Let me tell you a couple things about a stupid mistake. A stupid mistake is a college athlete getting who is underage getting caught drinking. A stupid mistake is a college athlete skipping class 'occasionally'. A stupid mistake is hanging out with the wrong people and ending up in a bar fight or worse. A stupid mistake is being the most prolific Olympic swimmer and being seen with a bong. These are stupid mistakes. It happens to everyone. It happens from ages 8 to 80. We can easily forgive people who make one or two stupid mistakes. However, what is NOT a stupid mistake?
"That's again part of being young and stupid." That's a good answer to give if you did something wrong once or twice....but NOT FOR THREE YEARS! That's exactly what A-Roid, or is it A-Fraud...sorry...A-Rod said today. Here is the other part...Rodriguez wasn't exactly YOUNG when he did this either. If he is honestly telling the truth about using this PED (Performance Enhancing Drug), that he only used from 2001-03, then that would have been when he was 25-27 years old. He had been playing in Major League Baseball for SEVEN years before that. Not exactly a "young" or "rookie" mistake.
Here is another part, "All these years I never thought I did anything wrong." NO KIDDING? Of course you didn't...it was "loosey goosey" and guys were trying things. But, no, it wasn't anything wrong. Then why are you saying sorry? Why are you saying you were young and stupid? If you didn't think you did anything wrong then why are you apologizing? Why did you 'stop' taking the PED's? Is it because you realized you weren't eating Tic-Tac's?
I'm not blaming everything on A-Rod...I just think there is more to the story and more will eventually come out. Have you seen that Rangers team he was on? Ready for these names? Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez, Ken Caminiti, Juan Gonzalez....ouch! How about Herb Perry, who magically hit twenty-two home runs in 2002? His career average one home run in every 37.5 at bats...that year it was one in twenty. You can't just knock A-Rod...there are supposedly 104 names on that list of who tested positive in 2003. Let's see what happens when some other names come out. But, I would like a clearer picture of what exactly was going on.
Think about this for a minute. Baseball is about records and numbers. No other sport has the number stand out like baseball does. 755. 61. 2,141. Ask any fan of baseball and he/she can tell you what the number means. But, what about the record holders? The all-time hits leader is banned from baseball. The all-time home run and single season record holder might be headed to jail on perjury charges. One of the most dominant power pitchers in the history of the game might be facing charges as well. Mark McGwire, the former icon of St. Louis, has been seen or heard of since the congressional hearing.
If baseball thought it got a black-eye during the congressional hearings or thought everything was over when the Bonds/Clemens fiasco's would be done, they are dead wrong. There are some very troubling times ahead for baseball. How will they get out of this? How will baseball get its reputation back? How can the game be saved and what will bring the fans back into the picture? Who will be the light on an otherwise dark day?
FIRST!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why Clemens and Bonds didn't just admit to taking steroids. All they had to say was "It wasn't banned at the time or it was part of the culture" and they would've been forgiven. Baseball fans just want some humility. That will never happen with the enormous egos of Bonds & Clemens.
I don't blame these guys though. Professionals have often done whatever it takes to become the best. I wonder if the author would've taken PEDs/HGH if it got him a chance at MLB...
I look for Pujols to become the new face of baseball instead of A-rod or Jeter. Young, talented, and plays for the cards. Who else is there? Obviously no one from the Cubs.