ALEX Rodriguez is in the center of the steroid storm, but there are 103 other names on The List.
Should Rodriguez be the only one taking this massive hit?
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Yankees legend and special adviser Reggie Jackson doesn’t think so and, surprisingly, one of A-Rod’s arch baseball enemies, Curt Schilling, is also making the point that it’s time to name names and not leave A-Rod all alone on this island of shame.
There were 104 players who failed the 2003 survey test, 103 are not yet facing public scrutiny. Only A-Rod’s name has surfaced, as first reported by Sports Illustrated. The Yankees as an organization have kept quiet about the situation, waiting to hear what Rodriguez has to say for himself.
Mr. October though, did make this telling comment to The Post yesterday: “They caught 104 guys,” Reggie asked, pausing for effect, before adding, “Why would they only name one?”
Jackson did not want to comment further, but he had made his excellent conspiracy-theory point. Exactly who is protecting the other 103 and why?
The mystery is why has only Rodriguez’s name been leaked? Even Schilling believes it’s time to come clean with all the names.
On his blog, “Pitches”, Schilling wrote yesterday: “I’d be all for the 104 positives being named, and the game moving on if that is at all possible. In my opinion, if you don’t do that, then the other 600-700 players are going to be guilty by association, forever.”
As for A-Rod, he was back from the Bahamas and in Miami last night with agent Scott Boras, preparing how to address the issue. From talking to friends who really care about Alex, I think he is going to be honest about that 2003 test because I think he does care about kids and how he is viewed by the public, his legacy. I think you also will hear how he has passed all his drug tests since then and I think he will really press that point.
It will be fascinating to see if other names pop up, and there are supposed to be some big, big stars, none though as big and bright as Rodriguez. So far A-Rod is the only one wearing the Scarlet Letter of that Gang of 104. Rodriguez must step forward and tell the truth, he owes it to the Yankees. He is expected to give an interview to ESPN, possibly as early as today. He also owes it to baseball and the fans. He owes the game an apology, but he’s not alone.
There should be a lot of players apologizing for cheating the game.
Baseball, right now, clearly has a bigger problem than just Alex Rodriguez; there are 104 players who failed that test, scrubs to superstars.
As for the Yankees, in one way they do catch a spring training break with Rodriguez. A-Rod is playing for the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. That team will begin to work out March 2 in Jupiter, Florida. If Team A-Rod makes it all the way to the finals in Los Angeles, Rodriguez will not return to the Yankees and Tampa until at least March 24.
A-Rod was with Texas when the 2003 test was taken. One of his teammates then was new Yankee Mark Teixeira, who was 23 at the time.
The Yankees have Rodriguez for a long, long time. They cannot get out from under that weight so they must find a way to make A-Rod a star that is worth all this trouble. Somehow he has to overcome all the insecurities that have buried him.
The year that test was taken, the pumped-up Rodriguez and his Rangers finished 20 games under .500, dead last in the AL West.
He won his first MVP that season but his team was a joke. The joke is on the Yankees right now but there are 103 players who should not be laughing.