A-Fraud?

WHOA! Stop the presses. Alex Rodriguez is coming forward not only acknowledging that he used performance enhancers in 2003, but also for the two previous seasons, 2001 and 2002. Given the dope drenched environment the Texas Rangers were at that time, who could be surprised, but don't we somehow always hope for the best?

Let's hope so, because the alternative is so much worse.

How ironic it is that reports have surfaced that Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez used steroids according to multiple sources while playing for the Texas Rangers. At the time, it was not explicitly forbidden by Major League Baseball, but some administrations of such drugs is legal. Others are not. It wasn’t that long ago that Major League Baseball saw A-Rod as the night in shining armor who would eventually surpass Barry Bond’s homerun record removing his tarnish from the record books. Now, even if the allegations against “Pay-Rod” or “A-Fraud” are never substantiated, the innuendoes and rumors will persist, and should he reach the mark for that ultimate achievement their will at least be angry and suspicious whispers.

Let’s not get caught up in the legalize and lawyer speak on this issue. Taking steroids except for specific medical treatments where such therapy is appropriate as deemed by an ethical and responsible doctor is absolutely, positively wrong. Using steroids to enhance one’s performance ability in sports is dishonest and immoral. While we might be somewhat sympathetic to someone like Andy Pettite who admitted his use immediately saying he used the drugs to help him overcome an injury more rapidly or Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts who said he did so once as a young player being duped by peer pressure at a time the Orioles locker room was dripping with drugs, these are substances that cause severe long term consequences for users. Have people forgotten the horrible death and long painful struggle former Oakland Raiders star, Lyle Alzado, suffered from thanks to his steroid use?

How ironic it is that this story should surface the same year that Michael Phelps was shown taking a powerful puff of marijuana from a bong.

How does a parent have a sensible discussion on drugs with this insanity going on? Marijuana really isn’t that bad, but don’t use it because if you get caught the legal consequences could ruin your life. Well, you can buy things that are legal, but they can really mess up your body and cause horrible problems in the future. Some might opt for a zero tolerance stance, but any kid with an IQ above 85 can see the hypocrisy of that.

With hypocrisy being one of the key words, and all the insane moralizing, double standards, and mixed messages, the best thing adults can do with young people is just be honest. Talk about the subject as openly and truthfully as possible. It’s hard to talk to kids about the legal hassles of marijuana prohibition when respect for the law is one of the core values parents should stress, but teenaged kids should be trusted to understand that, as we’ve written earlier, just because something is illegal doesn’t make it wrong and likewise not everything that is wrong is illegal. While our political institutions are worthy of respect, the people who serve in those offices are just as human as anybody else and must earn our respect. We’ve had good presidents and bad presidents, and only we as people can change that for the better.

When one thinks these issues through honestly and openly, none of them are that complicated. Getting the political establishment to behave likewise and respond appropriately is a whole different discussion.