Seems that MLB has decided to suspend Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees for 211 games because of use of performance enhancing drugs and efforts to obstruct MLB's investigation. Oddly enough, the suspension can't begin before Thursday, and that gives A-Rod a chance to play this evening and tomorrow in Chicago against the White Sox. And if/when he appeals, the CBA allows him to play until the case is decided. This is a case that might not even begin until November, ESPN reports. So he can play the rest of the season, more than 50 games, before the other shoe drops.
This evening's game in Chicago at 8:05 will give long suffering White Sox fans a chance to express their feelings about A-Rod up close and personal, as they say in sports.
And as an incitement to bad behavior, tonight, before the game, A-Rod gave a press conference.
Join me below the conch.
Uncharacteristically, I'm having a lot of trouble finding any feelings of compassion for A-Rod. A lot of it is that I don't like cheating in sports. The rest is that I don't like it when sports celebrities try to enlist fans' sympathies. Yes, I know he's innocent untll proven guilty. But he's not charged with a crime. He's charged with cheating in a kids' game, so the vitality of the presumption of innocence is, well, devalued.
I was really annoyed by his televised "press conference" this evening. Dude, if you have nothing to say, don't hold a press conference. You don't have to do that. Really. Don't tell the assembled reporters in two languages (really) you can't talk about it now, that there's a process, eventually you will talk, and that you're thrilled humbled to play tonight. And please, whatever you do, drop that creepy victimhood stuff. You're not a good enough actor to sell that fighting for your life stuff. You've already made multiple millions. You're not fighting for your life, you're fighting for your ego. You could quit now and be a very wealthy, carefree 38 year old ex-ballplayer.
Maybe on a deeper level I can't find any compassion for A-Rod because I think that PEDs are just another thing killing the game. Let's put it this way: I'm delighted that I don't have to explain to any 9-year old boys about this suspension and what he did. I can only remember how devastated I was when my beloved Brooklyn Dodgers announced they were moving to LA. Even that was inexplicable. I can't imagine how it would feel to have to help a 9-year old understand this story. Where would I begin? With cheating, lying, covering up? Ouch.
Yes, baseball's in trouble. You would hope MLB would find a way to clean itself up.