A-Rod’s Dodge Makes Jeter’s Blood a Necessity:
Commentary by Scott Soshnick
March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Here we go again. Already.
Spring training has barely sprung and there’s already one heck of a drug-related hullabaloo surrounding the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez.
This spring was supposed to be unlike last spring, when A- Rod sat before inquisitors and teammates and fessed up to being foolish about performance-enhancing drugs. Used them, he said. Young. Stupid. Sorry.
And yet, here we are, once again asking questions about magic potions instead of magical World Series-winning seasons and a retooled and repeat-minded roster. It’s March madness, all right.
What is it they say about insanity and doing the same thing?
Just a year after Major League Baseball’s highest-paid player summoned up contrition while supposedly coming clean there are more drug-related questions being lobbed at A-Rod, which, of course, means there are more questions about A-Rod.
Only he isn’t answering. Not yet, anyway.
Earlier this week, A-Rod said he had been contacted by federal authorities seeking information about Canadian-based doctor Anthony Galea, who is being investigated for distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
A-Rod is aware of the probe, he said. And he’s cooperating. Whatever that means. Only when A-Rod was asked if he’d ever been treated by Galea, he offered obfuscation instead of absolutes.
“I can’t really get into that,” he told reporters at the club’s spring training site in Tampa, Florida. “You’ll know within time, all at the same time. This is about someone else. Like I said I’m going to cooperate the best I can and focus on baseball.”
Fresh Thinking
Now there’s a novel idea. Imagine actually getting to focus on things like OBP (on-base percentage) instead of HGH (human growth hormone).
Here’s an important reminder. While HGH is banned under baseball’s anti-drug policy, baseball doesn’t test for it. Seriously.
Earlier this week the New York Times reported that baseball, at long last, plans to explore the implementation of blood testing for HGH in the minor leagues later this year.
Baseball can implement whatever rules it wants for the minors, where even chewing tobacco is banned. Those sorts of things must be collectively bargained at the big-league level, where an obstructionist union and willfully blind management can’t seem to end this steroid silliness.
And to think that Commissioner Bud Selig declared baseball’s steroid era over after Mark McGwire’s admission a few months ago that he cheated. You know, for health purposes, not any hit-the-ball-far advantage.
It’s Over
“The so-called steroid era -- a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances -- is clearly a thing of the past,” Selig said in a statement.
On the contrary, commissioner. Clearly it’s a thing of the present. Ask Carlos Beltran, who, according to the New York Times, has chatted with investigators about Galea, who has treated the Mets’ outfielder. Ask A-Rod. Or the Yankees, who were quick to issue a statement distancing themselves from Galea, who has been charged by Canadian authorities with conspiring to smuggle HGH into the U.S.
“The Yankees never authorized Dr. Tony Galea to treat Alex Rodriguez, nor do we have any knowledge of any such treatment,” the team said.
Teams, executives and players have been using the Sergeant Schultz defense for far too long. It’s inconceivable that everyone knew nothing.
Silent Treatment
The players, especially those who never did anything wrong, are a big part of the problem.
It’s worth mentioning that two-time American League Most Valuable Player Frank Thomas, who retired last month, was the only player -- the only one -- who assisted former Senator George Mitchell’s investigation into the use of performance- enhancing drugs in baseball.
Thomas, by the way, will have his No. 35 jersey retired on Aug. 29, when the White Sox host -- you guessed it -- the Yankees.
Perfect.
Surely baseball’s rank and file must be tired of answering questions about drugs and cheats. If so, then why aren’t they doing something to once and for all make baseball a clean game?
It was two years ago that A-Rod’s teammate, Derek Jeter, the team captain, said he endorsed the idea of blood testing at the major-league level. What’s one more needle prick, he said, breaking ranks with the union, which says it will consider a scientifically validated blood test for HGH.
Consider. Baseball and its players are, once again, playing from behind.
No Good Arguments
Last week, British rugby player Terry Newton became the first athlete to be suspended for using HGH after testing positive. Newton, who admitted taking the substance, was fired by his team.
David Howman, director of the World Anti-Doping Agency, told the New York Times that the Newton case makes clear that any arguments against testing for HGH are a farce.
“The sports people who said it can’t be detected are fooling themselves,” he said.
Presumably no one wants to look foolish. Certainly not the image-conscious A-Rod.
Good thing baseball’s so-called steroids era is over.
(Scott Soshnick is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.)
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To contact the writer of this column: Scott Soshnick in New York at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: March 2, 2010 21:00 EST |
