A-Roid* by Jared Carrabis
Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003


Well, so much for A-Rod becoming the Home Run King with no link to steroids.

According to Selena Roberts and David Epstein of Sports Illustrated, Yankee third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, tested positive for two anabolic steroids and testosterone during the 2003 season in which he walked away with 47 home runs and an American League MVP award. My first reaction to this was a little bit of shock. With all Yankee hatred aside, I always thought A-Rod was a pure talent. However, it seems as if though I am sadly mistaken.

This could open the door for even more names to be leaked, as there were 103 other active Major League ballplayers to test positive for steroids during that 2003 campaign. 47 home runs may seem like a monster season but just a year prior, Rodriguez launched 57 bombs and 52 in 2001.

So the question to be asked here is, does Rodriguez belong in the same company as both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens? As the saying goes, it’s only cheating if you get caught but then again, you only have to cheat once to be remembered as a cheater. As it turns out, A-Rod isn’t going to be the savior of baseball after all. If not A-Rod, then who is ever going to be able to surpass the home run total currently held by Barry Bonds? As far as I’m concerned, Hammerin’ Hank Aaron will always be the Home Run King. That is until he is surpassed by a pure talent.

These accusations can only mean one thing, the purest home run hitter of this generation has to go to none other than “The Kid”, Ken Griffey Jr. They don’ call him “The Natural” for nothing. If he played his entire career without injury, there is no question Junior would have eclipsed Ruth, Aaron, Bonds and beyond. With 611 career long balls at the age of 39, it’s safe to say that the home run record may no longer be in reach for Griffey Jr., but he can walk away from the game one day knowing that came closer than most could and he did it the right way.

Although A-Rod is a member of our most hated rivals, file Saturday February 7, 2009 under “a sad day for baseball”.

-Jared Carrabis

Published on February 07, 2009

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