New respect for A-Rod for admitting steroid use, less respect for Major League Baseball and Bud Selig

by Shawn Williams of Dallas South

In an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance enhancing drugs as a member of the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez told Gammons he used illegal substances between 2001-2003.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure, felt all the weight of the world on top of me to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” Rodriguez said. “It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time."

Rodriguez goes on to apologize to his fans for his drug use. The interview aired Monday on ESPN.

While other players have denied their steroid use to the hilt, Rodriguez addressed the situation head on. I’ve been critical of A-Rod (yeah I’ve called him Pay Rod) because of his ability to hit with runners in scoring position. I give him props for doing what Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Rafael Palmeiro have been unwilling to do.

The real criminal in all this mess is never even questioned: Major League Baseball. Every clubhouse in baseball knew what was going on, and they did nothing about it. Baseball refused to put a performance enhancing drug clause in their collective bargaining agreement so in essence they signed off on it. Selig and his crew enjoyed all of the sold out stadiums that resulted from all the home runs hit in the steroids era. What a shame.

Where are all the people who were calling Jose Canseco crazy after he published his book Juiced? Has he been wrong about anything or anyone?

Pegasus News content partner - Dallas South
Shawn Williams publishes Dallas South Blog; his e-mail address is shawn@dallassouthblog.com.

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Anonymous

inmemoryofradio, says:

Yeah, I respected the guy when I thought he was just a great talent and, for the most part, a (relatively)class act. That's when he was repeatedly telling us that he'd never used steroids despite every reporter in America asking him that specific question. Now, when it's dead obvious that he did use, he garners respect by admitting his 'mistake' and saying he's sorry? Sorry, had your chance. Missed it. Goodbye A-Fraud.

Anonymous

9 months, 2 weeks ago
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tx_dem41, says:

"New respect"?!?

For someone who flat out lied to the public concerning the same issue 2 years ago.

For someone who today admitted to violating the MLB Drug Policy (which has had steroids as a banned substance since 1991)?

For someone who "addresses the situation head on"....after his drug test result blows up into a national story?

"New respect"?

Your respect comes at a low price.

Anonymous

9 months, 2 weeks ago
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Zach Lewis, says:

"While other players have denied their steroid use to the hilt, Rodriguez addressed the situation head on."

He lied about it and denied it just like the others up until this week. The only reason he admitted to it now was because the story broke that he tested positive. He didn't come forward out of good nature, he came forward out of damage control. I don't have any respect for him, or anyone else who can only be honest or take responsibility after they get caught. If he would have come out a year or two ago during all the steroid scandal, and admitted to it and apologized...I may have some respect for him, but not like this. He wouldn't have said a word or would have kept lying if the story didn't break that he tested positive.