Video – Alex Rodriguez Admits to Taking Steroids While With Rangers

Breaking news from ESPN this afternoon as former Texas Ranger and current New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez has given an exclusive interview to Peter Gammons in which he admits to using steroids.

I could summarize what ARod said, or just let you watch the video of the interview (at least, the portion that ESPN has made available online). Here is Alex Rodriguez, in his own words, admitting to his steroid use while with the Rangers:

First off, for those of you who also read Midwest Sports Fans, you may have seen my post yesterday about the revelation that Alex Rodriguez failed a steroid test in 2003. I was pretty harsh on ARod, and the other 140 players listed in the post who have either been explicitly linked to steroid use or failed an MLB steroid test, not unlike everyone else in the sports blogosphere and sports media.

With ARod’s decision to come clean today, he does deserve a small amount of kudos. Too many players who have gotten embroiled in steroid allegations have either not said anything (Mark McGwire) or continuously maintained their innocence despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary (Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa) or given half-hearted apologies in which they apologize for nothing specific (Jason Giambi). Sure, Alex Rodriguez has had the opportunity to see these strategies fail, and he has already straight up lied about using steroids to Katie Couric on CBS last year, but at least he is not disrespecting baseball fans by attempting to deny, deny, deny when the facts are clear that he cheated.

I’ve become resigned to the fact, rightly or wrongly, that the majority of Major Leaguers were using steroids in the 90s and early 00s. I’m over it, and beyond being upset about it. The only thing that still pisses me off is when players think they just can lie about their use of steroids or deny it, hoping that everyone just forgets about it. In this sense, I have to give ARod a very tiny, miniscule amount of credit. He still cheated, he still lied repeatedly until he was outed, and none of his excuses of being “under pressure” and “the culture of the Rangers and the game” will exonerate him; but, at least he is facing the music now, and doing so publicly.

We’ll see how the rest of the sports world reacts to his admission.