A-Rod: Conquering Hero or Validated Cheater
Alex Rodriguez has outlasted his steroids use to become a champion
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 3:45 PM EST, Thu, Nov 5, 2009
How should Alex Rodriguez be received when he returns to his native Miami after finally winning the World Series?
Should we welcome him as a conquering hero with banners that read, "The Prodigal Son Has Returned" or should we see him through the prism of a cheater who took a short cut to the top?
Throughout the MLB playoffs, no analyst, broadcaster or player has brought up the fact that Rodriguez was as guilty of cheating the game as Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa or Miami's other baseball masher Jose Canseco.
Yet, the only mention of A-Rod's February admission of steroids use during the World Series was, "He has overcome a tumultuous spring to get to this moment."
"I said (back in spring training) that this is going to turn out to be one of the most special years of my life, and it sure has," Rodriguez said after popping the champagne during the celebration of the Yankees 27th world title. "I feel so proud to be one of the guys, and part of a team that brought (championship number) 27 to New York. It's even better than you could imagine. We've waited a long time, and it feels good."
Championships are validation, but it doesn't clear a multitude of sins. Or maybe it does when you're wearing the Yankee pinstripes. It's amazing what winning can do to erase the most egregious of errors.
With each home run or clutch RBI base hit, Rodriguez got further away from A-Roid and closer to A-Ruth. The elephant in the room that was once steroids has become a tiny bug squashed by A-Rod's hot bat.
Forget allegations that he may have been juicing since his playing days as a high schooler at Westminster Academy, A-Rod was an integral part of the Steroid Era that so many Hall of Famers have staunchly protested should never be placed on baseball's lofty pedestals.
From 2001-2003, A-Rod said he needed an edge to keep up with the expectations on him with the Texas Rangers, but professed he stopped doping before becoming a Yankee in 2004.
Now, five years later and only a few months removed from admitting the ultimate sin, Rodriguez has been lifted on the top of shoulders and is being mentioned with the games greatest players like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio.
Whenever he does land in Miami to show off his championship ring, local media will undoubtedly omit questions about steroids and performance enhancers for much more meaty topics like Kate Hudson and his meal at Prime 112.
It's clear A-Rod can sleep at night with what he's done to get to this point, but if he ever does get uncomfortable in the bed that he has made he can always turn to his shiny new ring for comfort.
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 3:26 PM EST
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