A-Rod to A-Roid

[Electric Duadoman]

From ESPN

 

A-Rod admits, regrets use of PEDs

 

His voice shaking at times, Alex Rodriguez met head-on allegations that he tested positive for steroids six years ago, telling ESPN on Monday that he did take performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers during a three-year period beginning in 2001.

 

"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day," Rodriguez told ESPN's Peter Gammons in an exclusive interview in Miami Beach, Fla.

 

"Back then, [baseball] was a different culture," Rodriguez said. "It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time.

 

"I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful."

 

In his first prime-time news conference, President Barack Obama called Rodriguez's admission "depressing" news.

 

"And if you're a fan of Major League Baseball, I think it tarnishes an entire era, to some degree," Obama said. "And it's unfortunate, because I think there were a lot of ballplayers who played it straight."

 

Major League Baseball had no comment Monday. Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Rodriguez's admission caught him by surprise.

 

"I feel personally betrayed. I feel deceived by Alex," Hicks said in a conference call, according to The Associated Press. "He assured me that he had far too much respect for his own body to ever do that to himself. ... I certainly don't believe that if he's now admitting that he started using when he came to the Texas Rangers, why should I believe that it didn't start before he came to the Texas Rangers?"

 

Rodriguez's admission comes 48 hours after Sports Illustrated reported that Rodriguez was on a list of 104 players who tested positive for banned substances in 2003, the year when Major League Baseball conducted survey tests to see if mandatory, random drug-testing was needed in the sport.

 

Sources who know about the testing results told SI that Rodriguez tested positive for testosterone and Primobolan, an anabolic steroid. In his ESPN interview, which his ex-wife, Cynthia, attended, Rodriguez said he did not know exactly which substance or substances he had taken. In 2003, there were no penalties for a positive result.

 

"Again, it was such a loosey-goosey era," Rodriguez said. "I'm guilty for a lot of things. I'm guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions. And to be quite honest, I don't know exactly what substance I was guilty of using."

 

A three-time AL Most Valuable Player, Rodriguez blamed himself and his $252 million contract he signed with the Rangers in 2001 for his decision to use PEDs.

 

"I felt a tremendous pressure to play, and play really well" in Texas, the New York Yankees third baseman said. "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."

 

Rodriguez also said part of the reason he started using drugs was the heat in Texas.

 

"Can I have an edge just to get out there and play every day?" he said to himself. "You basically end up trusting the wrong people. You end up, you know, not being very careful about what you're ingesting."

 

Rodriguez added: "I am sorry for my Texas years. I apologize to the fans of Texas."

 

Rodriguez, who joined the Yankees for the 2004 season after a trade from Texas, said his years as a Yankee "have been clean."

 

"I've played the best baseball of my career since," he said. "I've won two MVPs since and I've never felt better in my career. Of that I'm very proud of."

 

The Yankees issued a statement.

 

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs," it read. "We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex -- like all of us --is a human being not immune to fault.

 

"We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

 

Rodriguez described the last days' turn of events as the biggest challenge of his life but added it felt good to be honest about what he's done in the past.

 

"It's been a rough 15 months here for me," Rodriguez said.

 

He added: "I was stupid for three years. I was very, very stupid" and, later said: "The more honest we can all be, the quicker we can get baseball [back] to where it needs to be."

 

"When you take this gorilla and this monkey off your back, you realize that honesty is the only way," Rodriguez said. "I'm finally beginning to grow up. I'm pretty tired of being stupid and selfish, you know, about myself. The truth needed to come out a long time ago. I'm glad it's coming out today."

 

He said he stopped using during spring training 2003, when he sustained a neck injury. It was just as baseball started its drug-testing survey. It was only in 2004 that testing with penalties began.

 

"It wasn't a real dramatic day once I arrived in Texas that something monumental happened in my life," he said. "The point of the matter was that I started experimenting with things that today are not legal or today are not accepted and today you would get in a lot of trouble for."

 

He said the culture earlier this decade of taking performance-enhancing substances was "prevalent." "There were a lot of people doing a lot of things," Rodriguez said, noting that he wasn't specifically pointing out the Rangers.

 

"You have nutritionists, you have doctors, you have trainers. That's the right question today: Where did you get it? We're in the era of BALCO," Rodriguez said. "There's many things that you can take that are banned substances. I mean, there's things that have been removed from GNC today that would trigger a positive test."

 

Rodriguez said he was told by Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the MLB Players Association, that he might, or might not, have tested positive in the 2003 survey. That conversation happened during the 2004 season. A source told ESPN on Saturday that Rodriguez knew he had failed the test.

 

According to the Mitchell report, all players who failed the test in 2003 were notified by September 2004.

 

Rodriguez said he didn't know for sure he had failed a test until Sports Illustrated contacted him last week.

 

Orza told The New York Times he did not tip off Rodriguez to a test at the conclusion of the '04 season. "It's not true. Simple as that," he told the newspaper on Monday via e-mail.

 

Union head Donald Fehr reiterated in a statement that there was no improper tipping of players.

 

"Any allegations that Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official acted improperly are wrong," he said.

 

Fehr said the union first received test results on Nov. 11, 2003, that the results were finalized two days later and that players were notified the following day, a Friday.

 

"Promptly thereafter, the first steps were taken to begin the process of destruction of the testing materials and records," Fehr said. "On Nov. 19, however, we learned that the government had issued a subpoena. Upon learning this, we concluded, of course, that it would be improper to proceed with the destruction of the materials."

 

Rodriguez said Orza 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," Rodriguez said.

 

Rodriguez also told ESPN's Gammons of his 2007 interview with Katie Couric on "60 Minutes," when he denied ever using steroids, that "at the time, Peter, I wasn't even being truthful with myself. How am I going to be truthful with Katie or CBS?"

 

Rodriguez also criticized Sports Illustrated and said Selena Roberts, one of its reporters who covered the story, stalked him. He also accused Roberts of trying to break into his home last week while his two daughters were sleeping. Sports Illustrated released a statement, saying it "stands by the story and the professional manner in which it was reported. Selena Roberts is a distinguished journalist and her reporting in this case led to Alex Rodriguez's admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs."

 

"The allegations made by Alex Rodriguez are absurd," said Roberts, in the statement. "I've never set foot in the lobby of Alex's New York apartment building, never spoken to the University of Miami police, and never set foot on his home property or been cited by the Miami Police for doing so."

 

ESPN obtained a copy of a Miami Beach police report on Monday night that indicates there was an incident between Roberts and a security guard at the guard shack of Rodriguez's community on Feb. 5. There is no indication Roberts was at Rodriguez's home, and no charges were filed.

 

"SI has a long history of investigative reporting, and the work by Selena Roberts stands solidly in that tradition," Sports Illustrated group editor Terry McDonell said in a statement.

 

In his 2008 book, "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball," Jose Canseco claimed he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer. Canseco, who has admitted using steroids, subsequently said he had no knowledge of any drug use by Rodriguez.

 

"They are looking in the wrong places," Canseco said in a text message to The Associated Press. "This is a 25-year cover-up. The true criminals are Gene Orza, Donald Fehr and [commissioner] Bud [selig]. Investigate them, and you will have all the answers."

 

Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the House committee that brought Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and other baseball players to Capitol Hill in recent years, favored a congressional hearing with Rodriguez.

 

"It would be good perhaps for us to sit down and talk to him," Cummings said in a telephone interview. "I would think that he would want to cooperate with us so that the Congress would have the information it may need."

 

Former Yankees manager Joe Torre expressed his surprise.

 

"We all hope that this information that has come out is going to benefit the game of baseball in the long run," he said. "It blindsided me that it was so widespread. We all have to take blame for this. I had never really heard anything in connection to him. When you watch his work ethic, the time he puts in at batting practice and in the weight room, I had no reason to question him. He has the most ability of any player I've seen.

 

"It's going to be tough for him but I'm happy that he came out, faced the music and took responsibility for it."

 

Rodriguez is still expected to attend an event Friday at the University of Miami, which is renaming its baseball field in his honor. He gave $3.9 million to the school in 2003, the largest gift ever to the Hurricanes' baseball program and money that provided much of the resources needed for renovating the existing on-campus stadium. In return, the baseball complex will be called Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park.

 

Despite the scandal, the facility will continue to bear Rodriguez's name, a university official told AP on Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitive nature.

 

Miami baseball players and coaches were not available for comment, spokesman Mark Pray said.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

Does this surprise anyone? Does anyone believe him?

[archangel]

I'm so glad the Washington Post reporter used his ONE question to the President to ask him about A-Rod. I mean, sure, we're in the middle of an economic crisis and two wars, but getting the President's opinion on A-Rod and roids is just too important a topic to gloss over with this nonsense on Stimulus packages and Ahmadinejad acquiring nukes. I mean, sure, we're talking about doubling the deficit and holding talks with a guy who wants to wipe Israel off the map, but the President's opinion on A-Rod and Steroids trumps all of that.

 

God i wanted to strangle that stupid fuck.

[The NZA]

one day, we're gonna collectively accept that the news stories should actually be about the athletes (and civil servants - fire/police) that havent used juice at one point, cause id bet theyre a minority.

 

and again, different posts but on all counts, i cant be made to see why anyone's seriously concerned about this.

[Benz]

Meh, just further proof that A-Fraud and the Yankees suck.

[Iambaytor]

The reporter might as well have just went "Uh... President Obama... you're black... right?" and then asked his question, would've made his poitn that much more clear. I look forward to a Latino president so I can go to a press conference and ask him his opinion of Carlos Mencia stealing jokes.

[archangel]

Oh Ryan. Sometimes you steal my heart away

[Reverend Jax]

That doesn't make any sense. The reporter that asked the question was black, and A-Rod is Hispanic. Anyway, he's so brave to confess...now that proof came out. And I would put good money on the fact that he's lying about not juicing since 03. The only reason he's admitting to past use is because past use is all that was revealed.

[Ron Hightower]

Man, FUCK A-Fraud! I can't stand the guy. He's a bitch and REAL players don't have respect for him.

[The NZA]

wait, just because he juiced?

[Ron Hightower]

No, I've ALWAYS hated that fuck. Even before the news of him jucin'. I'm glad that this news has come out, cause now his legacy'll be tarnished.

[The NZA]

i obviously dont know the guy, but what's so bad about him? no way he can be as big a d-bag as canseco is/was.

[Ron Hightower]

No, but you're headed in the right direction. What's he done... I don't know. I just don't like him.

[Electric Duadoman]

Panch is just a hater...juice or no juice, the guy is the best baseball player (not including october) of our generation.

[gunsmithx]

honeslty who gives a fuck, with the amount of money and pessure on the line I'm pretty sure just about everyone here would have juiced too(and i'm sure everyone will come out and say but if you I put tens of millions on the table..... just saying not sure why everyone is surpised the guy is human) also everyone knew how bad the roid problem was and no one, not players, not onwers not baseball said shit and all the fans wanted them to hit the home runs, everyone(not people here nesscierly but overall) needs to just calm the fuck down.

[Benz]

Nah, I'm with Panch. I don't like A-Fraud either. He juiced, therefore he cheated. Any player in any sport that uses roids is cheating, which is why they get the * next to their name. That and he's part of the biggest store-bought team in baseball, the Yankees whom I will always hate. Therefore, fucka A-Fraud and the Yankees.

[Ron Hightower]

Bah, the Yankees!

 

I just ain't buyin' what A-Fraud is sellin' at these press conferences. He's a cheater and a liar and I'm glad his legacy is going down the tubes. October choker.

[gunsmithx]

oh wow can I be a cool kid hate on the yankees and the best player in baseball for no good reason?

 

everyone needs to off this moral high horse

 

the first stone and all that jazz

[Benz]

Yankees are store-bought. Steinbrenner buys the best players and slaps them all on the same team. You don't like my reason, that's fine, but it is a good reason. Boston earned their championships after 80 years of being cursed. I'm proud of my Red Sox. Damon's another reason I hate the Yankees, damn traitor. He went where the money is, sure, but he got his championship with Boston, not New York. And again, A-Roid's the best player on roids, not the best player without help. Best player without help? My opinion: Papi David Ortiz.

[gunsmithx]

I believe arod's best year was 07, have to look that up but come on, he's a great player and saying it was just stroid is stuipd and blind(which may not be what your saying to be fair) btw the redsox last I checked had a pretty high payroll too, the yankees spend the most cause they make the most money, somone if the sox went out and droped a ton more money(on top of the ton they spend now) on players you wouldn't come on here and talk about how evil they now are.

 

now that said, hating the yankees just cause your a sox fan is perfectly fine, just don't try and justify it by saying they spend all this money. all of the teams would if they could and the fans would love it.(and yes steinbrenner being a dick is a find reason too lol)

[Benz]

Steinbrenner is the Jabba-the-Hut of Baseball. And I don't mean that in a good way either because at least Jabba was a little bit cool.

[gunsmithx]

I just had this great image of steinbrenner in return of the jedi lol

[Ron Hightower]

LIAR!

That's more like it.

[The NZA]

of course he lied, doesnt every athlete who's charged whit this shit typically lie? there's a lot at stake.

 

newsflash for those of you calling him a cheater and such for this: your favorite athlete, at some point, used a performance-enhancing drug. accept this, and then be mad at a system which causes you to give a shit about things like this being considered a crime when there's no victim.

[archangel]

or crime, for that matter: this wasn't a crime when he did it.

[The NZA]

really? it wasnt in the MLB rulebooks at that point? didnt know that.

how is it even an issue at all, then?