James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7880287.stm Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez has admitted using performance-enhancing steroids earlier in his career. "I did take a banned substance," said the New York Yankees idol in an interview with US sports network ESPN. "For that, I'm very sorry and deeply regretful. I was stupid for three years. I was very, very stupid." Rodriguez does not face any punishment over his admission. He tested positive in 2003, before Major League Baseball introduced its tough anti-drugs regime. The tests were carried out to determine whether the League needed to take a tougher stance on the issue. According to Sports Illustrated magazine, Rodriguez - playing at the time for the Texas Rangers - was one of 104 players with positive results. MLB maintains that the 2003 tests were "intended to be non-disciplinary and anonymous", and that the list should have remained confidential. Rodriguez said: "When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform at a high level every day. "I started experimenting with things that, today, are not legal, that today are not accepted. "Back then, it was a different culture [surrounding drugs]. It was very loose. I was young and naive. I am sorry for my Texas years. I apologise to the fans of Texas." Tarnished game Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004, and signed a new 10-year contract just over a year ago for a reported $275m (£185m). He insisted: "All my years in New York have been clean." In modern baseball, they do not get bigger than A-Rod. As well as being the sport's highest-paid player, he has been romantically linked to Madonna, although both say they are simply good friends. He is an American superstar and, until recently, was seen as the great hope for baseball after its image was tarnished by a series of drug use revelations. His admission about steroid use in 2003 is depressing for those in the US who regard baseball as the quintessential American pastime and expect more of its stars. Even US president Barack Obama has expressed his disappointment, saying: "I think it's depressing news on top of what's been a flurry of depressing items when it comes to Major League Baseball. "If you're a fan of Major League Baseball, I think it tarnishes an entire era, to some degree. It's unfortunate, because I think there are a lot of ballplayers who played it straight." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stephen927 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I for one am shocked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I think there are a number of lessons that can be learned from this case, most I've probably mentioned before, but this is the perfect example with which to emphasise some ideas regarding drug cheating in sport. 1) It can be an individual of any quality. Drug use is not just for inferior players trying to catch up with the best. 2) The problem could exist in any sport, not just endurance and strength sports. 3) Some sportsmen have used a drug in situations where they didn't think they'd get caught. 4) Major sporting organisations have attempted to cover up any drug cheating. 5) There is a culture of performance enhancing amongst some groups of players and coaching staff, and they are good at keeping schtum about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 FUCKING JESUS H CHRIST, I cannot belive my eyes, not A-Rod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LucaAltieri Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Who? I say let them all take drugs. It would be like F1. In F1 racing the quality of the car is just as important as the driver's skill. It's not just about the individual's talent. If we extend the technical/science influence to all sports we could then have a separate pharmaceuticals' (constructors') championship. It would be fantastic. Guy with the best shit wins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I say let them all take drugs. Would be the only way of leveling the playing field and bringing it all back to individual ability. But with stories of sportsmen being woken up by team medics every hour during the night to stop them dying in their sleep, no. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I thought you would have picked up on this days ago James, given your 'interest' in drugs in sport. Got any roids for sale? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I say let them all take drugs. Would be the only way of leveling the playing field and bringing it all back to individual ability. But with stories of sportsmen being woken up by team medics every hour during the night to stop them dying in their sleep, no. Quite common in cycling isn't it? edit: second line that is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I don't follow baseball at all, all I know is the name A-Rod, and the fact that the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. Someone else had to bring this to my attention. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I don't follow baseball at all, all I know is the name A-Rod, and the fact that the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. Someone else had to bring this to my attention. It was a major headline on BBC Sport about a week ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I say let them all take drugs. Would be the only way of leveling the playing field and bringing it all back to individual ability. But with stories of sportsmen being woken up by team medics every hour during the night to stop them dying in their sleep, no. Quite common in cycling isn't it? edit: second line that is. It was common, but less so now people have realised what was going on. Night-time stirring would basically be a message to the rest of the world that the whole team are on drugs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I say let them all take drugs. Would be the only way of leveling the playing field and bringing it all back to individual ability. But with stories of sportsmen being woken up by team medics every hour during the night to stop them dying in their sleep, no. Quite common in cycling isn't it? edit: second line that is. It was common, but less so now people have realised what was going on. Night-time stirring would basically be a message to the rest of the world that the whole team are on drugs. Thought so, it was more around the Pantani time iirc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 This has been an interesting analysis of known drug cheats, although no study has been done to determine any actual evidence, and guilt can't be established by this mere factor alone, but take a look at these cheats, and tell me what you notice: http://www.bicycle.net/wp-content/gallery/toc_saturday/leventhal_toc08_0430.JPG http://www.dailypeloton.com/article_images/schaaf/Pantani.jpg http://a.abcnews.com/images/Sports/abc_floyd_landis_070522_ms.jpg http://www.cronodeporte.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/leonardo-piepoli.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45461000/jpg/_45461406_006842251-1.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stephen927 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 The baggage under the eyes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 The baggage under the eyes? Nope. They aren't necessarily the best pics, so might not be as noticeable for you as for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stephen927 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 They're all cyclists? EDIT: Never mind, seen your post now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 They're all cyclists? A-Rod isn't. They are mostly cyclists, but that is just because they are the names I can best remember off the top of my head. But it is a physical feature they all share. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stephen927 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Ok, a couple of guesses. The paleness around the eyes? The nose? Kind of looks inflated in the middle, it's noticeable on the top picture but that might just be his nose and I'm seeing things. Could be the ears, they all slightly stick out a bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 None of them possess natural black power? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 But it is a physical feature they all share. Dodgy facial hair? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 It's the ears. Certainly with the cheating cyclists, you can look at them head on, and if they've been doing it for long enough, their ears all stick out. A-Rod's ears were pretty much the first thing I picked up on when I saw that. Ears don't stop growing in a human's lifetime, and it has been suggested that this could be a side-effect of certain drug use. Not that it means that Gary Lineker and Dumbo are on drugs mind! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Shit, A-rod bashing thread and no Apisith? Hope he's not too sick and bedridden. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Reported on SSN' a week ago. Shows no one gives a fuk about Baseball outside the USA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Reported on SSN' a week ago. Shows no one gives a fuk about Baseball outside the USA. Japan and Spanish America? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Did anyone else read this and think "if Andy Roddick uses drugs, how come he never wins?" Shows my knowledge of world sports Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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