Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003
I guess I can not be shocked any more by revelations about steroid use by baseball players. My reaction to the news that A-Rod had tested positive back in 2003 just saddened me. Like millions of baseball fans I was hoping he could catch Barry Bonds and become the all time home run king with no questions asked. How naive we all were...
As a fan of the Red Sox and MLB and also someone who earns a living being a tech at games here is what really concerns me
from SI
The list of the 104 players whose urine samples tested positive is under seal in California. However, two sources familiar with the evidence that the government has gathered in its investigation of steroid use in baseball and two other sources with knowledge of the testing results have told Sports Illustrated that Rodriguez is one of the 104 players identified as having tested positive, in his case for testosterone and an anabolic steroid known by the brand name Primobolan. All four sources spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the evidence.
So there are still 103 names out there waiting to be leaked...one by one all summer long. MLB and the players association can not let that happen....just come clean with the names now as how much worse can it get at this point?
In 1998 I was as caught up in the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa chase on Roger Maris' HR record as anyone. I remember being in a packed Harvard Square bar when McGwire broke the record and fans were excited. I should have known better based on what happened at Fenway Park 10 years before.
October 5th, 1988 was Game 1 of the ALCS at Fenway Park between Oakland and the Red Sox. A week before sprinter Ben Johnson had been disqualified from his world record 100 meter run at the Seoul Olympics for having Stanozolol in his urine. A Boston columnist wondered how baseball would treat that situation. That afternoon when Jose Canseco came up to bat the park erupted in jeers as the chant S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S, S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S were directed at Jose who simply laughed. MLB executives most likely laughed as well. (BTW he had the game winning HR later in a 2-1 victory)
As a Red Sox fan I want those 103 names released to help erase doubt that any of the 2004 or 2007 World Series champs could be tainted. The city would be devestated if it came out that Pedro, Pappi, Manny or anybody else was dirty. But by the same token a cloud not of their doing hangs over them now especially David Ortiz. In the last 2 years Papi has lost much of his power and I pray it is because of an injury but the reality is now you have to wonder.
The Red Sox have so far come across unscathed in this scandal but fans certainly have their doubts about Nomar and Mo Vaughn. Nomar did not help himself with his infamous SI cover earlier this decade.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/2001/0305_large.jpg
But I worry most about my son who is now 17. His first real solid baseball memory is that of McGwire breaking the record when he was just 6 and how it had to be a big deal because FOX was showing it live. He has become a huge sports fan and in his short time on the planet has seen 3 Super Bowl winners, a Celtics championship and the Red Sox winning the World Series. But now he questions if it really mattered, was it on the level?
Baseball you must clear the air on this.
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