A-Rod Used Steroids in 2003, Another Legacy Tarnished?

UPDATE (2.09): A-Rod, speaking with Peter Gammons of ESPN, admitted that he used PEDs from 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers. He cited excuses like having enormous pressure after signing that $250M contract as well as being young, stupid, and very sorry.

Now THIS is a bad day for baseball. Alex Rodriguez, the game's best active player, reportedly tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003. The test came as part of a survey screening of all players so that if enough players tested positive, it would warrant the start of random/program drug testing beginning in 2004. All this means is that the results of those tests in 2003 were (1) not meant to be leaked to ANYONE and (2) there are no penalties associated with them. There's nothing MLB can do to punish A-Rod for this test.

So even though he was with the Rangers at the time (and in 2003 he won the AL MVP lets not forget), will the Yankees take it upon themselves to punish A-Rod in any way? Its doubtful, and is likely to washed over and forgotten by midseason. If A-Rod and the Yankees are smart, they'll keep their mouths shut, never bring this up, and go out there and win ballgames. Because one more thing was leaked - Rodriguez already knew he tested positive. Supposedly he was told he tested positive (as all 104 players from that survey were), and what's the first thing you're likely to do when you're caught - stop doing it. Its probably a safe bet that A-Rod got away from the stuff, especially by the time he landed in New York the following offseason. But these days, you never know. Everyone assumed he never took steroids at all, and that when he passes Barry Bonds' all-time home run record that once again the record would be untarnished. Well now what?


Is A-Rod's legacy ruined? Are Yankees fans going to erupt, calling for the head of the cheating 28 million-dollar man? Let's compare this situation to Roger Clemens - don't make things worse by blaming your wife, ending up in court, or making yourself look ridiculous. Either apologize or say nothing. Or compare to Jason Giambi - apologize vaguely, get off the stuff, rehab and start producing again. Andy Pettitte? Apologize directly, prove you never needed it. A-Rod can take a hint from his former teammates on the best way to handle this situation, but as we've seen with a number of players in the steroid era that all you need to tarnish a legacy is allegations and hearsay. And we definitely have that.

Also let's not forget the quotes of a couple of guys named Chipper Jones and Jose Canseco. In August of 2007 Chipper Jones told a newspaper that he thinks when A-Rod approaches the home run record, he'll have to answer to steroid allegations just like Barry Bonds. He cited Jose Canseco's list of allegations and how they had all turned out true. What did Canseco say about A-Rod? That he's a "hypocrite" and "was not all he appeared to be". Though he didnt' specifically accuse Rodriguez of anything, we all know what Jose meant. When asked flat out if Chipper thought A-Rod used steroids, he responded, "I'm going to reserve judgment. Let's put it that way." This made big headlines in New York, but none bigger than what we're seeing today.

At this point is anyone surprised when new names come up? When we find out that this player and that player used steroids at some point? Clearly it was something that was accepted among the players (as was lying about it), and only until it became a punishable offense in the league did anyone care about it. And as far as I can tell, the Mitchell Report, Bonds, A-Rod, none of this has hindered anyone's viewing or interest in baseball. Do you really think that A-Rod's extramarital affairs, divorce and steroids admission will do anything except spark greater interest in the freakshow that is the $28M Man?