If you take a look at the career of one Alex Rodriguez, you would have no doubt in your mind that he is one of the greatest players of all time, right? His 659 home runs rank fifth all-time, one behind Willie Mays, a number he will surely pass this season. He has three MVP awards to his name, and he led the Yankees to a World Series championship in 2009.
So, why shouldn't he be considered one of the greatest players of all-time?
Because his numbers are tainted. They have lost all credibility over the course of his controversial career.
In the video above, this is Alex Rodriguez openly admitting to performance-enhancing drug use in 2009. The only year's that Rodriguez claims to have used PEDs was in the early 2000s. It would become obvious that this man cannot be trusted.
All of this not to mention the national lie he told to Katie Couric in 2007.
All of this not to mention the national lie he told to Katie Couric in 2007.
It turns out that the years of the early 2000s would not be the only case.
Back in 2007, Rodriguez went into the season with the option to opt out of his contract after the season ended. He would go on to have the best season of his career, posting 54 home runs, including the 500th of his career, which made him the youngest player ever to hit 500 at age 32.
Rodriguez cruised to his third MVP award. He made headlines that off-season when he did in fact opt out of his contract. The Yankees would then go on to make him the richest player in the history of Major League Baseball. The contract was worth $275 million over the next 10 years.
After Rodriguez admitted to PED use in 2009, his entire career began to come into question. It was clear that he was not an example for young baseball players.
Would we ever be able to trust A-Rod again?
He said all the right things he needed to in the video. He went ahead and tried to blame everything around him, the "culture" of MLB (everyone was doing it!), he was young and naive, he wanted to prove himself like everyone else.
In the end, MLB wanted to end the steroid era, and began to become very strict about it. A-Rod never caught on. He continued to use PEDs, and that came to light again in 2013 when he was involved in a major baseball PED scandal at a Miami clinic.
A-Rod was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season.
What the baseball world didn't find out until 2013 was that MLB actually allowed A-Rod to use testosterone, a powerful steroid, in the 2007 season that netted him the richest contract ever.
Basically, a player can apply to become approved for a medical exemption to use a certain product. The exemption is only good for one year. Players often abuse this power, but that's a different story for a different day.
Clearly, A-Rod picked the right year to use it. And clearly, A-Rod never learned to stop using it.
While A-Rod, now 39, winds down a career that is tainted by performance-enhancing drugs, he will still have the one thing that seemed to motivate him the most in 2007, money.
And it is certainly a shame that Major League Baseball had a helping hand in that. A-Rod never grew out of the culture baseball had in the 1990s where steroids were clearly a heavy part of the game.
A-Rod may have a career resume that is tarnished, but he still gets to reap the rewards of baseball's richest contract ever.
Would we ever be able to trust A-Rod again?
He said all the right things he needed to in the video. He went ahead and tried to blame everything around him, the "culture" of MLB (everyone was doing it!), he was young and naive, he wanted to prove himself like everyone else.
In the end, MLB wanted to end the steroid era, and began to become very strict about it. A-Rod never caught on. He continued to use PEDs, and that came to light again in 2013 when he was involved in a major baseball PED scandal at a Miami clinic.
A-Rod was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season.
What the baseball world didn't find out until 2013 was that MLB actually allowed A-Rod to use testosterone, a powerful steroid, in the 2007 season that netted him the richest contract ever.
Basically, a player can apply to become approved for a medical exemption to use a certain product. The exemption is only good for one year. Players often abuse this power, but that's a different story for a different day.
Clearly, A-Rod picked the right year to use it. And clearly, A-Rod never learned to stop using it.
While A-Rod, now 39, winds down a career that is tainted by performance-enhancing drugs, he will still have the one thing that seemed to motivate him the most in 2007, money.
And it is certainly a shame that Major League Baseball had a helping hand in that. A-Rod never grew out of the culture baseball had in the 1990s where steroids were clearly a heavy part of the game.
A-Rod may have a career resume that is tarnished, but he still gets to reap the rewards of baseball's richest contract ever.
I agree that it is a shame that the MLB lets things like this continue to happen. With A-Rod being one of the last players from the "juicing" era it is hard for me to believe that the MLB board or players committee had no knowledge of A-Rod or any other player using PED's over the last 15 years. With all the revenue these players make for their team and the league its definitely fishy when the MLB has to comment on matters like these and say that they had no idea this was happening in their sport.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you say in this article. You seem to really be educated on this topic. For someone who is not I have always been curious as to why the Yankees still have to pay him. They payed 275 million for a player that was juiced up. Once he stopped the performance boosting drugs his performance took a huge dip. Why should they have to honor a contract for someone who's performance did not match his actual god given ability. Is there not some rule in baseball that would make his contract void?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, not for the Yankees. The contract was signed before his tests came out positive. A-Rod was also given a performance bonus clause in 2007. For every player he passes on the all-time home run list, he is awarded $6 million. That is about to turn into an ugly problem in 2015, because the Yankees no longer want to pay him that money. He is one away from tying Willie Mays, so expect A-Rod and the Yankees in very ugly court hearings very soon.
DeleteI agree with your article as well. The MLB has done a very poor job on handling these situations and honestly along with A-Rods contract there should have been some sort of opt out option for the yankees if he fails his drug test considering they have to pay him to sit at home and watch baseball rather than help the team. Just for one topic of discussion I have always wondered what it would be like if they allowed PED's in the mlb? I feel like it would make it a little more exciting at times but its also harmful to their bodies. So I don't think it should ever be allowed but it would be interesting
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. But I also believe that the performance enhancing drugs, can only take you so far. I don't think that he should be stripped of any awards. If I took performing enhancing drugs I guarantee I could not go and win an MVP award in the MLB. Plenty others have taken these types of drugs in professional sports and it is not made as big of a deal as it was the A-Rod because of the name that he already made for himself. Well written article!
ReplyDelete