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Today's Poll: Should Alex Rodriguez be banned from baseball for PED use?

By Howard B. Owens
Ed Hartgrove

So, tell me again. Who's Alex Rodriguez?

Yeah, if you haven't guessed, I'm not much of a sports (follower). Oh, I hear (and retain), enough to know which end of the golf club to hang onto, but that's about it.
I liked PLAYING sports, and enjoy watching an 'occassional' high-school game, but never was drawn to the commercialized, major teams.

I learned years ago how to remind my co-workers of my 'non-sports mindedness' (an affliction, by their beliefs).
Somebody would invariably come into the room, all excited, and ask, "So, who's gonna win the Super Bowl?"
And I'd reply, "Well, the Brewers LOOK good, but I'm bettin' on the 76'ers".
I'd be met with this dumbfounded look, and a "Wha...? HUH??".
Then, they'd say, "Oh, that's right - you don't follow sports. I forgot."

It worked quite well through the years.

Jul 24, 2013, 9:44am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Doesn't really matter what any of us thinks. The deal is being or more likely already has been cut. Whatever it is. I don't think the "money men" of MLB want A-Rod around anymore, so he's probably done. Juice or no juice. Ryan Braun will take the rest of the year off from a team that wasn't going anywhere anyways, the 3 mill he's losing will be a drop in the bucket if he comes back next year and starts slamming HR's. Young guy has a long time to make it all back. A-Rod, not so much. He'll go away for a couple years, sip drinks on the beach and then show up on ESPN or something. Bud Selig will declare that the sport is "clean" again and ticket prices will be going up. And guys will find another way to juice.

Jul 24, 2013, 10:13am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Does it matter? A-Rod was at the end of his career and did not perform well anyhow (Still sucks even with using PED). He went downhill years ago. I remember when he knocked the ball out of the Red Soxs player's glove who tagged him out (First Baseman). The Yankees won't miss him and either will I. Have to agree with Ed that, major league sports are not all that. I am tired of the lockouts, the over paid losers who bring down the team, the "I am not making enough money at 4 million a year, etc...... College is better to watch since, the kids play with all their heart in getting themself recognized, to make it to the next level.

Jul 24, 2013, 6:11pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

If he's banned ... no Hall of Fame, no being a coach, no public appearances associated with an MLB team, limited if any marketing value ... so yeah, there's several post-playing consequences to a ban.

Jul 24, 2013, 6:24pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Howard, even with all that, he is not hurting for money and it does not banned him from other international leagues. So what, he is out of the MLB spotlight, he can go somewhere else where they could care less about his using PEDs. So he does not go to the Hall of Fame that, is classified as punishment? To me A-Rod is not deserving of that anyway. There are far more better players out there. I for one never cared about his arrival to NY and thought he was an under performer anyway. Besides A-Rod will always be in the shadow of Jeter.

BTW, a real punishment for A-Rod or any athlete for that matter, would be forfeiture of all salary paid to that athlete during the time of use of PED. Hmmm, maybe that, would be more of deterrent from using PEDs?

Jul 24, 2013, 7:06pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, my jaw just hit the floor. A-Rod isn't worthy of the hall? There are a lot better players more deserving?

Seriously, are you smoking crack? That's just insane.

Set aside PEDs. He's a career .300 hitter with 647 career HRs and more than 1,900 RBIs. He's just 100 hits shy of 3,000.

He's fifth on the all time HR list. One more productive year he'd surely pass Willie Mays, and if he could manage two more productive years he'd have a shot at Babe Ruth.

If there were no taint of PEDs, he'd be an easy first-ballot Hall of Famer.

And for somebody with a 19-year career and those kinds of accomplishments not to get in is a major, major punishment ... far more damaging than not getting to play another year or two.

BTW: Jeter's career average is only 13 points higher, he has only 257 HRs and barely 1,300 RBIs. The only thing that assures him a spot in the hall is his 3,300 hits and he played in New York. He's no where near the player A-Rod was (if you don't count the PED taint).

Jul 24, 2013, 9:23pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Howard A-Rod is not worthy in my eyes. No crack, he performed better before being a Yankee. He is another Chuck Knox in my eyes in which neither impress me playing for the Yankees and Jeter is by far a better all around player. A-Rod was not worth 252 million. I do not like him and wish the Yankees spent their money on pitching rather than on him. Even if they ban him from the Hall of Fame and I am sure he will care less. People like him are about themselves anyway and should not be idolized in any way, shape or form. Besides look at Pete Rose and he still makes his appearance here and there and you still have thoses who argue that he should be granted a place in the Hall of Fame. There are A-Rod fans out there and I am not one of them. BTW, we are arguing about PEDs which also contribute to the .300 BA with 647 CHR with 1900 RBIs. So to say he is deserving of something that, you claim he should not deserve is well "Not Logical." Who knows for sure how he would have perform if, he was not using PEDs?

Jul 24, 2013, 10:50pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, first, I clearly stated, PED's aside, his stats, PEDs aside, are first-ballot accomplishments, no ifs ands or buts. You may not like him, but your personal feelings about him are of zero consequence when looking at his stats.

Say all you want that Jeter is a better all around player, but the stats speak for themselves.

If you think a man who spent his entire career where the highest accomplishment is election to the Hall wouldn't be torn up by not getting there, then you don't know much about human psychology. The ENTIRE reason for doping is to achieve the kind of career stats that will get you into the Hall.

Pete Rose is undoubtably losing millions in appearance fees because he's tainted and not in the Hall.

Jul 24, 2013, 10:56pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Howard my points would his batting stats be as good if, he was not taking PEDs? Probably not? How can you argue his batting stats when he is using PEDs? You have Bonds and McGuire who broke home run records and both used. So, A-Rod's stats are irrelevant at this time. One's stats are not just batting, there is another side to baseball such as fielding stats. Jeter is a overall better player in my eyes. I do not view A-Rod as as a man of accomplishments, I view him as man of who will pay him the most! Let's be honest I bet A-Rod is more concerned about money than the Hall of Fame. Definitely not for the respect of the game.

Jul 24, 2013, 11:47pm Permalink
RICHARD L. HALE

The one and only way fella's, to stop all the BS.....the Commissioner by some miracle, has to grow a pair and lay down the law...

IF YOU GET CAUGHT USING.....YOU ARE BANNED FOR LIFE....PERIOD

( Pete Rose was banned years ago for gambling on baseball....we haven't heard much more about gambling have we?)

Jul 25, 2013, 12:38am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Sorry, Howard, but your comment just jiggled my 'glazed-eyes' trigger. I've known probably hundreds of people thru the years that could spout off statistics like you did. I'm guessing, for the ones that CAN state statistics like that, it's probably exciting.

Personally, I'd rather watch the race - No, not the Indy. Not even Talledega.
Nope, I'm talking THE RACE - the one between Sherwin-Williams and Glidden. I'm bettin' the Glidden dries first. Any takers?

Jul 25, 2013, 3:13am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Nope Ed I don't think so.....Behr is the fastest hands down, specially their property management paints. Sherwin Williams wins in the expense dept and Glidden in the pr dept. But hands down the Behr dries fastest..... LOL

Jul 25, 2013, 7:19am Permalink
Raymond Richardson

My take on professional athletes using performance enhancing drugs:

If they are found guilty of using these drugs, they should be banned from their sport, and any records they hold be stripped from them.

Jul 25, 2013, 9:04am Permalink

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