WHY SHOULD ALEX RODRIGUEZ BE PUNISHED MORE SEVERELY THAN THE OTHERS WHO HAVE BASICALLY ADMITTED USING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS? HE SHOULDN'T.

     I certainly don't condone cheating of any kind...and using Performance- Enhancing Drugs is a form of cheating.

     I grew up as a New York Yankees fan.  "The Bronx Bombers" have always been my team.  I hearken back to the days when superstar Yankees such as Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Bobby Richardson, Roger Maris, Elston Howard and many others who played in "The House That Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio Built"...would proudly wear those pinstripes...and there was never even an inkling of doubt...that their success on the field was due to true athleticism. There were no suspicions...of even a speck of connection...to anything resembling "Biogenesis."

     Since Major League Baseball made its announcement on Monday, August 5th, 2013...that Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez would be suspended for the remainder of 2013 and throughout the 2014 season...for "using...(what MLB says was)...performance-enhancing drugs...and (for) covering up his transgressions while essentially obfuscating the investigation"...I've been giving a great deal of thought to the derogatory remarks that so-called "die-hard fans" have been making about "A-Rod."

     In addition to Rodriguez...12 other players were suspended on Monday.  But those dozen were benched for only 50 games.  Why should "A-Rod" be the..."chosen one"...to be axed for the rest of this year...and then...for all of next season?  Has Rodriguez done anything worse...than the other 12?
 
     Smack dab in my face...somebody blatantly blasted Rodriguez the other day...saying that he deserved a lifetime ban.  Why?  For what reason?  Why is the finger being pointed at the 38-year old third baseman...where he is being made an example of...and being punished more severely than anybody else who has basically admitted to using PEDs?  It boggles my mind that so many people are ready to take away "A-Rod's" bat and glove forever.

     It was February 2009 when Alex Rodriguez told ESPN that...over a three-year period - through the 2001, 2002 and 2003 baseball seasons - he used performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers.  "I was stupid for 3 years.  I was very, very stupid.  I did take a banned substance.  And for that...I am very sorry and deeply regretful."  

     But has Alex Rodriguez used PEDs between 2004 and 2013?  Has "A-Rod" used anabolic steroids of any kind...since he has been wearing that famous "NY" logo of the New York Yankees?  What does Major League Baseball know that we are not yet privy to...and when will Commissioner Bud Selig tip his hand...and give a reason why he thinks he is justified to slap Rodriguez with a suspension of 211 games?

     I want proof from Commissioner Selig.  I want to know facts.  Has Alex Rodriguez been "doping" throughout the last 10 seasons?  Or is there evidence of something else that warrants Selig to penalize "A-Rod" for four times the amount of games than anybody else?

     Most of the other 12 ball players have apologized for using performance-enhancing drugs and all have accepted their 50-game vacation.  Rodriguez hasn't yet confessed to using any PEDs after 2003...but hasn't denied taking any banned substances either. So again...what is it that Bud Selig knows...that we don't know...and why is "A-Rod" being discriminated against...and being suspended for 211 games? 

     The Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Michael Weiner...on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013...accused Commissioner Selig of being out of line and wrong...when referring to the suspension of Alex Rodriguez.  Interviewed on Dan Patrick's nationally syndicated radio broadcast...Weiner's words were direct and to the point.  "We feel what (Selig) did, frankly, was inappropriate and almost ridiculous.  Looking at the penalties that have been (given) out...and cases that have been decided by the commissioner's office along with the Players Association...nothing comes close to 211 games."  Weiner verbalized further - in a separate interview on Tuesday - that if MLB had offered a different deal to Alex...for a suspension of a certain amount of games...he should agree to it.  But Weiner wouldn't specify how many games he suggested.  "I don't want to give a number, but there was a number that I gave A-Rod and we advised him to take it."  The bottom line is...that the number Weiner had in mind for Alex...was never presented to Rodriguez.

     If the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association is willing to...stick his neck out...to help and defend Alex Rodriguez...then I've got to believe the harshness...of the MLB penalty...is not at all rational.  That being said, however...I do have to make a qualifying statement.  If for some reason...Commissioner Selig pulls a rabbit out of his hat...and reveals publicly...why Major League Baseball's ruling against "A-Rod" is well-founded and fair...then I have the right to change my mind.

     Unless...or until that happens...I will admire Alex Rodriguez for standing up for himself... appealing MLB's ruling...and fighting a battle when so many appear to be against him.  Rodriguez told reporters earlier this week, "I'm fighting for my life.  I have to defend myself.  If I don't defend myself...no one else will."  I say...more power to you, Alex.  And while Rodriguez does wait for his appeal..."A-Rod" will continue to wear the number 13...and play for the New York Yankees. 
 
     I have been speaking with numerous people this week - not to mention reading comments that are posted on the Web sites of many different news organizations - and I'm flabbergasted by the brutally nasty and malicious remarks...by those Americans who insist...that because Alex Rodriguez makes a considerably larger sum of money than the other 12 suspended players... that he should not be allowed on a baseball diamond for a longer period of time.  That makes no sense whatsoever.  He doesn't deserve to be penalized 211 games...when the others were only suspended 50 games.  "A-Rod" should in no way be scolded...chastised...and given the "heave-ho"...for any more time...than anybody else.

     If a poor man commits a heinous crime - such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape...just to name a few - and a rich man commits the same crime...the law doesn't send the man of wealth to prison for a longer sentence than the man whose bank account has fewer dollars.  In reality...the rich man may end up with a shorter time behind bars...because he was able to afford a better lawyer.  Theoretically, though...money should have no bearing on the sentence itself.  So why should Alex Rodriguez be reprimanded for 211 games...when 12 other players were only disciplined for 50 games?  Just because "A-Rod's" paycheck is fatter than all the other players...doesn't mean that Rodriguez is more guilty than any other Major League Baseball players... who have been implicated in...and who have acknowledged...a participation... with such improper behavior.

     Furthermore...why are so many baseball enthusiasts - including some Yankees fans - upset that Alex Rodriguez can play while he's appealing the decision to suspend him?  If a person is indicted for a crime - even murder...in some cases - the defendant can be released on bail.  In many instances - perhaps most - a person who is awaiting trial...is able to go freely about his business...work...play...and do whatever he wants...until he is either convicted or acquitted.  
  
     We can all admit that performance-enhancing drugs are bad.  They're bad for the body...bad for sports...bad all around.  Plus, we surely don't want any kids to think that it's okay to use any anabolic steroids - because it's not.  But whether Alex Rodriguez wins his appeal - or loses it...whether he doesn't play for 50 games - or 211...I can assure you...that when he steps up to the plate at Yankee Stadium...swings that big bat of his...and knocks the baseball 400 feet for a home run - which, let's face it...that's what he's paid to do - "A-Rod" is going to get the same cheers and applause that he has received throughout his entire career as a Major League Baseball player.  

     It's going to be rather tough - more than likely improbable...but obviously not impossible -  for the Yankees to even be in the play-offs this year...let alone The World Series.  But whether it be this October or next...if that "A-Rod" home run should come in the bottom of the 9th inning...of Game 7...of "The Fall Classic" of 2013, 2014, 2015 or whenever...thus giving the Yankees their 28th World Series championship...how many of you are going to be criticizing Alex Rodriguez?  Probably none of you.  If you're a Yankee fan...you'll be so happy...so jubilant...that the "Bombers" won...that you'll be giving "A-Rod" all the kudos you can dish out.

     Yankees fans - like fans of all teams - want their favorite club to win...to end up in the play-offs...and to ultimately face-off in the World Series.  And if Alex Rodriguez can help the New York Yankees win another pennant...and another World Series championship...then all of you who now claim you will boo Alex...will be rooting for him...as you have in the past.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

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