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A-Rod Took Steroids? Who Cares?!
Written by Colin on February 10, 2009 – 8:32 amCan we move on already? We know that (allegedly) Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmerio, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, John Rocker, and more used steroids in the late 1990-early 2000 period. Now we find out that Alex Rodriguez tested positive – back before there were any consequences and they weren’t illegal.
Who cares??!? I don’t. I don’t want to know what happened when A-Rod pissed in a cup in 2003. Steroids weren’t banned then. There were no witch hunts back then. Just athletes doing what the other athletes were doing to get ahead. If you didn’t – you fell behind. You had a disadvantage. I’d have done it. Tell me I could take a pill or two and see my productivity go up with no consequences and I’d do it. I daresay the majority of us would – especially when increased productivity meant millions of dollars more.
Everybody did it. These steroids weren’t just taken advantage of by Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire. The pitchers were on it. The hitters were on it. I’d argue it was more fun to watch – more home runs – more excitement – more action. It wasn’t an unfair advantage. Elect Mark McGwire into the Hall of Fame already – the man put on a show I will NEVER forget when I was 12 years old. It made me love baseball. He’s one of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen. And neither he, Giambi, Bonds, or Rodriguez had an unfair advantage. So who cares? I don’t. I just want it to all be over. Side note: I’ll continue to hate Barry Bonds for being a jackhole, not for using ‘roids.
I want my ballgame back. Enough reports, leaked names, confirmed names, lies, trials, speculation, denials, witch hunts, congressional hearings, news stories, presidential commentary, and punditry. Give me baseball back. 9 innings of baseball under a hot summer sun. Home runs, small ball, quality pitching, and good coaching. Let’s get back to the game. Close this chapter of baseball history and let’s move on.
And yes, I realize by writing this article I broke the rule of “shut up already” – but I had to get it off my chest. You haven’t seen but one other article about steroids on this blog. Let’s move on.
Tags: A-Rod Admits Steroid Use, McGwire Hall of Fame, Steroids, Who Cares About Steroids?
Posted in General | 16 Comments »
By Colin Ake on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
After publishing this I think there may be a little more than just one other article on 'roids – like my "who associated with the Braves was on the Mitchell report?" article – but we'll let that slide for now.
By Jeff on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately when it comes to athletes people like to get on their moral soap box when stories come out about these guys. Whether it be A-Rod bending the rules to stay ahead in his job, or Michael Phelps smoking, or athletes trying to get as much money from teams as possible. Everyone becomes so shocked an appalled at things that in the real world most people have experienced. Granted there should be consequences but nothing like the media overexposure that we usually see.
By palioc33 on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
The problem with this article is that Steriods "WAS" illegal and banned back in 2003 and has been since 1991. You should do your research. It wasn't as tough as is it now, but it existed. So yes it was illegal and they tarnished the game. Anybody and everybody who took steriods is a cheater and not a hall of famer.
By Dan from MD on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
Agreed. The substance A-rod was using had no legal use in the United States and the MLB did have a steriod ban in place, though there were no penalties. Further, what sort of message does this send? Is "pressure" an excuse for cheating and breaking the law? No one deserves a free pass on this issue.
By Colin Ake on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
My apologies if I didn't research well enough – I read somewhere (can't remember where) that it wasn't illegal, but that may have been a misinterpretation of "no penalties."
That said, everyone was on them. There was not much of a competitive advantage gained – and surely not a sustainable advantage. I'm sorry if you feel that the steroid witchhunt is beneficial – I think you're wrong.
John Rocker is quoted as saying that league doctors were telling players that if they took one drug and not another, there would be no side effects. One of the issues is that we're blaming this all on the players when the entire system encouraged it from the owners (who wanted big numbers and more seats/sponsorships/memorabilia sold) to the doctors (who allegedly advised players on their steroid choices) and yes, the players who took the drugs.
So nobody from the entire period should be allowed in the Hall of Fame because we're not sure who did what when?
By Colin Ake on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
Dan, do you want to see shit like this the rest of our lives? I'm sick of it. Everyone used roids. Move on. I'm not encouraging free passes – but the only punishment right now is bad publicity. If someone is tested positive now, they get banned. I don't care who tested positive for what when. If criminal activities were committed, why don't you see A-Rod and others who have admitted to using 'roids being charged?
C'mon, let's move forward already.
By palioc33 on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
No. What I'm saying is that anybody who cheated by using performance enhancers is simply a cheater and not a hall of famer. Hall of Fame is not just about stats. It's about character and respect for the game. Why do you think Pete Rose isn't in there. He did nothing to cheat but did something dishonorable and therefore is not allowed into the game.
I don't care if everybody was doing it. Then nobody is allowed in the hall. It is a disgraced era and there should be a gap of players not being allowed in.
By Keith on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
I travel often and listen to channel 175 on XM. The last two days have made me sick as this appears to be the ONLY subject they will discuss. I have decided to change the channel because of this. I will return as listener when they decide to discuss other issues. We should be exicited to discuss the upcoming season as the slate is clean and everyone supposedly has a chance. This channel is becoming like other news channels….if it ain't bad news then it can't be news. I say the hell with negative issues. Say what you have to say and stop repeating your 1000 times per day.
Reveal the other names, let them lie and let's put this past us. Baseball is not like it used to be. I enjoyed the hard play and characters this game once had. Remember Al Hrabosky slamming the ball in his glove before starting each inning. Luis Tiant spinning in nearly complete circle with each pitch. Or, Tug Mcgraw tapping his glove as he walked off the mound. These were the years when baseball was fun. Bring back the fun.
NOW LET'S TALK BASEBALL.
By Grant on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
Worse than the Hall of Fame is the fact that numerous offensive records were broken by some of these players in question. Yes, it was banned in baseball. Yes, it was illegal in the United States. No, there were apparently not consequences in place.
I talked to a former Braves player about this and he put it to me this way, "There is no MLB rule in place that you can't walk into the manager's office, pull out a gun and shoot him. But it is still illegal in the United States of America."
I would love nothing more than to move on, but as long as reporters and their unnamed sources keep leaking names off sealed and confidential materials without any legal ramification, as long as congress takes more interest in Roger Clemens buttocks and not the economy, as long as dummy reporters who have an audience with the President of the United States decide to ask about Alex Rodriguez rather than any relevant topic, and as long as long as we keep blogging about the topic, it will never go away. It can't go away. But things can change and we can all move on.
By RueGrant on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
Colin is notorious for not researching anything.
By Shelby on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
The problem with this is A-rod isn't the "savior to baseball" like people thought he would be. People don't like the fact that the home run champion- above all the other greats in the game- is Barry Bonds.
why?
Some would argue his attitude. Others would argue his mediocre-at-best defensive abilities. But let's face it… There will be an * beside the name "Barry Bonds" for the rest of time because his use of steroids. It would have been that way even if he fessed up to it. A-rod was supposed to bring honor back to the most prestigious title in baseball… home run champion.
Another thing that is so disturbing is the fact that Gene Orza, the head of the players union at the time, tipped people off as to when unannounced testings would take place. Corruption at the top as well as the players??? Give me a break.
I don't care that A-rod fessed up to it when they had him backed up against a wall. I would have respect for the man if he fessed up to it like Pettite or Brian Roberts did. They weren't incredibly pressured, and they still came clean. A-Rod will forever be A-Fraud, and deservedly so. I want a Brave to eventually break the record like Hank did, but for now, please Albert… hit some homers for baseball. Restore dignity to the game.
By Dan from MD on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
Colin, no one wants this to be THE TOPIC of conversation. However, these guys decided to cheat and they need to suffer the consequences. One of those consequences is public humiliation and outrage from the fans. You can't have those two things if everyone just moves on.
So while we are all sick of this, we should be taking the anger out on the players who disgraced the game and praising those who play it the right way.
By Colin Ake on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
It's even on my "About Us" page. It's part of what you get with me.
By Colin Ake on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
There's no definitive list of who did what. Sure, there are people who tested positive. There are also people who got around the tests, didn't get tested, and aren't on the lists. We can't just determine who should be blacklisted. It's not possible.
By Colin Ake on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
Dan, the fans decide whether or not they will create outrage. I'm not outraged. You clearly think that people should be outraged, but there's nothing I can do to get outraged about this. It's part of history. It's a shame, but we can't change it, so I'm not going to get my blood pressure up. We can't even enforce 'consequences' (of outrage and public humiliation) properly.
I have no anger. I'm sick of the media covering stuff. I'm sick of the fans acting like it impacts their life. There's nothing to direct towards the players. A-Rod has enough issues (he seems like a douche) without steroids. I get nothing out of harping on others' faults.
By Larry on Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
My thing is McGwire, Sosa, Bonds and Clemens reputations have all been tarnished. And because of their acts they may not make the HOF. Why should ARod get a pass from all this. They took steroids to boost stats for money reason. They lost the integrity of the game. Its hard to swallow but it is time to put this all aside and focus on the '09 season.