My Roid Indifference

So, it's only been about two weeks since the A-Rod steroids debacle was brought to our attention, but it feels like it's been going on for months because of the non-stop media attention, and to be honest, I really don't care one way or the other.

The only thing that has been getting on my nerves is how some members of the media are complaining that Rodriguez didn't do enough, or he was lying, or this or that. Stop it already! I'll admit that A-Rod didn't totally absolve himself, but he's done more than Roger Clemens has, and Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire. It may not have been up to everyone's standards, but he fessed up and admitted he made a mistake, but some people will never be happy (mostly Jay Mariotti on Around the Horn). He would've been judged and damned by the press either way.

The main reason I think the media is ready to put Rodriguez through the wringer is because they feel betrayed by A-Rod. Everyone had him anointed as the heir apparent to the home run throne, and he was going to do it clean, so he'd remove the stain left by Bonds...whoops. Now, the golden boy who was supposed to restore baseball's honor is tarnished himself, and people are kicking themselves for being duped.

In all honesty, I don't think the fans really care too much about this new steroids hoopla because it's been going on for so long now. It's getting old, and I'm willing to bet that most fans weren't surprised by the news. People are still going to spend money to watch A-Rod, sure they'll boo the crap out of him, but most fans were going to do that regardless.

Major League Baseball is also adding to the silliness of this whole debacle by entertaining the idea of resetting the home run records back to Hank Aaron's career number of 755, and Roger Maris' single season record of 61. Now, I'm not saying that the steroids-era has to be ignored, but having the records restored is not the answer because while not everyone was juicing, I'm sure a lot were, so the numbers will never be accurate. Plus, if these numbers are reversed, then no one will break them...ever! The next closest to Aaron's 755 is Ken Griffey Jr. at 611, and I don't see him hitting 145 home runs in Seattle. Albert Pujols might do it someday, but he's just at 319. MLB needs to acknowledge that the records were set during the steroids-era and move on. Plus, who is to say that whomever breaks the records down the road are going to do it clean too. Let's face it, the league will never get rid of the steroids cloud.

So, I'm over the whole A-Rod thing, and I'm praying that the rest of the world (i.e. ESPN) does the same. I'll never say that Rodriguez was a saint, but he's taking his lumps, which is more than most of those who were suspected of juicing can say. Let's just drop it already.