This Date In SOS History: Alex Rodriguez Admits To Steroid Use
What Do You Make of the Alex Rodriguez Case?
2/9/09
First Alex Rodriguez gets nailed for testing positive for steroids in 2003 with Texas.
I wasn’t at all surprised, because he always wanted to please people and always cared about his public perception. The title of this blog as of this morning was “Are You Really Surprised A-Rod Took Steroids?”. It made a lot of sense that he took ‘roids since not only is he so very competetive, he always cared about what other people thought and he wanted to meet the expectations of each and every human being who ever existed.
My perception of A-Rod didn’t change at all, he is, was and always will be a huge phony, a fraud, call it what you’d like. Then during journalism class I read that Rodriguez admitted to taking steroids not only in 2003, but in the two previous years in Texas.
“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure.” Rodriguez said in a small snippet of his interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons before they released the full version that aired this evening on SportsCenter. “
I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.
“Back then, was a different culture,” Rodriguez said. “It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful.”
Finally, the most honest moment in A-Rod’s life comes when his back is up against the wall. At that point, the title for this blog was “Alex Rodriguez Comes Through In The Clutch.” Then I heard the entire interview with Gammons, and he says he didn’t know what he took, and went off on Selena Roberts, the Sports Illustrated writer who had first broken this story, claiming that she stalked him in Miami and New York and tried to break into his Miami Beach house while his daughters were sleeping.
He didn’t pull an Andy Pettitte or a Jason Giambi, coming clean and apologizing to his fans like he should have, but he didn’t do what Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are doing, standing behind the truth like a pathetic coward, which if I had to bet a large amount of money, is what I thought Rodriguez was going to do. But for the most part, he took the right approach, and took this like a man. And for that he made me think of him in a better light, and I have forgiven him, and he’ll go down as the greatest home run hitter who ever lived this side of Babe Ruth.
Rodriguez may be blasted for being disengenuous in the interview, but on this day in February, Rodriguez bought himself a ticket to Cooperstown, and an apology accepted from many baseball fans, including myself.
Inside The NBA- Three Point Plays With Rumors
SprungOnSports’ Three Point Play
1) Vince Carter singlehandedly carried the Orlando Magic to a big home win over the New Orleans Hornets. Carter shit 19-27 from the field for 34 points in the second half, guiding the Magic back from a 17 points second half defecit to a 123-117 win over New Orleans. After Carter shot 28 percent in the month of January, he got a visit from his former coach in New Jersey, Lawrence Frank. And with Boston struggling, the Magic have won nine of 11. In the four games before Frank visited Carter, he had a total of 29 points. In the four games since the February 2nd visit, Carter scored 17, 21, 20 and 48 points last night. Stan Van Gundy should definitely hire Frank for his staff next year, because whatever he said completely revived Vince Carter’s season.
2) San Antonio couldn’t even come within single digits at the Staples Center against the Lakers without Kobe Bryant. The Spurs usually come together on their famous Rodeo Road Trip but are just 2-2 on the trip with a game they should have won last night. They need to trade for help in order to really contend for a West title. Otherwise they’re wasting their time with an old team. CBS’ Ken Berger reports that they’re interested in Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas. It would be a start.
3) While Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are getting all the trade publicity in Washington, the Wizard most likely to go and help the team with future assets is Center Brendan Haywood. Houston and Portland are the most interested teams, according to Berger, with the Rockets possibly bringing in Haywood and Butler in a larger Tracy McGrady deal and Portland possibly giving Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw. Washington is holding out for either Nicholas Batum or Rudy Fernandez, but that won’t happen. Miami and Charlotte are also interested but the Wizards are going to get at least two expiring contracts for Haywood, making him the most underrated trade chip out there this year.
David Small’s Three Point Play
1) The Cavs are looking like the team that ripped through the league last season, only this time they are doing it without Mo Williams and Delonte West. So they should be alright even if the two of them choke in the playoffs again; anything they give the team for the rest of the season is just gravy.
2) The Nets are not going to go down as the worst team ever. They’ve been stangely competitive only losing their last six games by an average of 6.5 points. I know its weak, but it’s Jersey. We’ll take what we can get in this case.
3) It’s sad in Miami. Dwayne Wade is going to get them 40 wins but no one is giving them anything else. Jermaine O’neal on most nights looks like he’s playing in Forest Gump’s leg braces. Michael Beasley is showing signs of greatness but he’s still two years away from being a legit number two. As a Heat fan, I’d rather they just rest Wade for this season and try again next season with another star. Let the tankapalooza commence
