A-roid

Yesterday information leaked that Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees took performance enhancers for a three year period from 2000 to 2003.  A report from 2003 had shown that over 100 players had tested positive for steroids during a random test and A-rod just happened to be one of the names on that list.  

While many people in the sports world pretended to be shocked I personally was not.  To me it seemed like everyone already knew this and now we just had the concrete evidence.  A more interesting report would be who wasn't on the juice as it seems that one by one each great player of my generation is being taken down from hero status and reduced to yet another drug user.  

The one thing that separates A-rod however is the way in which he dealt with the big news.  He took the Andy Pettite approach and simply confessed.  In an interview with Peter Gammons A-rod called himself stupid, sorry, naive, negligent and regretful. But most important, he called himself guilty.  He even said, ""I'm finally beginning to grow up. I'm pretty tired of being stupid and selfish, you know, about myself. The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I'm glad it's coming out today."

While many people absolutely hate A-rod at least he is being honest unlike some of the other players to come before him (see Mcgwire, Sosa, Palmeiro, Bonds and Clemens).  These geniuses claimed they didn't take drugs got caught and still denied.  Just man up.  It wasn't against the rules so you can't really get into trouble and people will respect more for being honest rather than being a liar and a selfish prick *cough* Roger Clemens *cough*.

A-rod also claims that he used the drugs because he felt he needed them in order to preform at his best.  He claims that the pressure of signing the biggest contract in sports history got to him and I tend to agree.  The entire sports world had their eyes on him and everyone always wants him to fail.  At least his response wasn't, 'I wanted the records and more money.'

This situation could have spiraled out of control quickly but at least A-rod was smart enough to nip it in the bud before it got too crazy.  He admitted guilt, apologized, and promised change and that he was no longer on steroids.  So while people will shower him with boos this year and have their signs saying A-roid at least he can always reply with 'at least I'm smarter than Clemens and Bonds.'