What to Make of A-Rod Since he has Admitted to Taking Steroids

So it is official Alex Rodriguez has admitted to taking steroids from 2001-2003. So what does that change? Simply put, absolutely nothing. A-Rod is the premier baseball player of our generation, a generation that has had a shadow cast over it from players using steroids. I was one who wanted to believe A-Rod did not use steroids and was above the mentality of do anything to gain an advantage, but I was wrong. However, I will still cheer him and consider him the best I have ever seen because that's the truth.

A-Rod admittedly used steroids during his time with the Texas Rangers. During that time he put up a career high in home runs of 57 and won the American League MVP award. Now he says he is off steroids and that the 2003 season was the last season that he used them. So do we tarnish his numbers during the time he used steroids, or all his numbers, or not at all. I would have to argue not at all. Lets face it there was (and probably still is) a huge time period that steroids were very heavily used in Major League Baseball. No one can accurately say how long players have used them or which players did or did not use them, so tarnishing the records or statistics of the few that have been caught or admitted to using steroids would be foolish.

The greatest players of our generation Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens and now Alex Rodriguez have all been linked to steroids. It is almost impossible to name a perennial superstar that has not been accused of using steroids at some point and some will argue that anyone that has a breakout or outstanding season must be using steroids. Baseball is largely a game of skill that cannot be attained from a pill. Granted using steroids can easily give you an advantage of hitting a ball farther, throwing it faster, or simply helping one's body recover quicker, but players become great because of their natural skill and that is what A-Rod possesses. He began playing in the majors at the age of 18 and if that doesn't impress people maybe nothing will.

If it is true that A-Rod no longer uses steroids then we would have to take his stats now for what they are, simply amazing. In 2007 he had his best season in the major with 54 home runs, 156 runs batted in, and an average of .314 and again won the MVP award. By the time A-Rod retires he will most likely be regarded as the greatest to ever play the game and rightfully so. His numbers speak for themselves and when people bring the fact that he used steroids for 3 years you may be able to subtract those three years and he would still be among the greatest ever.

I think it is time to applaud A-Rod for coming clean on using steroids. It has to be a very hard time for him and to admit his mistake shows great character. All that we can ask of any of the superstars that have been accused of taking steroids is for them to tell the truth about what they did and how long they did it. I think A-Rod should be praised for telling the truth and when the others who have been accused of using steroids during this era finally come clean we will be able to move forward and enjoy baseball for the wonderful game it is.