearly mirrored him, which was the right call.
But I have a few problems with some of the information ARod supplied us. He said that at the time it was the culture to try different supplements to help you in the game of baseball. Also, these supplements weren’t legal or illegal at that time. As far as he was concerned, he wasn’t doing anything wrong…at that time. In other words, he didn’t know he was taking steroids. So what the heck is he apologizing for if he unknowingly used a banned substance that he thought was fine? Why admit to taking steroids if he never knowingly did? Simply say, at that time I took some substances that may have contained steroids that are illegal in today’s game. He knew exactly what he was doing, when he was doing it, and why he was doing it. And that’s the reason he apologized on national television…to gain an edge. Also, ARod is the type of person that keeps accurate track of what goes in his body at all times. He had to of known what substances he was taking.
ARod specifically went on to stick up for himself by saying he has been clean since the 2004 season (his first with the Yankees). He said that it is evident by his weight. He has only gained 25 pounds since he was a rookie in Seattle. That steroid that was unknowingly put in your body, was to stay lean, so you don’t end up looking like your on steroids.
ARod also claims that he starting using in 2001 because there was enormous pressure on him to live up to his mega million dollar contract. Ok, I believe him to an extent. But in order to get that contract in the first place, he may have been using while a member of the Mariners. The good news is that he has been clean since 2005 when baseball started random drug testing. He claims he has been tested 8-10 times since testing began and they all have come back clean. Could he have been using HGH? I don’t believe there is a an accurate test for that steroid.
The important thing is that ARod took complete responsibility for his actions. It sure had to hurt his big ego though to do so. Sure he will booed in NY again and other places, that will not change. But rather he can now focus on the game of baseball and hopefully bring a championship to NY.
I wonder what his confession will do to Mark Teixiera and Scott Boras. Tex was a teammate of his on the 2003 Rangers ball club. If it was the culture around baseball, could Tex have taken banned supplements too? He will get his first dose of the media come spring training time. I can’t wait to find out his response.
Now that all the organizations know that a Boras client has lied and cheated their way just to get paid, what will this do to Boras’ image and his future clients? I was talking about this with another person today. This is what i thought:
I just think that many teams will not want to go through what the Yankees and the Rangers have gone through. Simply put, teams will not reward players for what they have done during the pre-steroid testing days. If this ARod test was supposed to be anonymous, can you imagine what else can be leaked and by whom? It’s a free for all now. Organizations will be wary of spending mega dollars because of what could possibly come out. It could hurt the organization, the team, and the player alike. And now Boras is linked to ARod’s steroid use in an indirect way whether he likes it or not. ARod is the first Boras client to “actually” say that he used PED’s. The Yankees sure wouldn’t be scared anymore.
We’ll have to wait and see. He’ll spin it around somehow, right?
Again it’s a shame to see this happen to such an important figure in the game of baseball. The funny thing is that he didn’t even need to do it. He was still the most talented player on the field. At least things will be easier for him in the long run. Should he make the Hall of Fame? I won’t even try to tackle that one now.
Posted by cmarms 
