Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - A-Rod and Barry Bonds

djtestudo · 02-15-2009, 10:16 AM

There are several different issues here.

1) The test in question that was leaked was taken at a time when the league and players' union had agreed on a preliminary testing program; if five-percent or more of the players tested positive, there would be a real program put into place starting the following year.

However, all the tests were supposed to be anonymous and were taken without any penalty for a positive test. So, there really cannot be any penalty on Rodriguez based on the original agreement.

(The reason they weren't kept anonymous is because the federal government seized the results shortly after they were tested as part of the BALCO investigation which will lead to Bonds later on.)

2) Specifically when it comes to the Yankees, they have two reasons to not release Rodriguez (other than the obvious one: he's the best player in the sport enhanced or no). First, the positive test came from when he was with the Rangers, so unless they want to make some kind of argument that they were misled in the deal that brought him to New York (and considering they got him for next-to-nothing, they would get laughed out of the room) they have nothing to say there. Second, there have been several other players (notably Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield) who were exposed as users during their tenure as Yankees, and instead of dumping them they were essentially embraced after their "apologies".

3) The reason Bonds is being pursued in such a manner is that he is accused of lying under oath to a federal jury during the aforementioned BALCO investigation. He also happens to be a very unsympathetic figure due to a well-known history of attitude problems, meaning there is a large percentage of the population that would like to see him get what they feel is what he deserves.

Really, it's analogous to the FBI getting a conviction on Al Capone for tax evasion over any of the more-serious crimes that he may have committed.

It's also similar to what Roger Clemens is going through.

Really, the main thing is that Rodriguez tested positive once, at a time when there was no penalty, and since has still put up the numbers of the best player in the sport without testing positive again. In addition, he still has another eight-to-ten years to show what he can do without steroids. He can still earn-back the fans.

02-15-2009, 10:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	There are several different issues here. 1) The test in question that was leaked was taken at a time when the league and players' union had agreed on a preliminary testing program; if five-percent or more of the players tested positive, there would be a real program put into place starting the following year. However, all the tests were supposed to be anonymous and were taken without any penalty for a positive test. So, there really cannot be any penalty on Rodriguez based on the original agreement. (The reason they weren't kept anonymous is because the federal government seized the results shortly after they were tested as part of the BALCO investigation which will lead to Bonds later on.) 2) Specifically when it comes to the Yankees, they have two reasons to not release Rodriguez (other than the obvious one: he's the best player in the sport enhanced or no). First, the positive test came from when he was with the Rangers, so unless they want to make some kind of argument that they were misled in the deal that brought him to New York (and considering they got him for next-to-nothing, they would get laughed out of the room) they have nothing to say there. Second, there have been several other players (notably Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield) who were exposed as users during their tenure as Yankees, and instead of dumping them they were essentially embraced after their "apologies". 3) The reason Bonds is being pursued in such a manner is that he is accused of lying under oath to a federal jury during the aforementioned BALCO investigation. He also happens to be a very unsympathetic figure due to a well-known history of attitude problems, meaning there is a large percentage of the population that would like to see him get what they feel is what he deserves. Really, it's analogous to the FBI getting a conviction on Al Capone for tax evasion over any of the more-serious crimes that he may have committed. It's also similar to what Roger Clemens is going through. Really, the main thing is that Rodriguez tested positive once, at a time when there was no penalty, and since has still put up the numbers of the best player in the sport without testing positive again. In addition, he still has another eight-to-ten years to show what he can do without steroids. He can still earn-back the fans. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun