Sports 2000

Alex Rodriguez spent this week hearing about Joe Torre’s new book, in which the former New York manager claimed Yankee players referred to Rodriguez as “A-Choke.” Nicknamed “A-Rod,” Rodriguez has a lifetime sub-.200 postseason batting average.

Now add Rodriguez to the list of suspected steroid users. I suppose everyone who played baseball in the last 20 years is under suspicion.

The Major League Baseball Players Association agreed to anonymous drug testing in 2003. During the pilot program, no penalties would be allowed and no names would be released. If more than five percent of the players tested positive during the 2003 season–which happened–then a stiffer testing and punishment system would be imposed, beginning in 2004.

Federal investigators, searching for evidence in spring 2004 about the Bay Area Local Co-Operative (or BALCO), found the supposedly anonymous list of players who’d tested positive the previous year. The government thought going after the players would help their case against the large drug supplier.

We’ve been hearing about steroids ever since. Baseball fans are hoping Rodriguez is the last revelation. Sports Illustrated reporter asked Rodriguez to commit a few days ago. He declined and referred the reporter to the MLB Players Association.

Someone needs to tell Rodriguez my First Rule of Media Relations: Failure to deny the worst when given the opportunity means the worst is true.

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