My personal philosophy has been to save my opinions for the air; don't tweet like a mongo, as we fans of Mike Francesa's "Mongo Nation" like to call it. I also believe in the power of the pen/keyboard, so here we go with the A-Rod response.
I'm prepared to take the slack from baseball purists and angry Yankee fans, but I've lived with this subject for six or seven years now, since A-Rod signed his new contract. Angry Yankee fans, I get it. You're upset that this team shelled out way too much money to a player that's caused this fan base nothing but agida since that new contract, with the exception of October 2009 when suddenly the pinstriped faithful loved him again.
Baseball purists, I get it. You're confused and dismayed at why any player would put foreign substances in his own, already naturally gifted body. Clearly it's because they would want to throw a harder fastball or hit longer and more home runs. Mike Barnicle said it best on the 10th inning of Ken Burns's baseball documentary; players have a lot of time on their hands during the day and they watch highlight videos of towering home runs that the fans line up in droves to see. Alex Rodriguez probably took steroids in Texas, from his OWN ADMISSION don't forget, to live up to that enormous contract from the Rangers.
IF he took them with the Yankees, it probably would've been for the same reasons; but I do have a bone to pick with the Yankee fans I've seen that are happy he has been suspended all next year. At the baseball level, you're going to really miss him when Kelly Johnson, Eduardo Nunez, or whoever they put at third bobbles the ball and is hitting .230 in July. If the Yankees don't go out and spend that extra dough on Tanaka, another pitcher, or a third baseman, then I KNOW you'll miss him.
Let's look at the whole process here: Alex Rodriguez never, not once, tested positive for any substance. As I mentioned before, he admitted at the spring training press conference that he did take steroids when with the Texas Rangers, that's it. Ryan Braun went out and basically insulted the intelligence of anyone in baseball with a brain; vehemently denying the use of steroids when it was later proven that he did. The result? Half a season; he'll be back on Opening Day. A-Rod has fought for his right to a fair trial and will now take his case to federal court. This is the biggest middle finger to baseball from any one player since Curt Flood, who would be rolling over in his grave right now if he knew how A-Rod's rights were being impeded.
Marvin Miller, the original MLBPA president, would also be doing somersaults six feet under. He would be wondering what he built up the union for. Ironically, this is all the result of another union president, Don Fehr, blinded by union politics and Bud Selig, blinded by revenue, completely sitting in the back of the limo and ignoring the need for a fair playing field. The little guys like Rick Helling who brought up the steroids issue in its infancy every winter were constantly ignored, but they felt the courage and had the morality to defend those who didn't want to use to keep up.
After 15 years of ignoring the issue, now it looks like baseball wants to roll the wheels of justice over everyone they can find. If they test positive, so be it. Alex Rodriguez NEVER tested positive for steroids, ever. It doesn't matter whether you think he used them or not, I want to know, in the words of Wendy's, WHERE'S THE BEEF! A criminal that baseball had cooperate with them does not count.
If it comes out that Alex Rodriguez used steroids while with the Yankees and tested positive, then I'll change my tune; but I'm not moving an inch until then. I applaud his decision to keep fighting for justice. For now though, Bud Selig should bring in a taxidermist, 'cause he got the big trophy buck that he wanted.
Neil Dwyer @neildwyer1993
