Link to the following article. Read the article carefully. Then, try to identify the issues (political, legal, social, etc.)that are called into question by this incident. Then write your reaction as a COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/sports/baseball/10yanks.html?_r=1
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Once a cheat always a cheat. If one is low and vial enough to be a cheater at any point in their lives, what's to say they won't be again? Alex Rodriguez was a cheater at one point in baseball and most likely built up the muscle that he has now with the use of sterioids. Even if he is indeed the face of the Yankees and promotes their name in a positive light, what message is being sent out to young children out there who look up to baseball players as their heroes? Will they then begin to use steroids hoping to be the "face of the Yankees" as well? By allowing A-Rod to stay in baseball we are not only allowing cheating into the sport, but also promoting the use of steroids for every child who looks up to him.
ReplyDeleteSocial issues are called into mind when reading this article. Steroid use is a key center in contreversial issues surrounding sports teams. However, I feel that the focus and popularity of this story is quite annoying, seeing how there are other issues in the world that if given such publicity, would allow for resolutions to be reached. While people tend to be inclined to listen to how he has used steroids, it is dissapointing to know this is more interesting for most people rather then being educated about, for example, genocide in Darfur.
ReplyDeletepersonally i comend him for coming out honestly about his drug use yet i do not agree about how they came around to dealing with it. the first problem is not which team he took the steriods with it should be that he did them in genearal. It is clear written that using steriods is illegal and it is like they are giving him a slap on the wrist. if any substance is found in the althete no matter when they should be kicked out of the game for life. it is not fair to the people who worked hard to get were they are and not take the easy way into base ball fame.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I'm not a huge sports fan, so the fact that Alex Rodriguez took performance-enhancing drugs at one point in his career is not an issue that bothers me. However, I will say that he is acting admirably in admitting the full story and apologizing immediately. However, I feel that although baseball is important to a lot of people, this is not worthy of the attention it is receiving in any way, shape or form. Issues like this are trivial, and distract people from serious issues, like our collapsing economy, or our soldiers dying in foreign countries. We need to take issues like this in perspective.
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ReplyDeleteAt least he has the courage to admit what he did was wrong... Especially for millions of people to know.. But, I think any pro athlete that uses steriods should just because expeled from the sport.. Aren't steriods illegal to begin with? Why isn't he facing the penalties he should for doing something illegal....
ReplyDeleteSteriod usuage has been an issuse for many years in the sports industry. I think that the players usuage in the past should be acknoledge along with acknoledgemet. I think they should look more into whether or not he has in fact used steriod with the time he spent with the Yankees. There is also a popularity issuse here, which had gave it most of its plublicity.
ReplyDeleteI think that the team is being very accepting to Rodriguez and trusting him in his word. He has said that his start in NY was a clean start and that he had only done steroids while he was with Texas and had regretted it, i think that it would be hard to admitting that he was doing steroids to his team. He did the right thing by telling the truth to his team and be honest.
ReplyDeleteAlex made a huge mistake taking steroids because this makes you seem like a week sports player and people look down on you. He did not make the best decision by taking the drugs but the New York Yankees are not penalizing him because they will lose a lot of money. Alex is such a huge hit that if the Yankees lost him they would lose a lot financially.
ReplyDeleteConnie F.
It is great the Yankees are supporting Rodriguez. By supporting him the Yankees show great care and compassion for their team and team mates. Many are being respectful and reasonable toward this event, especially since his steroid use ended six years ago. Responsibly, the players and cooaches are supporting Rodriguez in telling the truth and in the end it will only make the Yankees stronger. It seems to have had been just a test of trust and friendship for the team, in that whether its drugs or the world series everyone will stick together and support eachother, it's a remarkable thing.
ReplyDeleteMy response to this article is that I think it's a great thing the Yankees are willing to support Alex Rodriguez through this time. I believe that it's appropriate for him to admit what he has done wrong, even if that may not be the case as of right now. I think that steriod usage is such an on going problem in professional sports because of the amount of pressure they recieve.
ReplyDeletesteroids are a major issue in all of todays sprots. It is not right for somenone to take performance inhancing drugs and not be penalized for it and let other people get in trouble for using them. Steriods are illegal for all sports and i beleive the A-Rod needs to be punished for what he has done. When ever he did it, it doesn't matter when or where he still did the wrong thing.
ReplyDeletekyle
There is so much corruption in baseball nowadays that the sport itself is somewhat of a mockery. It loves to preach about good sportsmanship, high moral values, and fair competition, but is so full of this sort of stuff that it looses any basis for holding these ideas. Things need to be done with more integrity and with less greed.
ReplyDeleteLately everywhere you go, news of Alex Rodriguez's steroid use is constantly being reported. From ESPN interviews to press conferences with President Obama, the steroids have become quite the conversation starter. The use of steroids is now catching up with Rodriguez although he has been clean since 2003. It has created numerous problems for him and will also cause obstacles for the Yankees, with whom he is signed for the next 9 years. Alex will be faced with many upcoming issues due to his substance use. And although his concequence may still be undefined, people have already formed judgements against him, his team (current and past). It just goes to show that if one acts out in unfavorable actions, he will be faced with many obstacles within his society.
ReplyDeleteThis article shows how Alex Rodriguez is now viewed by his teammates and his managers. However, it is not showing how the rest of the public views him. Some people forgive him but its not fair to say that he is in the clear. Steriods can be used by the most unexpected atheletes and the teams show how brave the atheletes are for admitting it. This isn't right because they still did something wrong, legal or illegal and consequences should be taken instead of just an apology where everyone continues to love him and forgive him.
ReplyDeleteI am actually really happy that A-Rod came out and admitted to doing steroids. I felt that be cause of Alex Rodriguez’s great connection with the media I felt as if they tried to shield him from all that controversy that comes with steroids. Alex has been the best paid player in baseball and I think many people in the media and who knew that there was a chance that he could have been using didn’t want to bring down the golden boy. I myself am really shocked that he came out now I wonder if it was really the media and through the people that were supposed to regulate this pressured him to or if it might be someone from home. I’m not saying that Rod’s wife is trying to bring the superstar down, but they have been going through an ugly divorce as of late and there could be the possibility that she black mailed him by saying she would come out to the media if he didn’t.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to this article was that people should be paying attention to future and present problems. Not past drug use by a star baseball player. But, as I went further into the article I saw a little of what somethings go on in the 'major sport world'and about how much corruption that many have to deal with.
ReplyDeleteKira S.
As a long time Yankee fan I am glad to hear that A-Rod did not in fact use steroids during his time with the Yankees. However I do believe that the steroid is not something that should be tolerated in professional sports and that the comissoners need to be more strict about these drugs. This because these players are such huge role models in kids life's today and it sends the wrong message to them about drug usage. A-Rod has destroyed something going so well and because of steriods will be put under the catergorie of "tainted player" with people such as Barry Bonds unlike the "Greats" like Babe Ruth
ReplyDeleteI feel that Alex deserved the forgivness for his honesty and i respect the fact that the yankees forgave him seeing as though he abused steroids only in his texas years.i am curiouse to see how far the yankees appeasment towards alex will go. will alex continue to spill or is the case closed?
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