Oscar Pistorius Murder Shows That Athletes Are Humans Just Like All Of Us

Dear Oscar Pistorius believers,

What I’m about to write is the truth about an inspirational Olympian who let us down. I was, like you, in tremendous shock when the news broke that Pistorius faced a murder charge in South Africa. I happened to believe in Pistorius, and was in defense of the “Blade Runner.”

Why are we taken by surprise? Why not realize that athletes are humans, like the rest of us all over the world? Pistorius, a double-amputee who inspired many by the masses, is shocking because of our perception that he’s a hero and a model of excellence to those with disabilities.

The last thing Pistorius wants, while he’s accused of premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is for some bitter people to be against him and grasp a sense that he’s a senseless murderer.

He’s used to criticism that he heard all last summer for running with able-bodies as the blades, theoretically, were convenient to try to discourage him from fulfilling a lifelong dream — although he probably doesn’t care what people think about him. But he should be fazed by the murder case that’s giving him a bad name, even if he was built up then suddenly knocked down by the same Olympian cult.

I am shocked by the allegations. I’m stunned by a man who folks all over the world believed in. But why should we be startled? If anything, we should expect a pro athlete to have trouble with the law. We shouldn’t drop our jaws when our beloved pro athletes are involved in a scandal.

He’s like all the rest, after all: an amateur athlete who thinks he’s above the law and failed to realize those before him who were involved in transgressions, as there is a long history of athletes who have disappointed and shocked fans with their poor judgments.

For example, the sex scandal involving Tiger Woods wouldn’t go away for a long time, which caught us by surprise when he was simply, by all accounts, the most manicured, spotless golfer. However, he couldn’t keep his pants zipped and acknowledged that he cheated with as many as 120 women.

Remember Michael Vick‘s dogfighting scandal? That was even more horrific than Woods’ sins, and amazingly enough, we’ve forgiven the quarterback but obviously have not forgotten about the horrific crime. Remember when a 19-year-old hotel employee accused NBA superstar Kobe Bryant of rape? Those charges against him were eventually dismissed.

Alex Rodriguez nationally admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while he played for the Texas Rangers; Andre Agassi, one of the greatest tennis stars, confessed to using crystal methamphetamine and recently, Lance Armstrong admitted to Oprah Winfrey for cheating.

We act like athletes or celebrities can do nothing wrong while we, as fans and members of the media, express great joy for every amateur or pro athlete and then become blinded by the fact that they make mistakes. It’s OK to make mental mistakes, because in reality it happens and it is only common.

But in this case, I have the feeling, like many, that he killed her intentionally and with premeditation on Valentine’s Day. Then again, I could be wrong. I wasn’t there at the time he shot her, so I can only state carefully about the killing. Viewed just a summer ago as an inspiration, especially to those who are disabled bodies, he’s suddenly a killer in many eyes.

This shocking downfall is jarring — and strangely enough — is unreal, but in reality, he shot and killed his girlfriend, dropping his head in shame at court appearances while shedding tears in a despairing moment. He has always been a fast runner on those blades, a wild animal on the track, a firm believer, making it possible for those who are handicapped.

What we didn’t know, at least when it comes to this devastating news, is that he had personal issues and lived a double-life. But he said he thought an intruder was in the house and that he killed his girlfriend by mistake. That could just be, for all we know, convenient to Pistorius, a way he can try to get away with the slaying of another human.

Turns out Pistorius is in ruins, though. He will be going to prison, unlike most athletes here in the states. He won’t certainly be running in 2016 at the summer games in Brazil. The thing is, no one ever imagined that Pistorius would ever be charged with murdering someone, but surprisingly as we shouldn’t be nonplussed by the recent incident, I was. Now I’m not.

Before this murder case, he was popular and appreciated from his inspirational image, but now he’s not even recognized by those who once showed support for him, including the people of Nike and Oakley. With those two endorsement deals, he was set to earn $2 million this year.

With this happening, we know Pistorius is obsessed with guns and had been involved in previous domestic incidents, according to South African police. It just goes to show that he’s not perfect. He’s certainly a great athlete, but what an Olympian does on the stage doesn’t define their character.

There is, as I write this, a scandal in the making right now. Some athlete is out there using banned substances. Some athlete is out there having an extramarital affair. Some athlete is out there running a scam. Some athlete is out there breaking the rules, or seconds away from a crime.

So this is not the first time an athlete has let us down. Get used to it. Humans are humans.

Yankees' Failures Smear America's Dream

The Steinbrenners built the world's largest palace, a $1.5 billion venue with $2,625 ticket prices, a place that has computers in the clubhouse, a building with a gigantic high-def screen above centerfield. But now is the moment that new Yankees Stadium is shut down until next season.

The body language of the pinstripe faithful was telling and fans had watery-eyes, distraught expression and sat in the stands in disbelief, shedding tears after the Yankees were ousted in the playoffs. The home crowd stood, worried and deeply cheered for the Yankees, but the highest paid baseball team in the world couldn't advance past the first round of the postseason for the fifth time in the last 10 years.

It was nothing but silence in Yankee Stadium, and instead fans' jaws dropped and eyes shut, wondering what had happened to the Yankees, smearing America's Dream by not reaching the World Series in late October. The timing couldn't be worse for the Yankees, a franchise that frown on postseason losses, considering that anything less than a World Series championship is considered a failure.

As baseball's most storied franchise, the Yankees are seemly qualified to have a colossal palace because of the mystique of championships and legends, but it's not enough to be described as America's team. It isn't often, particularly in baseball, when the Yankees possess the greatest talent in the sport and fall short in the first round of the postseason.

It's not common for the world's most high-market franchise, an undaunted ballclub with the gusty Steinbrenner family paying for the player's fragile egos or names, paying for overpaid bums to lead the Yankees to another World Series title, to backslide earlier than usual. It's not a trait the franchise embrace so well. The perpetual spending each winter, a moment when the Yankees are buying on the market and shopping to hire the big-name free agents in pursuit of capturing triumph by winning a world championship, is evidence that winning never turns old for the Yankees.

It's a relationship of mortals, but Alex Rodriguez is perfectly fitted in a town where he has become the pretty boy of Broadway, where the Yankees were foolish enough to pay the unworthy bum $275 million. He was supposed to be the next home run king, but he is not a postseason performer. And no one wants to admit it, let alone hear it in a town that keeps endorsing a fraud.

He might have had his chance to win the division series with one swing, but now he'll have to live with the misery, taunted for his postseason failures. If there's a theme to this season, it's A-Rod's postseason struggles again when he blew his chance in a bases-loaded situation in the seventh. It's simply understandable that he can never come through for the Yankees.

It was a Yankees nightmare with what materialized in the Bronx on Thursday night. It was a gorgeous October night for baseball, but by the end of the night the Bronx was burning. It's very seldom you see failure on the biggest stage by the pinstriped stars in the Bronx, but Derek Jeter finished 1-for-5 and Texieira batted a mere .167 while he went 3-for-18 in the series with no RBIs.

It seems that Rodriguez is almost on decline when he was 2-for-18 overall, 0-for-4 in Game 5 and he even struck out to end the Yankees' season, which wasn't a surprise given his debacles in the past. The spotlight is strictly on Rodriguez and he'll take much criticism if the Yankees have a dismal postseason, simply because he's the highest-paid player on the Yankees roster.

The crowd had booed him intensely for much of the night, stunned by the lack of success that will haunt Rodriguez and has somewhat doomed the Yanks in reestablishing as America's team again. While the Detroit Tigers finally were relieved, and celebrated by racing from the visitors' dugout to the mound emotionally thrilled at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees watched from the dugout hysterical over what had happened as the Tigers had advanced to the ALCS after capping an impressive 3-2 win in Game 5 over the Yanks.

It began as an interesting but nerve-racking start as eyes rolled and jaws dropped, when manager Joe Girardi wasn't hesitant changing pitchers as if he was changing his underwear. It took several pitchers before the Yankees finally had no batting power to rally against the Tigers. He probably felt comfortable, but was almost leery, depending on his bullpen which is all the more reason he summoned for Phil Hughes and Boon Logan.

It seems sensible to believe, if true, that he yanked rookie Ivan Nova from the game for medical issues, a lefty who departed early after feeling tightness in his right forearm, which Girardi had no other choice but to call on his bullpen. It's hard to imagine a team with a $200 million payroll losing in the first round, and it's just hard to fathom that the culture in New York is not good enough to produce championships and triumph for a baseball town. It was telling that the Yankees have all the money in the world, but in the ALDS they couldn't prevail even though the franchise has prodigy, talent and situational hitters.

“Our guys played hard. I can’t ask for any more from them during the course of the season. And obviously this is a terrible day for us. But we got beat,” said Joe Girardi, whose managerial strategy of his bizarre moves in the bullpen drew attention.

There should be plenty of attention focused on the high-price hitters in the lineup who failed ever so miserably to come through. The irony was in fact that the pitching was more powerful than the bats in October. The baseball world, particularly the Yankee haters, are delighted that New York is out of the postseason picture, unwilling to marvel the disdained franchise.

But the other half of the country, such as in New York, is painfully distraught about the Yankees sudden demise it seems. The American Dream is dented, and for weeks in Time Square and other parts of the urban cities in New York, people will talk about the dreadful loss for a ballclub more compelling and hated than any other club in the majors.

"It's devastating. This is going to hurt for a long time," Rodriguez said. “I’ve got a lot of work for me to do, personally. I've got to get my health back in order and I know exactly what I have to do to get back to help this team get back to the top."

At Yankee Stadium, one fan sat in the stands after the game ended with his head down and hood over his head. Another fan sat in the stands with a dazed stare on his face, still in shock over the painful ending. It wasn't the right moment, with all its sheer dominance from the offense in the season, for the batting power to deteriorate.

The ultimate infirmity of the offense hurt and blemished the Yankees in the seventh inning of a game Detroit's Joaquin Benoit came in to pitch with one out and one on base, giving up a single to Curtis Granderson, and then Robinson Cano bounced a groundball to Benoit's right just as he stumbled and fell off the mound. And because Benoit couldn't retrieve the ball, Cano was on first with an infield single.

That loaded the bases and Benoit rubbed his face, and the Yankees faithful stood and cheered when A-Rod stepped at the plate. After it happened, Benoit was intimidated, slowly throwing his pitches, and feared throwing it to Rodriguez. From time to time, he fearfully stepped off the mound.

It wasn't long after, nevertheless that he struck out Rodriguez on an 86-mph changeup, but then he mistakenly walked Teixeira on five pitches and eventually the Yankees scored to close in on a 3-2 deficit. As the sellout crowd stood feverishly and nervously, screaming from the top of their lungs and pushing for the Yankees to tie it at 3-3, Benoit struck out Nick Swisher on a 96-mph fastball to end the bottom half of the inning.

We all dreamed for a Yankees vs. Phillies match up, but as of now, it isn't the greatest time for traditional brand names in sports and it's definitely not time for the Yankees to take a joyride to the World Series. What we wanted was, of course, a revival in baseball with a pair of large-market franchises. We wished for the Yankees vs. Phillies in a business that has diminished with all the steroid allegations, with the 162-game season and with the apathetic, soft-minded commissioner Bud Selig.

It's baseball at its worse, and the pinstripe ritual never faded so quickly after Thursday night. It happened suddenly and quickly in the first inning, an unexpected scene no one ever imagined, that Don Kelly belted his first postseason career homer on a pitch delivered from Nova. The insurance run gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead that Delmon Young drilled off Nova in the first, and shortly after Girardi called on his bullpen to relieve for the injured rookie.

For much of the night, he had used nearly all arms from his bullpen. This night wasn't over without CC Sabathia relieving in his first appearance as a reliever ever. With 355 regular season and 15 postseason starts, it was peculiar but not surprising to see Sabathia on the mound for the fifth and some of the sixth. It figured that he'd be asked to intentionally walk Miguel Cabrera, and indeed he walked him only to face Victor Martinez afterwards.

If there ever were a proper moment for the Yankees to pay for intentional walks, it was then with Martinez hitting an RBI single to turn down the volume at Yankee Stadium. For Sabathia, though, he's quite an overpaid left-hander and could opt out of his contract, which he probably will and test the free agency market.

But it's hard to envision Sabathia signing elsewhere if the Yankees have the highest player's payroll in baseball to offer him the largest deal that no other team can give him. This offseason, however, Cliff Lee won't be available, but bringing aboard a top pitcher is the Steinbrenners' and GM Brian Cashman's intent, and it is significantly vital for the Yankees to address the pitching weaknesses.

The notion is, after the pitching struggled roughly just as much as the offense, Cashman will be aggressive in his attempt to trade for a pitcher. Though the Yankees clinched the AL East, it's not good enough as New York is aiming for another title and have already suggested trades.

There is speculation of the Yankees already engaging in a trade to send Jesus Montero to the Giants for Matt Cain or pursue in Rangers left-hander C.J. Wilson or free agent Mark Buehrle during free agency who are the best pitchers in a fragile free-agent class. As you all probably know, the Yankees often respond to failure by spending money on the best available player.

But even if Rodriguez is on decline, even if Teixeira has not hit the ball efficiently, even if Sabathia has been shaky in the postseason and even if Burnett finally pitched effectively without looking confused, the Yankees have to pay them nearly $700 million. Whatever the Yankees do, although Sabathia had knee surgery and has not been able to lose weight, they can't allow him to test the market if he could earn more than the four years and $92 million left on his current deal.

If not for Sabathia, the Yankees pitching wouldn't probably be average, despite that Nova had a sensational rookie season before his nightmarish Game 5 loss. There is Joba Chamberlain, but he's recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. Better, Phil Hughes had an 18-game win season by finishing 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA, and Ian Kennedy needed a change of scenery to reach 21 wins this season with the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks.

It's good to know the Yankees won 99 games and clinched a postseason berth, but as we all know, the Yankees will try anything to win. It's just unfortunate for America's Dream after it was never really a hallucination, but a Yankees nightmare.

Yankees Face Potential Doom as Usual

There is something arrogant about the New York Yankees. The Boss, for those of us annoyed by his inhumane behavior or his loudmouthed ways to censure his players, ones he lavishes with outrageous salaries, is much too talkative to refrain from acting like a blowhard.

Sadly enough, Hank Steinbrenner is the most bombastic idiot the game of baseball has ever seen, unwisely taking after his late father, George Steinbrenner. As the most scorned businessman in the majors, running ultimately a ballclub filled with arrogance, wrapped with mystique and ruled by the pretentious Steinbrenners, he is traditionally the brand name in baseball.

Because it's entirely a prestigious family in power of the richest franchise in baseball, Steinbrenner can blabber about Derek Jeter's mansion, he can fuss about revenue sharing and he can notoriously belittle the players in command of lifting the Yankees to prominence again. So now, we are mandated to ridicule evidently the storied franchise in baseball, and almost feel sorry for the colossal palace that the Steinbrenners invested billions in creations.

This time, every season, the Yankees are caught in a storm, clouded in disarray for Steinbrenner's loudmouth as the circus arrives to Tampa, Florida every spring, whether it pertains to Alex Rodriguez's steroid bust or Hank's big-mouth, a tongue bigger than his head to some degree. Little does he know, he sounds kind of like Charlie Sheen and has devoted effort to his crazy rants more than retooling the Yankees, once an eminent franchise acknowledged for its traditional pinstripes and championship triumph.

The face of the Yankees is hostility, not a sense of humanity for a franchise hated simply because of its arrogance, riches, bigotry and elitism. The point is, there are multiple reasons to hate the Yankees, a club people hate or love, one or the other, a club people adore because of its history or a club people despise because of its cockiness. The indigenous trends, with the imagery of Yankee Stadium and financial stability after it seemed like the Yankees were almost hit with a financial collapse despite having the largest payroll in baseball, is noticed easily in the Bronx and the Yankees escalate tension that creates usual chaos to begin the season yearly.

It doesn't take a genius, especially when a pompous nature stains the image of a franchise with phenomenal success at one point, to assume that the Yankees are the most hated club in baseball, but in the meantime, Yankee Stadium is the realm of baseball history. To the Yankees chagrin, luckless circumstances always backfire in their faces, normally each season when it looks as if New York is on a path for a potential revival. It's never good for a fool to blabber, let alone Mr. Steinbrenner, considered a manchild in New York while the state of the Yankees remain in limbo.

In his zeal, he is passionate with the Yankees and accepted the duties from his late father a long time ago, but has failed miserably, unable to run a rigid business like his father. Steinbrenner will eventually self-destruct, of course, and probably would have by now if it wasn't for his brother, Hal, who calls for the personnel decisions and tries immensely to keep the Yankees on the correct path, keen to save the franchise from reentering another decade of droughts and early postseason exits. What the folks care about in New York are championships, if nothing else, but they should care about the shaky status of a chattering front office, inherited by an erratic and zany businessman.

Yes, I'm speaking in terms of Hank Steinbrenner. There's never been a time when the Yankees, in the midst of a doomed season that they can miss the playoffs or lose and take an early exit in the postseason, weren't the nexus of the baseball world. His rants, however the funniest drama to each year alarm everybody that baseball is back in full swing by listening to Hank's remarks, aren't precisely original and happens annually for which the critics verbally attacks Steinbrenner.

The nonsense swirls within the Yankees to begin another spring in uproars in the Bronx, flirting with the idea of tribulations instead of proverbial greatness, one reason the Yankees are giving adulation and earning more praise than another clubs well-deserving of glee. When news comes out of the Yankees, Hank blames it on the media, unwilling to take the blame himself if the national attention is shined directly on his pestering Yankees, as if they are the most spotless franchise in baseball. Not true whatsoever.


The $210-million Yankees have squandered massive profit on players and stadium creations, selfishly during a hopeless recession and never took into consideration that the majority of fans were unemployed and had been struggling to find jobs as a way for paying their mortgages and monthly bills. Given all the mysteries, failures and poor spending, as of recently, the Yankees accounted for one World Series in 10 years. This could be the season when the Yankees are on the verge of destruction, quickly nearing the demise like no other, one that can annihilate New York for many, many years to come.

Even if Jeter devoted too much time building a large multimillion-dollar home in Tampa last year when New York lost to Texas in the AL Championship series, he knows that the man is entitled to spend his money on whatever the hell he wishes to spend a bulk of his dollars on. It has suddenly turned into a reality show at Yankees spring training, as the man who paid Jeter millions called him out for working on his mansion project in Tampa. Now, as it stands, it's idiotic to blast a player that has brought incremental prestige to the Yankees, after winning multiple titles wearing pinstripes.

Someday eventually, when Steinbrenner finally sells the team or quits running his mouth like a broken tape recorder, we can only hope the Yankees aren't in bad condition. And to think it was supposed to be the year the Yankees win it all, a chance for Hank and his brother Hal to prove they can win a title without their father sitting upstairs in the suite, it's unlikely that this is the year to hoist the pennant. For now, at least, he continues to act simple-minded and carries himself like a buffoon, even more so after he was handed the task and inherited ownership of a traditional franchise.

He tries to act as if he's the Boss when he's just a drama queen of America's nosiest soap opera, grabbing attention for talking down on his players or the media. As if the calamity in New York isn't dreadful enough, he is the co-chairman and has trouble with handling money, relieved of the duties by his brother Hal. As expected, he devise the plans with team president Randy Levine and GM Brian Cashman, while Hank talks way too much and complains about the revenue sharing. Already, the commissioner's office called the Yankees to silence Hank, whose outcries are old and childish in many ways.

While he tries to take back his words and said he wasn't ripping Jeter when he commented about mansions, livid by his underperformance a year ago in the postseason, it's fair to pick on Alex Rodriguez for constant partying and even worse dating damn near a new starlet each year. That issue is acute because a couple of years ago, he was busted for steroids and had been renamed A-Fraud, when Jeter's name has never been leaked for the use of any performance-enhancers.

So much for the Yankees winning another title. When you are considered the team to win it all, based on mystique and prior success, the expectations are always immense, perhaps the most precious thing about the Yankees. So what? Much appreciation is nothing, unless the Yankees prevail. Otherwise, the Yanks are faced with much derision for a hapless loss in a postseason series after wasting too much profit on underachievers.

As all eyes turns directly to New York, as always, although the immediate future doesn't seem too bright, they are battered by the ghastly, horrid disturbance because of Hank's loudmouth. The Yankees, alas, the much-scrutinized ballclub in the majors, are devoid of supposedly another championship unless Hank becomes a modest co-chairman and stay out of the local tabloids, more recognized as a clown in baseball. It's almost possible to feel sorry for the Yankees, on the brink of misfortune in a competitive AL East division, one of the best divisions if not the best in the game.

It shouldn't come as no surprise that the Yankees are finally set to encounter its challenge against the revitalized Red Sox and Orioles, a pair of teams that have dismissed the Yankees from postseason conversations. Now, somewhat, they are still contenders to win the American League Pennant, even if the competition is fierce and well-balanced. When it comes to baseball in the urban community on the East Coast, a state in love with its pinstripes and prestigious palace, the spoiled, rich and whiny children in traditional pinstripes, for once, can stumble early in the postseason. If so, maybe this will silence Hank.

It's amazing that the Yankees used to be one of the most arrogant sports franchises with a cathedral ballpark, but now they are easily mocked and belittled, accomplishing its fair share of championships and significances.

With him at the throne, he only tarnishes the pinstripes.

It is certainly an absolute disgrace, anytime the Yanks falter in October.

A-Rod's Tainted Milestone is an Asterisk, Not the Cleanest Exploit Ever

Because it was a national tale, with baseball loyalists viewing Alex Rodriguez as the next home run king, it was wondrous to witness a purist milestone. But mostly, this happened before it turned out to be an asterisk, a national nightmare that is incurable and contemptible, ever since A-Rod’s admission of using performance-enhancing drugs engendered a national discussion.

And as shocking as it was to believe the truth when he unveiled that he used boli in a six-month, cycle period, he sadly disappointed and hoodwinked the masses for confessing that he lived a lie and heightened an infected performance level. In the Steroid Era, a downcast age numerous sluggers were deceitful and insidious by belting home runs, he also was contaminated with juice and endangered a clean legacy.

It’s very disgraceful. He’s a con artist, described as a fraud, and criticized heavily when reports revealed that he had tested positive during Major League Baseball’s initial round of testing of its players in 2003. This heinous steroid scandal crippled a historic plateau, perceived as a fraudulent accomplishment, without a doubt, demolishing the beauty of a sensational sport in America, and pathetically placing uncertainty on a sport in limbo.

With all the flashbulbs and supporters at home greeting Rodriguez, in reality, it was a brief moment of applause even though he admitted to cheating and shaming the game of baseball. In the end, he had become the seventh player in history to reach a tainted milestone and joined the 600 club, but more importantly, he belongs in the Juicer’s Club.

But more than ever, Rodriguez’s 600th homer at Yankee Stadium wasn’t the cleanest homer in the history of baseball, but it was the direst, as the slugger is defined as a pseudo for taking advantage of the game and ruining the integrity. It’s tough to believe in player in the majors, but it’s not easy believing a man who pathetically appeared on national television to inform the world of his performance-enhancers abuse, breaking a vow to children and a pledge of resuscitating a fallen sport.

In a sense, there is an evident theory he’s free of steroids, almost for an entire decade, but with the audacity to admit and shamelessly apologize to the world, the milestone is an asterisk.

Do not ever forget he’s A-Fraud, A-Roid, too.

An A-Bomb for A-Rod: Nothing Shameful About Giving Alex Rodriguez Respect for Hitting 600 Homers

There’s no doubt that most of the sports world was waiting anxiously for Alex Rodriguez to hit his 600th home run over the past 12 days. I know I was anxiously waiting for him to hit it.

Once he hit his 599th, everyone knew the 600th was right around the corner. Of course, most thought it wouldn’t take him this long to get it, but get it he did, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays today.

Stepping to the plate in the bottom of the first inning against the Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, A-Rod probably wondered in the back of his mind whether this would be the at-bat. He didn’t have long to wait to find out, as he sent a monstrous bomb on a 2-0 pitch into Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park in center field exactly three years to the day after hitting his 500th.

The two-run homer, A-Rod’s 17th of the season, came with two outs in the inning, Derek Jeter on first base, and gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead over Toronto, which was all they’d need as they went on to defeat the Blue Jays 5-1.

However, while he’s being lauded for his accomplishment, and rightfully so, let’s go back a bit; perhaps a year or so, I guess.

Just a year ago, Alex Rodriguez was arguably the most hated player in baseball. This was because he had confessed to having used steroids during his career, an admission that tarnished his legacy forever for most.

Cries of “cheater” and “douchebag” rose up throughout the sports world from deep within the burning cauldron of disdain for “steroid users” that had been boiling across the MLB landscape.

Before his confession, A-Rod was one of the most beloved and lovable players in baseball.

And it’s not like that love was freely given to him. Well, in the beginning of his career it was, but when he came to the Yankees, many fans saw him as an interloper on what they regarded as “Jeter’s Team”. Most Yankees fans, and baseball fans as a whole, have always loved Derek Jeter just a little more than they have Rodriguez.

Yet, A-Rod overcame this by doing what he does best, slugging the baseball out of the park.

His ability to continue to hit the ball out of the park won him newfound fans, even in New York, and he eventually became one of the “Bronx Bombers” through and through.

Then came the report from Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts that he had failed a test for steroids back in 2003. Her report was the first to break the news, and to say it was shocking is possibly an understatement.

While many believed Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and others were guilty of taking steroids, Alex Rodriguez was the poster child for all that was clean in baseball; or so everyone thought.

The revelation that he was just another “cheater” made A-Rod the most hated man in the Major Leagues.

To most, this shocker meant he had lost their respect forever. He could never earn it back.

Watching all this unfold, you had to feel bad for A-Rod. I know I did. Here was a player who, to some extent, was a victim of his times. For those who disagree, I can only say that if you think the vast majority of baseball players weren’t juicing over the last two decades, then you’re naïve.

That is not to excuse their behavior, but I think it does mitigate A-Rod’s to a degree. He certainly didn’t deserve to be singled out as much as he was and vilified.

However, A-Rod remained stoic through all this. He kept doing what he did best, and went on to get 30 home runs that year, helping the Yankees win their record 27th title.

This season, A-Rod’s goal had simply been to help his team win. Of course, he probably had a personal goal of getting that 600th homer as well, and he accomplished that goal just as he’s helped New York be one of the premier teams in MLB.

Yet, many media outlets, such as ESPN, seemed intent on covering his chase for 600 as if they hoped he wouldn’t get it. Their coverage seemed vicious and spiteful to me, especially since I was hoping he did get it.

And when he finally got it, while I was excited for him, it didn’t seem like there was much excitement coming from those reporting on it. ESPN? Nothing really. No excitement whatsoever.

It seems many, especially in the media, look upon A-Rod as nothing but a cheater still, because of the fact he had a history of doing steroids. I guess they feel baseball fans shouldn’t be rooting for him. I imagine they feel those who do should be ashamed for it.

Now, they probably justify this attitude because of their hurt over what has happened to their beloved game and America’s favorite pastime. However, I think they’re wrong.

First, while not condoning the use of steroids, I’d like to say a few things about the era we’re talking about.

As we all now, back in the 1990s baseball was faltering. The NFL and NBA were “stealing the show” so to speak, with the likes of the “Big Three” in Dallas (Troy Aikman, Michael Irving, and Emmitt Smith) helping the Cowboys win numerous titles, boosting the ratings of the NFL to heights never seen before and Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls doing the same thing in basketball; ruling the game and the sports world like few other franchises have in history.

Baseball, on the other hand, didn’t have much of a “Show” to speak of.

That changed, however, when Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and many others began whacking monstrous home runs and lighting up the scoreboard.

We all know now that they got some help doing so, but one could argue that if they hadn’t, baseball itself might have become irrelevant. In a way, you could say they did it for the sake of baseball.

No, honestly, what if you were in their shoes? What if the game you played and loved so dearly was facing such dire straits? What if you saw a way not only to help your own personal game out, but a way to boost the popularity of the sport you played?

What if you could entertain your fans again, but the only way to do it, was to use steroids?

Now, answer those questions honestly and you might see where I’m coming from.

Steroids helped those players. It helped them heal faster when they were injured, and it helped them grow stronger and more powerful. Yes, serious abuse of steroids is something that should not be condoned, but I think many of the players we’re talking about weren’t seriously abusing them, but simply using them.

And, the steroid era, believe it or not, helped save baseball. There were many people loving the fact McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds were chasing home run records.

Beyond that, A-Rod, unlike many of those players mentioned, only did steroids for a short number of years from what most can see, and there is not a doubt in my mind that he’s been clean for the past few years and was clean last season when he knocked 30 dingers out of the park.

To me, this just shows he didn’t need them in the first place. He probably could have reached 600 home runs just about as easily without ever using steroids. A-Rod probably still would have been the youngest to hit his 600th home run even if he had never seen a syringe.

However, he did do them, and that will always haunt him, but that is not a justifiable reason in my view to not respect what he’s done.

No matter what you want to say, hitting 600 home runs, juiced or not, is an amazing accomplishment.

You’re welcome to believe what you believe, but I’m just going to go on believing what I believe regarding Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, and what I believe is that there’s nothing shameful in giving him respect for hitting 600 homers.

600 home runs are now done.

163 more to go.

Latest Yankees-Dodgers Clash, Centered Torre vs. A-Rod Feud

The reality of the Dodgers purchasing space on nearly 300 billboards around the Los Angeles basin before the beginning of the season advertising a renewed rivalry in baseball, one known as the East vs. West rivalry dating back to the purist era of baseball, was for relieving traditionally the most dramatic rivalry in America’s pastime.

A legion of old timers, such as the elderly folks, still can recall 11 World Series meetings involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, each with a combined 33 titles and endless postseason drama. Back then, of course, the series were masterful performances as Hollywood vs. Broadway compelled a glamorous and a seductive landscape in sports.

While the Dodgers and the Yankees meet in the newborn era of the famous clash from the old-school days, a rational supposition is that the Los Angeles billboards earlier in the season were mistakenly written incorrectly. The slogan pronounced “Rivalry Renewed,” but would have been easier to decipher if the signs had stated “Torre vs. A-Rod in a Heated Feud.”

It was known all along that this was the most appealing interleague meeting this season, a dream competition the world desired to see deeply in the fall classic last season. But it’s not charming because of the wonderful memories or everlasting drama—perhaps the most drama involves Dodgers manager Joe Torre and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

With all the Dodgers drama, as the payroll has massively decreased due to a messy feud and divorce between owner Frank and Jamie McCourt, the obsolete trauma isn’t disappearing anytime soon. The inconvenience dents a renowned franchise with troubles centering the fraudulent and sleazy Manny Ramirez that has become a disruption within a franchise once respected for incredibly winning the World Series in 1988.


Lately, the talk of the town evokes further disruptions, at least it has this weekend when Rodriguez came along with the Yankees for a three-game series in Los Angeles. It’s impossible for the Dodgers to downplay and keep the truth hidden.

The Dodgers welcomed the Yankees for an emotional reunion at Dodgers Stadium, when Torre reunited and reminisced with his former players without shaking hands and exchanging modest words with Rodriguez, which inflamed a ruckus more enormous than McCourt’s long-suffering divorce.

As he tries protecting his unstable credibility after he paid a staggering $19 million in court fees, Torre tries to avoid reporters as he expects to hear answers about his broken bond with Rodriguez. For the first time, there’s a sense that an irreparable relationship between Torre and Rodriguez is fixed, that their issues and disputes are behind them, finally in position to show remorse and move on.

If so, it’s a remedy for what had transpired in the past, ever since Torre was offered an ultimatum by general manager Brian Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner, who is notoriously known for threatening managers and mismanaging employees’ status. Just so you know The Boss fired Billy Martin five times.

He is the most respected and beloved skipper who now sits in the Dodgers dugouts, summoning relievers and deciding the starting rotation. From New York to California, he migrated to the Hollywood stage when he was targeted by the Dodgers general manager Ned Coletti, who hurried and hired the brilliant Torre to fill the managerial vacancy in Los Angeles.


He quickly adapted to the sunny and clear skies of Los Angeles, soaking in his refreshing restart near the beaches, a scenery which he avoided headaches and stress. Having been pressured to reach certain standards and an agenda, he was the most polarizing baseball manager in New York and had to work under a dictating and stubborn-minded Steinbrenner family.

No one questions the Yankees agenda in attempting to win a World Series every year, but we were curious to know why exactly Torre was fired after 12 seasons, leading the Yanks to 12 postseason appearances and won six pennants and four World Series. Meanwhile, he and Rodriguez ended a pity feud by resolving the messy turmoil Sunday evening in Los Angeles.

If someone had admitted before the season that A-Rod and Torre wouldn’t reconcile, we wouldn’t had witnessed Rodriguez encounter Torre near the batting cage before Sunday’s game. When the Yankees took the field and were in the middle of pregame workouts, they hugged, talked briefly and shook hands.

He clearly was amiable during the conversation. He hung on to Rodriguez’s hand. And his former third baseman smiled. First time since the ugly separation, both realized how insane and babyish it was holding grudges and having ill-humored outlooks.

Seven home runs away from 600, he amended his problems with his former manger Torre, who’ll turn 70 three weeks from now, putting the spiteful book to rest, “The Yankee Years,” a detailed narrative that revealed the true colors of Rodriguez. A few years ago, he was arrogantly seen at parties and was irresponsible, barely performing at a consistent level.

Instead, he underachieved and faltered in the postseason by finishing hitless and useless, but earned an enormous paycheck from the highest market with the richest payroll. That prompted Torre to lash out in his book a year ago, when he boldly stated that A-Rod was identified as “A-Fraud” in the Yankees’ clubhouse and had an envious persona of the well-known, beloved face of the Yanks Derek Jeter. It wasn’t pretty after departing from the Yankees to start a livelihood at Chavez Ravine, but at least now it feels as if there are no harsh feelings.

“He came over and he was who he always is,” Torre said to reporters. “It was never uncomfortable with Alex. I just told him again, I said, ‘I hope you got my message about sort of getting that monkey off of your back.’

“He’s a good kid. He’s a good kid and, to me, I think too much is always made of this stuff. I think we know in our hearts what goes on.”

For the entire weekend, it was very eccentric when he exchanged hugs, handshakes and friendly words with Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, future Hall of Famers who played under Torre during his 12-year tenure and were accustomed to his presence.

Every player with long tenures who are still wearing pinstripes misses Torre, but understands that baseball is a business as the Yankees normally make offseason moves to overhaul a rotation and batting order and minimize failures, erecting around big-name players by pampering them with a huge salary.

The good news is that Torre and A-Rod found a remedy for all their issues. But the bad news is that the Dodgers blew a four-run lead in the ninth as the Yankees surged for the shocking 8-6 win in a mind-blowing comeback.

More importantly, Torre and A-Rod put the rift behind them.

Baseball on Brink of Self-Destruction? Be Responsible, Selig

As curiosity strikes baseball faster than CC Sabathia’s fastball or even Cliff Lee’s curveball, you must come to realize baseball is a sport caught in hazed, gloomy clouds. The game is the root of all evil, casting hideous and despicable conceptions on what was America’s Pastime, but now America’s Disgrace.

In a way, the game seems like it’s on the brink of self-destruction when all you hear about are syringes and pills, rather than purity and artistic features.


The beauty of the game capitulated and crippled, allowing uncertainty to implode all the positive hallmarks. To be honest, this is a sad moment, a rampant stage when the game is eclipsed of all the outrageous scandals. Just so there’s no one befuddled, the Steroid Era continues.

Either a player tells on himself, or the mysterious list of 104 players keeps giving away stunning results and overwhelms us all. Why every time a name is linked our jaws drop and eyes shut in disbelief?

Come on, we’re living in the Steroid Era. But worst is, we’re living in a generation when an apathetic commissioner ignored the emergence of steroid buzzes. Right in front of Bud Selig’s eyes, there were signs of performance-enhancing drugs, literally equipped to contaminate the competitive nature in the mid-1990s. But his mindless persona, gave players the authority to juice the game.

In other words, he allowed and urged players to deceit and ruin integrity. Trust me, Mr. Bud is a rogue. He refused to institute a steroid bust, raiding criminals of the game on a regular.

Trust me, Mr. Bud is an idiot. He has done little to mend sorrow. For instance, you’d think he’ll have firmness to address the issues and crack down on insidious sluggers, maybe by enforcing harsh sanctions.

But the first idea that comes to mind, he’s ashamed of all the steroid revelations, a list of shameful announcements and all the scandals to shame the majors. In what was viewed as purity and cleanness, now is gazed as a toxic waste and practice for the one’s admired to strengthen their performance and master an advantage in the hitting department.

What! That’s so terrible. And they should be proud of themselves? Not a chance. It’s a disgrace whenever anyone hoax the game, and being proud of yourself for such ignominy is a sickness, insecurity or even low self-esteem.

If Bud had used his useless noggin before a hellish age ravaged the majors, baseball wouldn’t have egregious steroid crisis. Fine, establishing a policy to avoid performance-enhancing drugs is condoned, but all players won’t be encouraged to give up their fraudulent habits.

If Bud initiated a plan to resolve drugs before turning chaotic, he wouldn’t have to stress over integration or a shameful regime corrupting. He’s an absent-minded baseball commissioner who needs to be responsible, not an irresponsible goon. But, unfortunately, he’s a goon.

Everyone is laughing at Bud, the big clown of the majors and refuses to perform his biggest act. That’s taking accountability for cleaning up a contaminated sport, even though the game is suffering of mortals.

The longer Selig sits and waits, the longer the game is irreparable, which means it's hard to recover from an era of sleazes and when drug emporiums are inside clubhouses. If he’s not aware, the use of banned substances merely forges worst scenarios and stains the aspects of baseball. Until he takes action, we not even remotely close of pasting the steroid stages.

Meanwhile, Selig is inane and even in denial for believing the game is past the Steroid Era. He is, again, not utilizing his brain properly if he thinks the average player is clean and hasn’t committed hideous crimes. Anyone with a functional brain understands clearly that there are plenty of baseball stars who haven’t been caught. Ah, yeah!

By using common sense, many of them were smart and cleaned out their systems in time of random testing. By using common sense, baseball isn’t clean. And by assuming his sport is clean, Selig is characterized as goof in denial of what has happened to the game.

Until baseball has an accurate test for HGH and steroids, Selig could repossess credibility, but until then, his credibility is diminished. Behind the scenes there are players right now tricking Selig by using HGH and maybe even steroids.

And who exactly knows if the embarrassed man ever gets it. But, apparently, he doesn’t get it. It’s unfair delivering favoritism towards Mark McGwire, when there were those who came clean on national television or were linked to using substances.

For instance, Alex Rodriguez confessed to the world of his PED use, but wasn’t credited for revealing the truth. Instead he was belittled and blasted by Selig, who didn’t have any compassionate reactions when he stared at cameras and into the television releasing a sincere admission and apology to betrayed teammates and fans.

That’s a whole different story for McGwire, the cheater who has been described as paragon, even though his flimsy excuses are mind-boggling and inadvisable. So the explanation and apology is good enough for McGwire, in which he’s awarded and endorsed for poor judgment. It doesn’t make sense, when he used steroids during his playing career and wondrous milestone.

Although it's seen as an asterisk, a tainted McGwire was responsible for saving the game of baseball and broke the home run record in a single season. But now, a remarkable record is tainted and meaningless as Selig is dumb for the self-defense of McGwire. If Selig deeply cared about integrity, he would punish those who violated the rules and treat all players fair whether right or wrong.

If so, Pete Rose would have been reinstated. For six years, he has been ignored and signaled out. He has nicely begged Selig to reinstate him, but the commish quickly responded and shock his head no. Rose apologized for gambling on the game, constantly, when McGwire apologized one time.

There’s something wrong with the picture here.

Baseball is a messy sport. And as long as Bud oversees the league, the majors are faced with doom and malevolent scandals. I’m not allowing impunity to the fraudulent slugger Manny Ramirez, who resides in a neighborhood called Mannywood, but he was suspended 50 games last season for using a female fertility drug.

I’ve watched the league frail before my very eyes, and have never felt so betrayed, hoodwinked or cheated in my life. David Ortiz was a big name, the big slugger who arising when he suddenly was noticed as a big-name star in Boston. But no wonder why he crushed long-balls over the Green Monster.

Yes, indeed, his name unveiled from the list. Trust me he was never a Big Papi. Sammy Sosa’s name revealed deceitfulness, too. A-Rod is forgotten as the next home run king, after his name surfaced from the list.


Oh no, Selig! You have a serious crisis on your hands. What will you do to resolve it? I know nothing. If Bud hasn’t taken any action during a horrendous regime, why would he take action now? His successor, Fay Vincent, would’ve taken an important stance on the steroid issue. I know that for a fact.

There is someone in this country attacking Bud Selig verbally. He is, Jose Canseco, and still is gushing over alleged users. If you need information or details on the Steroid Era, find the man with the most credibility, the man with the most specifics and truth.

Each time he singles out a name formerly it usually are signs of the truth. There’s no one time that Canseco has been deceitful or spoke spiteful of players. Hell, I’ll believe him, before I believe Selig. That’s the truth.

Bud should be ashamed of himself for advocating juicing. If he’s not willing to address issues and punish players of iniquities, they'll continue to get away with juicing and damaging integrity. If so, doesn’t that make Bud a dope?

Absolutely!

Hate All You Want, but Yankees Are America's Franchise

After a gratifying night at the new and colossal Yankee Stadium, the futility for the long-suffering New York Yankees had finally come to an end, throwing away misfortunes that ultimately stained the essence of one famous ballclub.

The traditional pinstripes, instead of symbolizing a prominent team, epitomized baseball's dysfunction and laughingstock, a franchise failing to reach expectations and shunning financial blunders, which severely hurt the Yankees -- known for foolish spending as much as compiling titles.

And now, an incredible joyride in a town where a massive crowd is faithfully committed to pinstripes and humongous ribs at the newly venue, winning a world title is normally a priority on their agenda. The Yankees renewed normalcy and returned to prominence, which was a trait New York was missing for years as America dismissed the wealthiest franchise and had forgotten the capitalists of baseball.


On a spectacular night in the Bronx, it was a year for the Yankees to virtually celebrate as legitimate champs. But also, it satisfied long-awaited fans who endured agony and scarcity for nine consecutive years before the wildest celebration erupted on Wednesday night. The Yankees’ faithful uncontrollably poured onto the streets dancing and rooting for their home team, en route to a 7-3 victory to clinch their 27th title in 40 tries, the most in major league history among any franchise.

Hate all you want, but the Yankees are America’s team. Whether arrogance describes a selfish and greedy organization that squandered $1.5 billion in stadium creation, including a staggering $432.5 million during a revamping stage in an unhealthy recession, New York captured a title adding a banner to their uttermost collection because the dauntless Steinbrenner family wasn’t hesitant in spending billions on CC Sabathia, A.J Burnett, and Mark Teixeira: three profile superstars who quickly emerged and earned popularity.


So logically, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner felt spending was a solution for rejuvenating a contender, and was a clever conception given that the Yankees were built with tremendous talent. They had all the necessities to reestablish assurance and poise, overpowering antagonist on an incredible journey and brought back familiarity. The $210 million payroll was an advantage, which was useful in their rebuilding project and turned them into businesslike geniuses.

There’s not a franchise in this country that suffers from more scrutiny and criticism, especially residing in an environment where modern media constantly heckled and lambasted the Yankees in local tabloids. Early in the year alone, they’ve taken more criticism than any team in baseball, and never shied from inevitable queries. Beginning the season, fittingly it seemed the Yankees weren't aiming to seek a title, or anywhere near the grandest prize, as conversations were negligible with all the unnecessary tumultuous amid a steroid crisis.

Doomed with staggering adversity, mostly pertaining to Alex Rodriguez, who average baseball devotees trusted in, the Yankees were disrupted with all the uproars of A-Rod’s deceptive lies that revealed when his name appeared on a list of 104 players who contaminated the wonderful game. Needless to say, he avoided more Madonna hell, confessed and apologized for steroid revelations, and fittingly found a lovable relationship with starlet Kate Hudson.

After overcoming a distraught start to the season, he suddenly arrived and took on the nickname Mr. October by changing the complexion of the postseason, depositing homers and batting in runs, a problem he struggled with mightily in a pinstriped uniform. He quickly was a huge part to the most polarizing team’s emergence in the postseason, escaping burdens and dysfunction without having to mention the C-word.

It’s gratifying to see a team suffer with much chaotic letdowns, and keep a tough-minded, driven mindset to dethrone Philadelphia in Game Six, conquering respect as the world’s most lovable franchise. They prevented the Phillies from pulling off an historical sequence. If Game Seven was forced on Thursday night, they could’ve became the first team since the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970’s to win back-to-back titles.

But unfortunately, Cole Hamels, the Mr. October legend and World Series MVP a year ago, emotionally lost composure and turned into a distraction, rather than a heroic left-hander who threw exceptionally efficient, in which it was impossible to make contact against his dominance a year ago. It wasn’t much of a worry, when the series belonged to any team.

Before the non-waiver trade deadline, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, shockingly pulled off the marquee blockbuster deal acquiring an unhittable Cliff Lee, whose outstanding performance by throwing the outrageous breaking ball was indescribable and could have qualified for the World Series MVP award if the Phillies were victorious. Even Chase Utley, a cool California native who drenched his hair with too much gel, joined legend Reggie Jackson with five homers in a single World Series.

Of course, it wasn’t enough to beat the Yankees, the richest franchise in the world. A loss this year would’ve been considered a failure, as mostly every postseason or World Series loss is. And on this night, much praise goes to Hideki Matsui, the Japanese-born player who everyone knows as Godzilla, drove in six runs with a two-run homer to excite fans as the Yanks had inched steps closer to triumph.

As a result, Matsui became the first designated hitter to win the World Series MVP, a privilege when his other teammates could have been presented with a prize, normally given to a play whose eye-catching deeds were immensely momentous. Some will admit Sabathia was a deserving candidate for the series MVP, while others will say A-Rod deserved props.

Throughout the postseason, Sabathia was an essential piece to New York’s fundamentals on the mound, rectifying pitching deficits of previous seasons. The radar gun accurately read his speedy fastballs that most hitters faltered on, retired on strikes. Although, he struggled a bit, Burnett contributed and managed to avoid troubles with his indecisive command. And in the offseason, the world’s most powerful agent ensured Teixeira was offered an enormous deal. Sure enough, the Yankees offered enough pleasing the first baseman to sign an eight-year, $185 million deal. But even greater, he won his first ever title, partly for his walk-off homers and critical shots in desperation moments.

The intelligent offseason acquisitions incorporated a fundamentally sound and cohesive group, starved for a title and earned it with their hard-driven attitude. In addition, Joe Girardi is a classy and charismatic manager, mentoring and molding them to have a positive outlook. Remember, there were talks that his job was on the line, if he had failed to guide the Yankees to the national stage and win it all. This definitely relieves all burdens, even tension on general manager Brian Cashman.

But now, job security is the least worry as rejoicing and jubilation is well-deserved after vindicating they’re America’s champs. Certainly, a large payroll paid off as the Yankees rises back to the top, recognized as America’s premier franchise.

Don’t hate: It’s all about traditional pinstripes.

At Last, Yankees Validates Traditional Earnings

They haven’t won 26 titles in 40 appearances for nothing, or haven’t spent an outrageous $423.5 million for the series MVP C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett. Even the house Derek Jeter built was invested, confident of reliving glorious celebrations and pennant runs.

Last year alone the dauntless co-chairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, spent $1.5 billion in creations of the immense Yankee Stadium when times were fragile, and battered in economic downturns.

At the time, squandering massive profit was considerably trivial. Eventually, last winter turned into a crazy uproar, labeled as an egotistic and greedy franchise.

For much of the winter, the Steinbrenner family was criticized for spending foolishly, knowing their unsuccessful letdowns in the yesteryears, slumps that were cynical in which lavishing sizable paychecks weren’t an antidote for reviving traditional pinstripes.

But in a season of uncertainty, the Yankees vanquished adversity, without derailing and encountering a financial collapse to doom prestige and stature, earned decades ago when it became America’s team, where beloved icons were merely perceived.

This time, New York arrives on schedule when the leaves shed, when pumpkins harvest, and when Jack-O-Lanterns sit on your neighbor’s front porch celebrating the most foolish holiday. This isn’t a prank the Yankees have arrived, fulfilling a familiar scenario in a month where children wear costumes and Trick or Treat collecting sweets to satisfy a rowdy bunch for a few weeks.

But now, in New York, long-awaited fans are satisfied that the most scrutinized and capitalist franchise in sports has erased ghastly fiascoes and memorable collapses in the postseason.

Not long ago, the Yankees collapsed amid a nightmarish series, facing archenemies the Boston Red Sox, who trailed the series 3-0, and suddenly pulled off the most dramatic comeback in sports breaking 86 years of misery.

For a long time, New York failed to cease agonizing defeats against the Los Angeles Angels, a team at one point with magical aggressiveness in running the bases and producing runs. It was perfect magic, located a block away from Disneyland, but magic now resides near the subways in the Bronx.

A primary factor in the Yankees successful drive to the pennant, amid a revamped year, is the sudden uprise of Alex Rodriguez, who failed in previous postseasons. He faltered in previous seasons, amassing most of his RBI and homers in the regular-season when games weren’t as significant. But now, he’s worthy of the nickname “Mr. October”, guiding this franchise to their first World Series appearance in nine years.

In the meantime, A-Rod isn’t A-Fraud, convincing us he’s free of contaminated juice after confessing and apologizing to the world when his name was revealed from a list of 104 players using performance enhancers, which disheartened the masses who were convinced that he was the purest slugger in the game.

Of course now, we believe all his homers are belted naturally, untainted of any substances. Arriving to the biggest level, for the first time in his career, he’s chasing hardware on the grandest stage. But above all, the Yankees as an entire are favorites and craving to win their 27th title, staying atop all teams in the majors.

In fairness, after spending billions and owning the largest payroll in the game, the main priority is to win a championship. Otherwise, the Steinbrenner’s are considered failures, and in likelihood, could be portrayed as spending fools.

Next thing, skeptics will consider the Yankees as the biggest bust, while typical fans will defend and wait again. The worst case scenario is their believable season could finish wastefully, but the best case scenario is their persuasive season could symbolize a dominant franchise, possibly starting off the new decade with aspiration.

A franchise with a $210 million payroll cannot afford to perform the choke job. But with a mentor, Joe Girardi, who can actually manage the world’s most demanding job and has handled the scrutiny and media tension well, the players are grasping a sense of the game from a well-experienced and well-respected manager.

It took long enough, but now $275 million giving to A-Rod makes sense after having a breakout and monster postseason, ending all dreadful droughts. Sure, critics could utter he has a good luck charm in Kate Hudson, his starlet girlfriend. But Mark Teixeira might have a slight impact as well, making A-Rod’s assignments less painful. His presents have definitely abstracted tremendous pressure, of which much isn’t strictly relied upon Rodriguez.

In the offseason, Teixeira was a huge blockbuster deal, shocking majority of the masses after landing with the Yankees. Courtesy of the powerful and manipulating agent Scott Boras, Teixeira was certain to earn the biggest deal on the market and accepted an eight-year, $185 million deal to wear pinstripes.

There’s also Sabathia, the best pitcher arguably in the postseason, which tells us why he’s the richest hard-thrower in the majors.

The Angels were unsuccessful, striking out constantly and failed even to hit ground outs or fly outs. Sabathia’s ridiculous fastball seems untouchable, his nasty slider seems impossible on making contact, and his presence seems intimidating, which might pose problems for the Philadelphia Phillies. At the newly stadium, fans vastly shout out “C.C.! C.C.! C.C.! Usually, Sabathia lasts in late innings and almost pitches complete games, because of his dangerous arm that cannot be reckon with.

On the other side, the overpowering Yankees, ruined the Angels optimistic season. But it mostly came from errant plays and costly plays that are formidable amid a pennant race. For many, this was their year, riding on inspiration of the late Nick Adenhart. But clumsy base running, botched throws and goofed up pitching, enough to make Goofy hide out in Disneyland, wasn’t passable to trounce pinstripes.

Still, credit goes to the Yankees for closing it out in Game Six with a 5-2 win that punched a ticket to the World Series with the Phillies waiting. No rain was in the forecast, but it was a night when Andy Pettitte’s cutters were as flawless as C.C.’s fastball, pitching in the greatest game of his lifetime. Then, Mariano Rivera entered the game in the eighth inning to post a six-out save, striking out Gary Matthews Jr. on the final out, and relived the glorious celebrations that average New Yorkers are accustomed to in a well-known ritual.

Again, the Yankees are your renaissance team.

Alex Rodriguez's Sudden Postseason Arrival Is Vital, Good To Expunge 'Roids

NEW YORK—We’re imploring and dreaming of an epic classic, a spectacle that’s enticing enough to discard all the steroid bust that has disappointed us for much of the season. Right now, baseball happens to have a dream series in mind, as many are thinking blue and wishing for pinstripes.

Yes, our eyes are set on a Dodgers-Yankees World Series, and to predict a series, it has the makings for a historic and memorable classic in ages.

But there are others whose eyes are set on the Angels and the inspiration journey, precisely for the late Nick Adenhart.

As fans are awaiting Joe Torre to seek vengeance on the Steinbrenners or the Angels to seize a victory for Nick, the entire world neglected to mention that Alex Rodriguez needs and merits a victory just as much.

Eight months removed from confessing to the world of shameful steroid revelations, A-Rod is producing RBI, hitting homers, and finally breaking postseason droughts. He is showing up when winning counts and convincing the world that he’s free of steroids, now hitting purer than ever.

At critical moments, in clutch situations, he’s now earning the nickname "Mr. October."

In the postseason, his deeds are good to relieve and discard steroid revelations that ruined his credibility, despite confessing and apologizing to the entire world on national television.

During the interview, Rodriguez referred to himself as “young, naïve, and stupid.” But now, it doesn’t seem like that, as the star is producing monster numbers when he is definitely needed.

Rodriguez is now excelling after arriving late and is getting it done. Having the heroics of the enigmatic third baseman hasn't had in recent years is the difference in the Yankees' season (along with the pitching).

Still, here in New York, skeptics and people who embrace the pinstripes are gushing on A-Rod’s postseason dominance. The spotlight is shining over him as if the Yankees are featured in a Broadway opera.

Of late, Rodriguez’s bats have sung and made noise at each plate appearance. Against the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, he demolished opposing pitching by swinging his lumber productively, verifying his presence in the postseason.

When A-Rod finished pestering Twins pitchers, he had compiled two homers, six RBI, and a .455 batting average in three games.

It's the enormous deeds when countless droughts have toppled success that have led to continuous criticism in recent seasons.

Whenever postseason failures transpired, A-Rod was labeled as the scapegoat by critical media and personnel and he even took poundings from the fans, getting booed more than receiving standing ovations.

Overcoming much adversity this season, he’s transcending expectations and now is hitting like the home run king.

But when revelations uncovered that he had coated his system with juice, fans easily disregarded Rodriguez as the next historic home run king.

Despite getting busted for using steroids by Sports Illustrated and deeply humiliated by premier writer and author Selena Roberts in a book that presumably delivers truthful information, A-Rod could greatly rebuild his reputation if he continues producing in critical moments and if he wins a World Series.

In that case, it would be transparent to forget about his performance-enhancing drug bust, an issue that hijacked spirit before the baseball season started, an issue that described commissioner Bud Selig as an apathetic and shameful individual who didn’t care about resolving drug turmoil, and an issue that shockingly unmasked a mysterious list of 104 players.

It’s understandable to believe that Rodriguez is the man who’s responsible for inglorious bedlam, but now he’s the man who’s responsible for hurried postseason dominance.

Entering the postseason, he only inherited one RBI in his previous 59 at-bats in the postseason, was zero for his last 27 at-bats with runners on base, and was zero for his last 18 with runners in scoring position.

Moving away from the Madonna lifestyle and finding companionship with his new girlfriend, Kate Hudson, might be a good luck charm for A-Rod.

Not yet has he stared down his opponents, but has expressed more excitement and relaxation and less timidness with the media. More significantly, he’s relaxed at each plate appearance and is more serious on winning his first pennant to leave behind all the scrutiny and negative issues that have followed Rodriguez for much of the season.

As we’re familiar with his foolish camera snapshots that appear on magazine issues, his way of getting attention through the local media—which endlessly crowd the spacious clubhouse just to have a conversation with the attention seeker—and his girl troubles that have presented problems (for now, that is), he’s seemingly focused on winning and guiding the Yankees to the World Series.

Even more, he’s focused on leading them to a championship so they can hang another banner inside their spacious palace. Since A-Rod’s arrival, the Yankees have failed preserving a title, but with his numbers skyrocketing, maybe this is the year.

However, there is still more baseball to be played, and facing the Angels is certainly a legitimate test for the Yankees.

The Angels are the only AL team with a winning regular season record since 1996, and Yankees nemesis and fast-throwing right-hander John Lackey has had tremendous success against their batters.

Although A-Rod has struggled mightily the last time he faced the Angels in the postseason, when he went 2-for-15 with no RBI and six walks, 2009 is a different year as he’s now displaying adequate results.

But this is a time for A-Rod to clear away from all the tainted steroid incidents. So he’s decisive and serious to win his first ever title, unlike previous seasons, when he wasn’t relied upon.

Winning it all may not fully revitalize his crippled legacy, but his steroid issues might reduce some if people again idolize the pretty boy as a pure baseball slugger.

Yanks' Pinstripes Inevitably Tangible To Implode: Is This Their Year?

It is well established, we’ve approached a point when the entire world is heavily paying attention to the New York Yankees.

Much is at stake for the casual investors, making all the blockbusters deals and stealing nearly all big-name free-agents on the market.

History over the last five years specifies indignities and failures, explicating greed and egotism among major league teams. The boundless salary caps permitted the dauntless co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner to assertively spend a massive share of their $210-million payroll.

It’s obvious the Yankees are the most capitalist and most scrutinized franchise in professional sports. Citizens in the state of New York wear pinstripes, espousing a laudable tradition, but are fatigued of inferior letdowns the last five seasons.

For now, it seems mystique could flourish in a month the Yankees are known for dominating the postseason, with aggressive base running, RBI, homers, and solid batting averages, good enough for a fall classic spectacle and adding a World Series title.

Anything less than a title is considered a failure, and temptations are immense with all the offseason renovations. Adding a 27th championship banner at the newly colossal venue is imperative for excelling under high expectations and confirming traditional gratifications.

What appears to be happening in America is all heads are turned directly to the Yankees. Suddenly our country is fascinated with pinstripes, becoming the biggest curiosity in October. Guess you can refer to them as Mr. October, after signing big-name free-agents and frustrating teams around the league with greedy idiosyncrasy.

Last winter, the Steinbrenners were criticized by reporters and executives of other teams for pulling off every blockbuster deal that was available on the market. From all their outrageous signings, they were considered a joke, a laughingstock in baseball facing uncertainty for lavishing enormous deals.

Amid a fragile market, the Yankees were making impressive approaches by negotiating and speaking the proper terms to baseball’s most powerful and stubborn-minded agent, Scott Boras.

It seemed a bit absurd to many when the Yankees spent $432.5 million for CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, emphasizing the significance of winning in New York, where pinstripes are a symbol of world champions.

A large part to the Yankees' noteworthy postseason is Alex Rodriguez. It’s not hard debating if his homers are pure, vindicated to be clean of performance-enhancing drugs.

Before the season, A-Rod’s confession and admission to the entire world was a shameful letdown, imploding the beautiful landscape of baseball that had discarded all performance enhancing drug bust until his name surfaced into newspapers, magazines and A-Rod’s agitator Selena Roberts, published a book that revealed he used steroids dating back to his playing days in high school.

Even if there’s a suggestion for expunging a steroid crisis and validate that baseball is amid a wonderful turnaround for loyal folks in New York who long awaited an ALCS appearance is winning and advancing in the postseason.

Even it is a remedy that chimes perfectly for A-Rod’s crippled legacy, now hitting and reaching expectations, a scenario he has failed to attain.

He now has finally arrived in October, belting the critical shots needed to contend for a title. He’s more serious, craving his first ring wearing pinstripes, alongside slugger Teixeira, whose walk-off home runs could menace opposing teams.

Rodriguez is dominating, and rising as the scariest slugger in the postseason. Even though, slugging and driving in runners in scoring position was anticipated a long time ago, it’s never too late to make noise in the postseason.

Earlier in the year, revelations, girl troubles, and injuries prompted distractions, enough to self-destruct a believable season. But Rodriguez is more of a solution than a problem, with two homers, six RBI, and a .455 batting average in three games.

It’s enough to appease a desperate and superior franchise, now overdue of ultimate triumph. Here in America, populace either loves or hates the world’s most beloved or despised franchise.

Here in America, they’re America’s team and amass more fans than any team in our pastime. Whether you hate or love them, the Yankees are this year’s team to beat; playing with much certainty and embody morale, ideal factors that have storied magnitude.

America’s most-publicized team is now excelling with enough value and depth. After all, the Steinbrenners weren’t spending fools who squandered big dollars without discerning contrast between values or a bust. They were doubted too soon, and even if the Yanks fail to win this year, still they’ve erased futility restoring into championship contenders.

Last season, it was the biggest dysfunctional team in America, but it merely took one season to change the complexion and revive tradition. More cream pies are thrown in the faces of Yankee players, and homers are shot out of the gigantic playground.

It almost seemed like the Yankees were on brink of self-destruction and inevitably nearing a spending collapse, which would’ve left them in similar plights, they were stuck in before adding depth in the offseason.

Healing from gloomy downfalls, manager Joe Girardi shouldn’t be worried about his job security, especially if they win it all. He also has built a strong bond with veteran shortstop Derek Jeter, the long-time Yankee captain who has witnessed timeless moments while wearing pinstripes. Girardi built a good relationship with Hank and Hal, when he served as Yankees catcher. All advantages secure his job status in the managerial role.

When abysmal pitching doomed the Yankees, postseason fortune was held at a minimum. Surrendering multiple hits hindered thinkable seasons, prematurely forcing elimination and longer suffering.

But it could be the year when they don’t have to wait, agonized of failures and pitching deficits. Turns out signing top-level pitchers with expectations weren’t such a bad conception, as it has paid off having the proper finances to build a champion-bound team like earlier in the decade.

It’s now a stout pitching rotation with Sabathia, who pitched like an ace in Game One, threw his heaters and struck out nine batters outmatching Minnesota. Burnett has respectively pitched exceptional, rarely committed errant throws and elevated pitches in the strike zone, where batters couldn’t make contact with the speedy object.

Despite getting a no-decision in Game Two, still he is a legitimate piece for the immediate reinforcements, gradually advancing as the traditional team known so well.

Not much stigma describes a horrific franchise. The irony is their incredible pitching, and A-Rod is portrayed as Mr. October, brainwashing skeptics to root and wear pinstripes. It has reproduced a ritual that symbolizes baseball.

You don’t have to love them, but America’s beloved team is back. Is this their year?

MLB--The Mysterious List Lingers: Quit Holding Secrets, Unveil Names

As baseball continues to reveal fraudulent secrets, raiding players on a monthly period, the revelations are compiling more derision. There’s a secret List that continues to release names, busting players who are cons, cheats, and corrupted baseball to stain a beloved sporting league.


The majors are currently the biggest sporting soap opera, dismantling the beauty and artistic class of the game. This has burned out the hearts of fans, neglecting much of their consciousness on subtle nights or afternoons at the ballpark with family, hot dogs, peanuts, cotton candy, and any other rituals that come with, now, a contaminated game.

We live in the Steroid Era, where it has turned baseball inevitably into a toxic wasteland. Many of us have already lost interest and deterred in admiring and rooting for the home team, of course, if they didn’t win it was a shame. And neither baseball nor the players union is winning, so I guess we can call baseball a shamed sport.

Through an entire era of deceptive absurdity, incorporates convenient excuses, and hundreds of lies from players demanding to revise features of getting ensnared for juicing. Just from the number of busted players we admired and claimed as pure hitters or weren’t believed to be an asterisk, tricked us with their unnatural inabilities.

From all over, we were convinced and never doubted that anyone was a tainted suspect of fraud. But allowing ourselves to avoid from rationalizing what has transpired, fans never faced reality and understood that facades would eventually damage baseball’s psyche.

It did.

By now, fans should be weary, upset, and burned out. I myself might decide to boycott the game for some time, since there are misleading concepts. Because there were players who failed to abide by the law and weren’t confident enough to employ natural fortitude, they’ve disappointed us by ruining our avid senses. And now, the apathetic MLB commissioner, Bud Selig, watches everything turn into a siege.

No one in their right frame of mind, persistently wants to hear about a player getting banned or leaked to a report for using performance-enhancing drugs. No one in their right state of mind, wants to continuously hear lingering issues or reports of players they greatly appreciate and relishes proclaimed as a juicer.

Sadly, baseball immerses a lingering mystery, in which the players union and the majors refuse to confide annoying secrets. Currently, what is known, baseball is in a serious steroid crisis, but the public shamelessly are only aware of four top-profile stars.

Classify them as wannabes and impostors who couldn’t perform in the game correctly, needing syringes or pills to elevate fame and potential.

With all the constant steroid fiascoes, circulating and clouding up the league, maybe it answers why union chief Donald Fahr is stepping down, exhausted of a fragile season that centralized a crime scene, ignoring all the legit attributes of the game.

It is a terrible season of devastation and embarrassment that Fahr is choosing to escape, impairing a long legacy that is frail, soiled by leaked names.

Distressed outrage that taunts and points fingers directly at the union is enough to make the boss step down of his commands. It isn’t only stressful, but also insulting and scrutinizing to Fahr, who seems to be liable and blamable, especially when the union has no intention of revealing the list and have access.

But baseball has mishandled the doping ordeal, allowing it abruptly to describe the game as a Drug Dealing League, rather than Major League Baseball.

In other words, sadly, you have DDL, rather than MLB.

Still, the majors have found excuses to keep performance-enhancers silent, sweeping it under the rug. And they are still refusing to unmask the truth as if they’re in denial and embarrassed of disadvantages it has breed. So they want us to believe the list wasn’t supposed to ever exist.

The union was unsuccessful in disposing the list that was never supposed to be announced publicly. That’s a lie. See, the majors are big liars just as the players.

But somehow the feds were able to grab the list from under the union to probe names involved in sick scandals. Assuming the feds are done with their investigations, the New York Times somehow was able to obtain access and now is leaking out names that appear to be on the list. Maybe this will be a suitable time to get it over with. Maybe this will be a good time to quit hiding the truth.

The more the union and the majors hide the fact of the matter, the more humiliation it will present and the more it will weaken the game. Just this year alone, baseball is in limbo, as it is hard to believe what anyone says. With the list publicized, it is a moment for the majors to get steroid havoc off their chest.

After all, there are more important things to focus on like Albert Pujols’ exceptional Triple Crown chase, which is eclipsed by the complex juiced era. Many of us are uncaring about syringes and pills, but are caring of RBIs, OBPs, homers, and wins.

All we are asking is for the lingering list to vanish, and by reporters leaking names month to month, we are long past the dreary and exhausting reports. It’s to the point when reports have rattled our brains and gotten on our last nerves, upsetting us as we can’t focus on the magnifying fragments.

The only alternative for clearing up cynical complexities is to UNVEIL THE LIST, UNMASKED THE TRUTH. Otherwise names will continue to reveal into a public ruckus and it will hover over the game eternally.

None of the names that have being unveiled is a surprise, but are appealing to learn baseball’s criminals. There isn’t much of a secret as names one by one continues to startled us.

From the anonymous list of players in 2003, four top-notched players have being taunted, targeted, disregarded, disliked, and destroyed by fans. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez surfaced into infamous spotlight on Thursday.

Then in June, Sammy Sosa was announced as a cheater, after he had already used a cork in his bat years ago. And then in February, there was Alex Rodriguez whose name came out before training camp.

Good enough hints to inform major league baseball of a preposterous rift in a sport everyone just wants to move on. It is a list of 104 players, not four players. It is appropriate to inform us of the other 97 players who were lying to us. Of course they’ll refuse to have their names announced, but it is something that has to be done.

Knowingly, none of the guilty players will talk. That is from former to present players whose names may be on the list. But not when it can defame and diminish their livelihood and fans from bracing them, including Hall of Fame legacy. Oh well, the anonymous 97 brought it on themselves and no must face the dangerous aftermath of losing prominence.

But if baseball wishes to move on, just bare the infamous list for your own welfare.