All World All Sports
-Digger's Daily-
Tne New York Daily News (4/30/09) published excerpts from a new book written by Selena Roberts called "A-Rod".
More steroids talk to haunt ARod. Timing couldn't have been any better for boo-birds as ARod's disabled list stint is about ready to end. "A-Rod", the book, will be released on May 12 filled with plenty of ammunition for naysayers. ARod, the player, will have hundreds of thousands boo-birds hounding him in every baseball city upon being activated from the disabled list (probably the same week). NY fans will let him hear it too if the Yanks faulter.
I've read a few juicy tidbits released in today's Daily News column and listened comments by sports tv personalities. Apparantly, after ARod's press conference where spoke of his experimental time frame... those in the know questioned his accuracy and honesty. Eventually, a select few crossed paths with Roberts providing plenty of details for her "A-Rod" 250 page expose.
I was surprised only by one claim. AFraud was taking 'roids dating back to his high school playing days. If this holds true, then he's a complete fraud who should be denied Hall of Fame status. A handful of sportswriters who double as Hall of Fame voters have already said there's no way they could ever vote for a lifetime user. I hope it stands up when it's time for ballots to be counted. Rodriguez only admitted to experimenting while playing for Texas and stopped using in 2004. The book questions his statements and provides guilty by association blurbs such as ARod keeping company as recently as 2008 with Angel Presinal. Presinal has been banned from major league facilities after a steroids incident in 2001. (BTW, if MLB banned Persinal in 2001... how in the world can they claim, in front of a congressional committee, no one knew players were abusing?????????).
So, just when baseball believed it had successfully put the growth hormone/steroids scandal on the back burner... here comes "A-Rod" filled with more accusations by "unnamed sources". Funny thing about unnamed sources is most times, when relating to politics, I believe it's just a reporters way of injecting personal opinion. However, when it comes to sports reporting, these unnamed sources hit stories out of the park with their accuracy. Remember how Jose Canseco was bashed for writing his book outing players? He was called a money hungry lying thug only looking to promote his book. Until.... one by one outed players who denied (McGwire, Palmeiro) were to be proven liars. Remember during the McGwire/Sosa homer record chase stories questioned their validity? (McGwire was using a supplement at the time). Barry Bonds & BALCO.
I think more people will view the newest revelations as who cares? For sports fans, it confirms what most of us think about ballplayers from the 90's. Large numbers were guilty of using but, everyone was in the know.
Here's a few quotes/recaps of the book pasted from today's Daily News (bold) with my thoughts following:
"-In one shocking disclosure, the book accuses A-Rod of "pitch tipping" when he was with the Rangers - letting a friendly opponent at the plate know which pitch was coming in lopsided games." I'm sure ARod's ex-mates are thrilled to be hearing this one. At what point did AFraud think a game was out of hand to warrant tipping pitches from his teammates to opposing hitters? Especially, when he played for the slugging Texas Rangers who were capable of overcoming big deficits. This is cheating. Next news will accuse him of betting on these games?
"-Rodriguez expected players he helped would do the same for him when he was having an off night and needed to get his batting average up and it wouldn't affect the outcome of the game." I certainly hope there weren't any opposing players tipping off ARod... unless they were trying to trick him. These two allegations will need to be confirmed by reliable sources for me to fully believe. It also deserves attention from MLB investigations. Yet, it doesn't seem too far fetched.
"-The 255-page book also chronicles A-Rod's off-the-field escapades: his poker habit; his divorce from his wife, Cynthia; the relationship with Madonna, and dalliances with out-of-town floozies." This part is the juicy stuff tying everything together including a mention of his me-me-me mentality often spoken about by ex-teamers. It's not anything I care about other than gambling. ARod was heavily chastised for frequenting illegal late night poker games.. often before ball games. Has to make you wonder if he was ever approached to throw a game or two?
ARod will be needing earplugs during the season. All of his stats are now called into question. Not just the Texas years... everything. Roberts seems to be well respected in her field. Sports Illustrated writers have been known for breaking big in depth stories. On the surface, Roberts might be right on target. I think this book will contain plenty of supported truths, references and a few items left to reader's imaginations.
Bonds, McGwire, Canseco, ARod... some of the games biggest bashers of the 90's - 00's... had a little help and were rewarded with truckloads of money. Ah, baseball's HGH/'roids soap opera keeps on trucking. I'm guessing it will for many years. Even though many of us say "who cares" or "tell me something new" on the outside... whenever new allegations surface or sources become confirmed about big name and home town players... we follow the story. Players doping was so widespread the gossip will last for years to come. Surging again when the cheats become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration.
Irony. Most of these guys wanted to be so liked. Daydreaming of becoming baseball heroes when they were kids. Heroes who broke records of the games greatest players. Heroes whose names became synonymous with the games greatest. Heroes who won big World Series games. So much for self indulged heroes. Now, many will be remembered via ridicule for generations. Liars, cheaters and dopers. Baseball fans have witnessed tremendous games during the past two decades. It's too bad so many positives will forever be darkened by an forever hanging cloud of artificial influences.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
Showing posts with label ARoid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARoid. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
ARod, AFraud, ARoid Speaks Up!
Visit All World All Sports (www.allworldallsports.com)
by Digger
Loads of random thoughts surround today's surprise announcement by Alex Rodriguez. ARod sat down for a one on one interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons fessing up to using PED's between 2001-03 before it was a banned substance by MLB. I've written numerous blogs about steroids in baseball and how poorly every aspect has been handled (or not).
Well, today I'll give ARod slight kudos for speaking up. It took a lot of guts for him to step up and tell everyone what we already knew. There was no Rafael Palmeiro type finger waving denials. No McGwire "I'm not here to talk about my past" bs. No Barry Bonds style non-denials. No, no, Canseco chest bashing bragging either. Just a not so simple moment of an icon admitting wrong doing based on Sports Illustrated article stating ARod tested PED positive in 2003.
ARod explained what led him down this path. However, the skeptical side of me will question when he actually stopped. 2003 is hard to believe. One more question is ARod sorry for what he did? Or, for getting caught??
Scratch below the surface of this latest outing of a baseball PED user. So much more to go with many obstacles, disinformation and political style slick deflection of attention still looming. First of all, regardless of anyone's opinion of who did what... (random thoughts)
- this drug test was to be strictly confidential under the safeguards provided by MLB and the Players Association. Why release this news now "6" years later? These documents should have been destroyed. MLBPA fumbled this badly. No, not for failing to cover up... but, for failing to protect the right of privacy. MLBPA is one of our country's strongest and most well disciplined unions.
- 104 players tested positive, why only release ARod's name? What about the other 103? A hole in the dam was just made by releasing ARod's name. Now, it's time to name them all.
- Anyone who thinks only 104 were guilty should remember players were notified testing was to be done. Some quit. Users were tipped off by team officials when they would be tested. Users also tainted results with masking agents. So, 104 will not be an accurate reflection of depths to which this scandals reaches.
- Owners still getting a free pass. Players in the know getting a free pass. Team doctors in the know... General Managers ... it's a pathetic mess.
- Union denies MLBPA Officials tipped off players, namely ARod, on eve of testing.
- The Mitchell Reports was highly biased. Mitchell is part of the Red Sox organization. Most of the players under suspicion in his analysis played in New York. He failed to detail what was happening in every other major league city. Failed to address core of problem = EVERYONE KNEW!
- EVERYONE from Commissioner to Owners to Players knew how widespread this epidemic had become and most are still in denial. Epidemic is incorrect. This was a conspiracy. Conspiracy evolved to protecting players "CONTINUED USAGE". Now, game conspires to deny any knowledge despite repeated articles written dating over 20 years. Denials after former player admissions (NL MVP Ken Caminiti).
- No one really wanted this to stop. Baseball revenues were growing at astronomical rates as players started hitting homers at alarming rates. Gate receipts, marketing revs, tv revs and players contracts all took off.
- MLBPA Executive allegedly kept 2003 records to prove/hope for enough false positive tests so testing would be permanently banned! Included was tipping off players to testing. A charge being denied.
All of this stuff is irritating since I hate cheaters. People will argue until they are blue faced stating it wasn't against the rules since baseball didn't drug test or not part of any league/union agreements. Garbage. Players weren't taking these substances to better their health. Each one shot up, rubbed cream, popped pills for one unified purpose.... to become a better baseball player. Most denied suspicions to hide their actions. Covered their tracks by obtaining steroids from other countries, using designer drugs, BALCO etc. Guilty... PERIOD.
Hank Aaron & Roger Maris endured tremendous hardships when chasing Babe Ruth's home run record. Aaron the subject of racial indecencies and death threats. Maris faced relentless criticism and negative New York press. His record stood at *61 in record books until the asterik was finally removed. Reflecting back a few years to 1998 baseball season now sickens me. Mark McGwire vs Sammy Sosa phony homer show produced by MLB....
1998: McGwire (70) and Sosa (66) went toe to toe most of the year chasing Maris' record. The stomach turning part is how McGwire went out of his way to phony up to the Maris family. I'm sure Mac's emotions were very genuine and heartfelt to a point. He had spent much time with them as Mrs. Maris and kids traveled the country as Mac neared 61. Fans packed stadiums as baseball promoted this event to the hilt. At the time, baseball was recovering from a different black eye... one of the MANY under Bud Selig. Well, guess what? It was all phony. Time and time again McGwire sat a post-game news conferences stating how wonderful it was to be mentioned in the same sentence as Roger Maris. How difficult it was for Maris' family to watch their father's record about to be broken. And, all the while Mac was juicing with a previously unbanned substance. What a ____! Sosa, while never formally proven, was juicing too. Baseball encouraged one of the games greatest records to be shattered by a dirty player. WOW! A couple of years later, Bonds broke McGwire's record. A few years later, Bonds becomes the All Time Home Run King. 1998 was the year covering up steroids in baseball became a conspiracy!
I hope Hall of Fame voters remember these times when casting ballots!
Guess what else baseball? Outing the names of 103 is important if only to reinforce innocense for those suspected who have not ventured into substances. Once this happens ... stop pointing fingers at players! Own up and admit how deep this conspiracy scandal reached. Stop using players names as a distraction away from what was really happening behind the scenes. I mean come on, it's already been proven General Managers discussed juiced players while negotiating trades and contracts.
Funny thing about baseball's image. Over time it's taken hits. Some heavier than others. Yet, time after time baseball bounces back. So, would baseball end if its' Commissioner or owners stepped to the microphone and told the world they had full knowledge steroids became a major problem? Or, that MLB profited from looking the other way?
People forgive mistakes.
We just hate liars and cheats!
by Digger
Loads of random thoughts surround today's surprise announcement by Alex Rodriguez. ARod sat down for a one on one interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons fessing up to using PED's between 2001-03 before it was a banned substance by MLB. I've written numerous blogs about steroids in baseball and how poorly every aspect has been handled (or not).
Well, today I'll give ARod slight kudos for speaking up. It took a lot of guts for him to step up and tell everyone what we already knew. There was no Rafael Palmeiro type finger waving denials. No McGwire "I'm not here to talk about my past" bs. No Barry Bonds style non-denials. No, no, Canseco chest bashing bragging either. Just a not so simple moment of an icon admitting wrong doing based on Sports Illustrated article stating ARod tested PED positive in 2003.
ARod explained what led him down this path. However, the skeptical side of me will question when he actually stopped. 2003 is hard to believe. One more question is ARod sorry for what he did? Or, for getting caught??
Scratch below the surface of this latest outing of a baseball PED user. So much more to go with many obstacles, disinformation and political style slick deflection of attention still looming. First of all, regardless of anyone's opinion of who did what... (random thoughts)
- this drug test was to be strictly confidential under the safeguards provided by MLB and the Players Association. Why release this news now "6" years later? These documents should have been destroyed. MLBPA fumbled this badly. No, not for failing to cover up... but, for failing to protect the right of privacy. MLBPA is one of our country's strongest and most well disciplined unions.
- 104 players tested positive, why only release ARod's name? What about the other 103? A hole in the dam was just made by releasing ARod's name. Now, it's time to name them all.
- Anyone who thinks only 104 were guilty should remember players were notified testing was to be done. Some quit. Users were tipped off by team officials when they would be tested. Users also tainted results with masking agents. So, 104 will not be an accurate reflection of depths to which this scandals reaches.
- Owners still getting a free pass. Players in the know getting a free pass. Team doctors in the know... General Managers ... it's a pathetic mess.
- Union denies MLBPA Officials tipped off players, namely ARod, on eve of testing.
- The Mitchell Reports was highly biased. Mitchell is part of the Red Sox organization. Most of the players under suspicion in his analysis played in New York. He failed to detail what was happening in every other major league city. Failed to address core of problem = EVERYONE KNEW!
- EVERYONE from Commissioner to Owners to Players knew how widespread this epidemic had become and most are still in denial. Epidemic is incorrect. This was a conspiracy. Conspiracy evolved to protecting players "CONTINUED USAGE". Now, game conspires to deny any knowledge despite repeated articles written dating over 20 years. Denials after former player admissions (NL MVP Ken Caminiti).
- No one really wanted this to stop. Baseball revenues were growing at astronomical rates as players started hitting homers at alarming rates. Gate receipts, marketing revs, tv revs and players contracts all took off.
- MLBPA Executive allegedly kept 2003 records to prove/hope for enough false positive tests so testing would be permanently banned! Included was tipping off players to testing. A charge being denied.
All of this stuff is irritating since I hate cheaters. People will argue until they are blue faced stating it wasn't against the rules since baseball didn't drug test or not part of any league/union agreements. Garbage. Players weren't taking these substances to better their health. Each one shot up, rubbed cream, popped pills for one unified purpose.... to become a better baseball player. Most denied suspicions to hide their actions. Covered their tracks by obtaining steroids from other countries, using designer drugs, BALCO etc. Guilty... PERIOD.
Hank Aaron & Roger Maris endured tremendous hardships when chasing Babe Ruth's home run record. Aaron the subject of racial indecencies and death threats. Maris faced relentless criticism and negative New York press. His record stood at *61 in record books until the asterik was finally removed. Reflecting back a few years to 1998 baseball season now sickens me. Mark McGwire vs Sammy Sosa phony homer show produced by MLB....
1998: McGwire (70) and Sosa (66) went toe to toe most of the year chasing Maris' record. The stomach turning part is how McGwire went out of his way to phony up to the Maris family. I'm sure Mac's emotions were very genuine and heartfelt to a point. He had spent much time with them as Mrs. Maris and kids traveled the country as Mac neared 61. Fans packed stadiums as baseball promoted this event to the hilt. At the time, baseball was recovering from a different black eye... one of the MANY under Bud Selig. Well, guess what? It was all phony. Time and time again McGwire sat a post-game news conferences stating how wonderful it was to be mentioned in the same sentence as Roger Maris. How difficult it was for Maris' family to watch their father's record about to be broken. And, all the while Mac was juicing with a previously unbanned substance. What a ____! Sosa, while never formally proven, was juicing too. Baseball encouraged one of the games greatest records to be shattered by a dirty player. WOW! A couple of years later, Bonds broke McGwire's record. A few years later, Bonds becomes the All Time Home Run King. 1998 was the year covering up steroids in baseball became a conspiracy!
I hope Hall of Fame voters remember these times when casting ballots!
Guess what else baseball? Outing the names of 103 is important if only to reinforce innocense for those suspected who have not ventured into substances. Once this happens ... stop pointing fingers at players! Own up and admit how deep this conspiracy scandal reached. Stop using players names as a distraction away from what was really happening behind the scenes. I mean come on, it's already been proven General Managers discussed juiced players while negotiating trades and contracts.
Funny thing about baseball's image. Over time it's taken hits. Some heavier than others. Yet, time after time baseball bounces back. So, would baseball end if its' Commissioner or owners stepped to the microphone and told the world they had full knowledge steroids became a major problem? Or, that MLB profited from looking the other way?
People forgive mistakes.
We just hate liars and cheats!
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