Alex Rodriguez Failed a Drug Test

[Dr. Cheese]

The upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated reports that Alex Rodriguez failed a drug test for steroids back in 2003. This is just further proof that all the demonization of Barry Bonds was overblown. I believe the majority of great players in the 1990s until 2004 or so were using steroids. I think the only really prolific homerun hitter that has been clean was Ken Griffey because his production has really declined as he got older and injuries have sidelined him. That profile fits the performance of other players prior to the steroid era, instead of the late thirties rebirths that Mark Maguire, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemmons and others experienced.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

The upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated reports that Alex Rodriguez failed a drug test for steroids back in 2003. This is just further proof that all the demonization of Barry Bonds was overblown. I believe the majority of great players in the 1990s until 2004 or so were using steroids. I think the only really prolific homerun hitter that has been clean was Ken Griffey because his production has really declined as he got older and injuries have sidelined him. That profile fits the performance of other players prior to the steroid era, instead of the late thirties rebirths that Mark Maguire, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemmons and others experienced.

Exactly. Making the recent surge of Bonds news lately even more stupid. What's really sad to me is that when (I'm assuming) he begins breaking records, the whole of baseball won't turn their backs on him like they did Bonds.

Mike

[Jared Lash]

Had this come out at the time it would have been big news. But A-Rod benefits from the public already being desensitized by this subject. Now the reaction is pretty much just, meh.

He'll get hounded by the NY press, but that's really nothing new for him, and the rest of the nation will yawn their way through this story.

As for Bonds, I think it's funny McGwire and Sosa were pretty much given a pass while he gets hammered. Sure, he now "owns" two of baseball's biggest records, but proportionally he's still getting a lot more than his share. His biggest "sin" was being prickly with the media who spun their stories accordingly.

I can only imagine if a guy like Charles Barkley had the same relationship with the press that Bonds did. He'd have been crucified. Instead, by being so chummy with writers and reporters, all his antics were written off or excused.

[fo shizzle]

Just to review the middle of the Ranger lineup in 2003.

Alex Rodriguez...... tested positive in 2003

Juan Gonzales...... outed in Consceco's (sp?) book as a user.

Ivan Rodriguez..... see above

Rafael Palmero..... tested positive in 2005.

This team lost 90+ games but they hit 230 home runs.

This is a regular "Injector's Row"

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

...I can only imagine if a guy like Charles Barkley had the same relationship with the press that Bonds did. He'd have been crucified. Instead, by being so chummy with writers and reporters, all his antics were written off or excused.

It's off topic, but I agree that Charles Barkley is guy who has gotten a pass on some pretty crummy behavior because he is friendly with the press.

[StanFan]

Really? Where's the ear on his forehead or the tractor he should be pulling with his teeth?

It's getting ridiculous. May as well have 2 record books. Sad thing is you'll see guys like Clemens and Bonds in the HOF before Pete Rose. I'm not gonna defend Rose, but if it becomes the Roids Hall of Fame why not gamblers as well? It's unfortunate for those that play the game honest.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by StanFan

Really? Where's the ear on his forehead or the tractor he should be pulling with his teeth?

It's getting ridiculous. May as well have 2 record books. Sad thing is you'll see guys like Clemens and Bonds in the HOF before Pete Rose. I'm not gonna defend Rose, but if it becomes the Roids Hall of Fame why not gamblers as well? It's unfortunate for those that play the game honest.

I agree about Pete Rose. There is no evidence I know of that he did anything with his body enhanced illegally. Even his gambling was as a manager, not player. He should be in the HOF as a player during his lifetime, but he did deserve to be punished because gambling threatens game integrity more than anything a player can do because it is the one thing can give a player or manager an incentive not to win.

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I agree about Pete Rose. There is no evidence I know of that he did anything with his body enhanced illegally. Even his gambling was as a manager, not player. He should be in the HOF as a player during his lifetime, but he did deserve to be punished because gambling threatens game integrity more than anything a player can do because it is the one thing can give a player or manager an incentive not to win.

Was it ever proven that he bid against his own team?

[gold_member_321]

Good

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by StanFan

Was it ever proven that he bid against his own team?

IMO, that is besides the point. Once he started gambling on baseball, he put himself in position where he could be blackmailed into throwing a game.

[Deluge Of Sound]

No, he bet on his team a bit, but never against.


Pete Rose should definitely be in the Hall of Fame.

And whether he could have been in a position to compromise the game is missing the point as well.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

And whether he could have been in a position to compromise the game is missing the point as well.

No, it is not missing the point. Rose violated the basic ethics of his game. It's kind of like a married man going on a date with woman and getting romantic without ever having sex. He may not have committed adultery, but no wife I know would be cool with that sort of behavior.

[Armueller2001]

Meh. It happens.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

No, it is not missing the point. Rose violated the basic ethics of his game. It's kind of like a married man going on a date with woman and getting romantic without ever having sex. He may not have committed adultery, but no wife I know would be cool with that sort of behavior.

No, its more like a married man going on a date with his boss's daughter, and while there's no evidence they ever fooled around, the boss continues to deny this guy a promotion years and years later.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

No, its more like a married man going on a date with his boss's daughter, and while there's no evidence they ever fooled around, the boss continues to deny this guy a promotion years and years later.

You are entitled to your opinion, but if you don't think that Pete Rose seriously went against the ethics of professional sports and compromised himself, I don't see how you could ever criticize any athlete about anything related to sports.

I think Rose should be in the HOF, but the man was guilty of a major violation of his games' rules.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You are entitled to your opinion, but if you don't think that Pete Rose seriously went against the ethics of professional sports and compromised himself, I don't see how you could ever criticize any athlete about anything related to sports.

I think Rose should be in the HOF, but the man was guilty of a major violation of his games' rules.

I think that the argument against Pete Rose went out the window when steroids became prevalent. In my mind, betting on your team isn't nearly as bad as taking 'roids.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

I think that the argument against Pete Rose went out the window when steroids became prevalent. In my mind, betting on your team isn't nearly as bad as taking 'roids.

That is the weakest logic of anything you said. It was the equivalent of saying that muggers shouldn't go to jail because murder is worse.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Sorry, I've been getting deeper and deeper into my evening beverages.


In fact, I don't think I'll continue to post on the subject until tomorrow morning. I've just Miranda-ized myself.

[Commreman]

Hell, given A Rods' complete lack of performance down the stretch, he should double and triple up his injection rate in September and October.........Oh, that's right, this headcase is the "best" player in baseball!

[HashbrownCOBM]

I think people forget that baseball is just entertainment. I wanna see more home runs, stolen bases, more strike outs, blah, blah, blah. If the roids help them then have at it. Entertain me.