In an interview that was taped for ESPN on Monday’s early afternoon, and then immediately released to air, Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance enhancing drugs from 2001-2003, during his stay with the Texas Rangers. He seemed genuinely apologetic, and sorrowful to his fans and the Rangers organization.
In his home in Miami, A-Rod’s interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons went like this:
Peter: “Alex, this weekend Sports Illustrated reported that in 2003 you tested positive for testosterone and an anabolic steroid known as primobolan. What’s the truth?”
Alex: “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. Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid, I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know—and being one of the greatest players of all time. And I did take a banned substance and, you know, for that I’m very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then and Major League Baseball overall–was very–I just feel that–You know, I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time. I’m sorry to fans. I’m sorry for my fans in Texas. It wasn’t until then that I ever thought about substance of any kind, and since then I’ve proved to myself and to everyone that I don’t need any of that.”
Peter: “So your saying that the time period was 2001, 2, and 3?”
Alex: “That’s pretty accurate yes.”
Peter: “And what kind of substances were you taking?”
Alex: “Peter, that’s the thing, I mean, again, it was such a loosey-goosey era that that’s–I am guilty for a lot of things. I am guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions and, um, to be quite honest I don’t know exactly what substance I was guilty of using.”
Like him or not he was honest , which is more than I can say for others who have the same accusations brought against them. He admitted his errors in judgment, and basically blames it on his naive youth and the culture of Major League Baseball at the time. It wasn’t right, but he has proven since then that he is the real deal, and didn’t need anything like that anyway.
It takes a lot to admit what you did was wrong, and even more to admit it to the world. Maybe getting this monkey off his back will elevate his level even higher, and he will start doing things in the playoffs that all his fans know he is capable of doing. This could have been the best thing that happened to his career, and maybe what he needed to help get the Yankees to another World Series victory, and start the new season in the new stadium off right, Yankee style.
