Add one more name to baseball’s infamous Steroids Scandal
By Bryan Mongeau-Eastmond
NEW YORK (RushPRnews) 2/10/09- Here is a first: a player other than Jose Canseco admitting to using performance enhancing drugs. Really? No one ever cared much for what Canseco had to say and his book sells prove my point.
After watching Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, from Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, I was sure that all players facing doping accusation shared more than being dope cheats.
I was convinced that a brotherhood had been formed. Only high-profile scandals and lying under oath, with claims of being clean, instantly granted you access.
Choosing a rather different alternative, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs between 2001 and 2003, when he was a member of the Texas Rangers. The three-time American League Most Valuable Player made the admission on Monday in an exclusive interview with the cable sports television network, ESPN.
History is doomed to repeat itself if you don’t actually learn from mistakes. Luckily, Rodriguez was fortunate to have learn from the best and opted to do things differently the second time around.
“The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I’m glad it’s coming out today,†said Rodriguez. The 12-time All-Star came “clean†two days after Sports Illustrated magazine’s website reported Alex Rodriguez had tested positive for steroids in 2003.
According to SI.com, the steroid that was found in his system, primobolan, is either injected or taken orally and is more expensive than most other steroids.
A-Rod admitted that he took the substances because of the pressure of being baseball’s highest-paid player after getting a 10-year, $252-million contract when he was signed by the Rangers in December of 2000.
“I felt like I had all of the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform and perform at a high level every day.
“I was young, I was stupid, I was naive and I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth it — being one of the greatest players of all time.”
During the 2001-2003 span, Rodriguez averaged 52 homers and 161 games a season. In his other 10 major league seasons, A-Rod averages 39 homers and 148 games.
“All my years in New York have been clean,†said the 33-year-old third baseman, who was traded to the Yankees in 2004.
Only time will tell of being honest and apologetic with the MLB and its fans will salvage his career or tarnish his name in the wake of the steroid era of baseball.
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Photo courtesy of the Major League Baseball
