The baseball world was rocked when a report on SI.com by Selena Roberts and David Epstein explained that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. The test that he “failed” was part of a survey taken to determine the amount of players using steroids. The league and players union agreed that if the results showed that more than 5% of tested players were positive for steroids, the league will implement a mandatory drug testing policy beginning in 2004. Out of the 1,198 players tested, the SI.com article states that 104, or approximately 9%, tested positive, including three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez.
The agreement surrounding these exploratory tests was that the results would be kept confidential, and ultimately destroyed. Obviously, the information was leaked and it is now public knowledge that Alex Rodriguez, at least once, used and tested positive for steroids.
Alex Rodriguez Gets Singled Out
Alex Rodriguez has nobody to blame for this situation but himself. Although the results should have never been released, the fact that he did steroids in the first place (after they were banned in 1991) means that he broke the rules; whether or not he got caught was irrelevant. One big problem with this whole predicament is that Rodriguez is the only player out of the 104 to literally be singled out. Although it would have been unfair for the other names to be given, the release of Alex Rodriguez’s results has put him in an unbeatable situation.
Rodriguez's Long Road Ahead
It is clear that Rodriguez must come clean and absorb all criticism that is sure to be directed his way. Gone are the questions about performing in clutch situations and the pressure of playing in New York. The focus will be entirely on the effects of steroids on the man whom fans and MLB has decided will be the one that passes Barry Bonds and the great home run hitters of the past.
Rodriguez the Victim
Although his actions are reprehensible, technically, Rodriguez is the victim in this story; he is the only unfortunate player named by SI.com’s revelation. When Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids, it was not allowed, but not enforced. This is the equivalent of a speed limit with no radars to detect actual speeders. Like Alex with his fellow colleagues, drivers would speed to keep up. Rather than pass the blame, Rodriguez must do everything in his power to absorb it.
A Crippled League
The sentiment throughout baseball fans is simple now: everybody does steroids. The validity of this statement is obviously in question, but the sad fact is that after SI.com’s story, people will never look at this era in baseball the same. The legitimacy of every player’s statistics since the mid ‘90’s will now be in question, and with the lack of a valid test for HGH (human growth hormone), doubt will continue to surround MLB until somehow fans are guaranteed the league is tainted no more, something that may never happen.
The Good News
There is a small glimmer of good news in this story: 9% is a relatively small number of positive samples for a test of over 1,000 players. The indication a few years ago was the steroids were rampant, with some people in baseball suggesting that over half the league was using performance-enhancing drugs. While it is very possible that players are able to circumvent the system, the numbers alone should still stand for a good barometer of this relatively low number.
What happens next?
Baseball fans deserve the entire story behind Rodriguez’s steroid use, and in return, forgiveness should follow. Fans are actually hurt by this most recent discovery, upon which the realization that a "clean" athlete may never again hold the hallowed home run title has set in. With a sincere apology, Rodriguez will be in the unique position that he actually has nine years left on his contract to "reinvent" a Hall of Fame resume, and quite possibly prove his greatness without the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Unfortunately, people will always be suspicious of great athletes from this point forward, but this is the sad life that a baseball fan must live. The internal debate for a fan to decide if such a fragile sport is worth one's time anymore is disturbing, but undeniable. More than ever, now baseball is effectively and officially, tainted.
Mario Mergola - Mario Mergola is a freelance journalist currently writing for multiple websites. His main website, The Digital Blitz, was created by Mario ...
