Alex Being Alex
Via the AP:
Alex Rodriguez sat in the first-base dugout at Legends Field, surrounded by the usual circle of cameras, microphones and reporters. He knows the scrutiny will only increase as he approaches Barry Bonds’ career home-run record, especially in an era when all top athletes must prove they haven’t juiced up on performance-enhancing drugs.
In his first session with reporters during spring training, Rodriguez talked about baseball’s drug-testing program and made a curious statement.
“Last year, I got tested 9-to-10 times,” Rodriguez said. “We have a very, very strict policy, and I think the game is making tremendous strides.”
If Rodriguez had been tested that many times, either he was selected for an unusually high number of checks or he might have been subjected him to additional tests — which would happen, for instance, if a player tests positive for a stimulant for the first time.
Later in the day, A-Rod said it was just hyperbole.
“My quote from earlier today was taken literally. I was not tested nine or 10 times last year. I was just using exaggeration to make a point,” Rodriguez said in a statement through Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo.
“My intent was simply to shed light on the fact that the current program being implemented is working, and a reason for that is through frequent testing. I apologize for any confusion I may have caused.”
First day of Spring Training, for him, and A-Rod already finds himself in a pickle. Ten more years, huh?
Oh please, it’s meaningless.
Ten years sounds good to me.
I know it comes with the “best player in baseball” label and his contract, but the media really isn’t fair with this guy. The good thing, maybe, is that the abuse is so constant and intense that the fans might wrap their protective arms around him and show him love. I hope A-Rod goes back to his stance of shooting the media the bird and ignoring them again this year.
More like the media being the media.
There are lots of times Arod hasn’t done himself any favors, but some of these journalists act like 6 year old kids at times.
Can you imagine what would have happened if Arod rather than Pedro had been filmed cockfighting in the DR? He just faces such a ridiculously higher level of scrutiny than any other player.
It’s not the media’s fault with this one, he made a stupid comment voluntarily. I’m glad baseball ability doesn’t need to match one’s common sense.
I wish Arod would just stop talking so much with the media. It never turns out in his favor.