By Soxman
Baseball’s best should officially earmark history Is it just me or are you beginning to feel like there may not be a Santa Claus or that professional wrestling might be fake?
For this baseball fan, Alex Rodriguez’s admission to using performance enhancing drugs put every truth in doubt. I remember that when Barry Bonds’ HR records were officially tarnished, sports reporters around the world then appointed Alex Rodriguez as the “savior of the modern era.” Simply, all believed that when he caught Barry Bonds’ all-time HR record, the legitimacy of baseball these past 12 years would be saved.
Sure, he admitted it…after he was caught! However, if he was truly an honest person, wouldn’t A-Rod have come clean immediately when people turned to him as the symbol of honesty in America’s pastime?
A-Rod blamed himself and the $252 million contract he signed with the Rangers in 2001 for his decision to use illegal substances.
“I felt a tremendous pressure to play, and play really well” in Texas, Rodriguez said in an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons. “I had just signed this enormous contract … I felt like I needed something, a push, without over-investigating what I was taking, to get me to the next level.”
Analysis: You had $252 million reasons to cheat.
In the interview, Rodriguez also said MLB told him in August or September 2004 about the list of names that had been seized by federal investigators. “He said there’s a government list. There’s 104 players in it. You might or might not have tested positive,” he said.
Translation: a sigh of relief that he wasn’t caught.
So now what? Of course, our undying thirst and curiosity to see the gruesome death of the once mighty Gladiator intensifies. The soap opera element of this sport intensifies and we turn our attention to the other 
103 names on the government list. Who were they? Was my favorite player on the list? Where any White Sox players dirty?
Admit it, sports fans thrive on this National Enquirer type of drama. Who falls from grace next is no different then America’s fascination with watching Britney Spears shave her head out of mental anguish or Miley Cyrus go from child role model to…whatever she’s becoming these days?
Call me delusional and perhaps just exhausted, but I’m ready for this whole thing to just go away. The record books of our generation have been forever tarnished and there’s nothing we can do to change the past. Move on. We can only learn for the future.
A little advice to A-Rod. If you are truly sorry for your mistakes, truly do something about it and stop making it all about you.
Simply, it is too early to defend your right to be in the Hall of Fame. Let your actions and play from this moment forward truly define you.While many will argue that you may or may not have been dirty longer than you admitted, offer to have your “dirty years” removed from the record books. You said it yourself. You are still a Hall of Famer without them.
(for stat geeks: From 2001-2003 A-Rod averaged .305, 52 HR, and a .615 slugging percentage per season. For the rest of his career, .309, 39 HR, .574).
Or, rid yourself of the demons. Donate all, or a portion of your salary from those “tainted years” to the development of a comprehensive education program for children on the dangers of performance enhancing drugs in sports or other charities aimed at honoring youth integrity and honesty.
To the 103 other players on the list or anyone else who cheated in the past:
Do something original and consider telling the truth.
To MLB, Congress, and everyone else obsessed with the Steroid Era:
We know the decade is tarnished and out of fairness to those who were clean, do not eliminate the record books. However, earmark it accordingly.
If the number 61* can be earmarked forever because it was achieved by honestly and cleanly playing a few more games, then this era is worthy of distinction as well.
As a final thought:
Among all of the steroid allegations and players who were caught over the past several years, isn’t it a real shame that (regardless of his motivation) the symbol of honesty in America’s pastime is none other than Jose Canseco?
I still believe in this game.
Santa I’m hoping you will get me a new utility belt this year for Christmas.