The A-Rod Quandry

Friday afternoon, as I'm sure you all know by now, news broke that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003.  A-Rod was one of 104 players to test positive during a survey of the magnitude of steroid use going on at the time.  Now there are a few key components here that need to be taken into account.  Lets start in 2003.

The 2003 Test

By 2003 the steroid issue had reached its boiling point, Cameniti's SI story, Canseco's book, BALCO and Barry Bonds historic home run chase were all the top stories for a while.  Major League Baseball was in a position where it had to act, up until that point steroids were not illegal under the list of banned substances.  So the logical next step was to outlaw steroids and put a testing procedure in place, it was the only move, the right move in my mind.

But then we have the Players Association.  They had a different take on things.  The MLBPA insisted that steroid use wasn't anywhere near the levels of use outlined in the aforementioned "literature."  So they fought tooth and nail to avoid a testing procedure being put in place, "Players rights!" they cried.  So they met halfway.  They agreed that a random sampling of several hundred Major Leaguers would be taken and tested for steroid use.  If the number of positive tests were greater than (forgive my guess) 7% or so, then a testing procedure would be implemented.  The tests were to be totally anonymous and destroyed afterwards.  No names, no penalties.  This was a survey for statistical purposes only.  The tests were greater than 7% and obviously a steroid testing procedure was put in place, one that most agree is the most effective and extensive in pro sports.

This wasn't enough for MLBPA Exec. Gene Orza, instead of destroying the tests and letting the issue rest, he persisted.  He attempted to swipe the legs out from the validity of the test results.  He was certain that he could prove enough of the positives were false therefore negating the results and eliminating steroid testing moving forward.  As we now know, Alex Rodriguez was among the positive tests from the 2003 survey.  The results were never to have been made public.  Had Gene Orza destroyed the test results, this would not be an issue today.

Selena Roberts

Ms. Roberts is the SI reporter that, citing four anonymous sources, first broke this story about the positive test.  Now at face value this seems legit, but there is a little more to this.  As it turns out, Ms. Roberts is less than three months away from releasing a book about A-Rod titled Hit & Run: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez.  It is being pegged as "an expose of A-Rod's controversial path to self-destruction."  Clearly it will not be painting him in a positive light.  

Now to me the damage is done, A-Rod has been exposed and he is once again the villain.  But Ms. Roberts in my mind did not do her job as an investigative journalist.  If she was able to get the name of one of these positive tests, why not the other 103?  The answer is simply because she is not writing a book on the other 103.  A-Rod's positive test and subsequent admission of guilt will all undoubtedly help her sell books.

And ESPN is not free of trying to score a buck off of the controversy.  Take a look at your tv tonight and see what highlights they show, what hat he is wearing in the pictures they put up.  It won't be that of the Texas Rangers, the team he played for while cheating.  Yankees = interest = revenue.

Alex Rodriguez

Now Let me put this out there in the interest of full disclosure, I am a Yankees fan, I have been an Alex Rodriguez fan moreso than my brethren.  By all accounts, A-Rod is somewhat of an enigma.  He is extremely insecure, puts his foot in his mouth and cares greatly about what others think about him.  Basically the perfect storm of bad qualities to have if you are a public figure, nevermind the highest paid athlete in American team sports.  Alex has never been out of the center of controversy for long.  His much publicized divorce and affair with a certain ancient pop singer, his feud with Derek Jeter, and on and on.

There are a few schools of thought here, Alex did, in an interview with Peter Gammons this afternoon, admitted guilt.  He claimed use of steroids from the years 2001-2003, three full seasons.  He took full responsibility for his actions and gave off what sounded like a sincere apology.  Sure, put that in a box, gift wrap it and put a bow on top, he did it! He saved his image!

Well, sadly, I don't buy it and here is why.  Alex cited the "pressure" he felt living up to his record breaking contract he signed in Texas.  It was a different time, the culture was different and he was young and stupid.  Here's the problem, he's still stupid, the times aren't different just the drugs are, and pressure?  Since signing that contract in Texas, he has been traded to New York and signed a bigger contract.  So no pressure anymore, right?  Yea, I don't think so.  I have a feeling in my gut that this isn't over.  I just don't believe he only cheated for those three years,  I don't buy it.  I'm waiting with gut wrenching anxiety that there will be more.  Just when people may be ready to forgive the embattled superstar, we'll find out what we always knew, he is a liar, a cheater, a narcissist, and one hell of a ball player.

The Fans

Where does all this leave us?  It's really hard to say.  I'm faced with a ton of inner turmoil.  As much as I want to cheer for my team and root them on, it's hard to defend.  Alex is hard to defend, he was up until this point and now its nearly an impossibility.  How can you argue with someone he is the greatest player ever now?  Who is?  Who is the best player in the league? Pujols?  Can you tell me beyond a shadow of a doubt he hasn't juiced?  That's the thing, the "beyond a shadow of a doubt" factor is gone.  There isn't a single player that I would stake my reputation on the fact that they never used roids or PED's of some sort.  Jeter? Sacrilege!  Mo? Blasphemy! Pettite? Not a chance....oh wait.

Thats just the thing, the average fan now just doesn't know.  And the only way to deal is to stop caring.  Short of dropping the game all together, the only way to protect yourself from heartbreak that only a fan can experience, is to detach yourself from your emotional investment in the integrity of the players.  The sad fact is, there is none.  So from now on the happy fan, is a skeptical fan.  The youthful optimism and admiration has gone by the wayside.  Baseball is an entertainment industry.  Just as you'd root for your favorite character on your favorite tv show to get the girl, so too should you root for your favorite Major League Baseball team.  Is the show scripted? Yea, but it's fun to watch.  Do the players cheat? Yea, but damn it anyway if you still aren't compelled to watch.