A-Bomb

The new alerts started flowing into my inbox at 1:46 this afternoon, and my jaw dropped.

A-Rod admits to using performance-enhancing drugs‏

Wow.

My immediate reaction was, Well kudos to him for admitting it! ... I felt an oddly-shaped weight lifted off my shoulders -- a far differently shaped weight than the one A-Rod felt, I'm sure.

And tonight when I arrived home, I turned on Sportscenter, sort of by accident -- so many different things had happened since the A-Rod news broke that I’d almost forgotten about it … But there he was deep in his interview with Peter Gammons, followed with ESPN folks analyzing every line of his admission and how it will affect the rest of his career. "I was young, I was stupid, I was naive," Alex said.

Even after soaking in most of the interview, I still say: Kudos to Alex. I don’t for a second condone his use of a banned substance, but I have the utmost respect for the way he sat down with Gammons and laid it all on the table … And my gut says, Hey, if he really, as he claims, has been clean since 2003 and he stays that way, and he continues to put up great numbers -- than yeah, he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.

In the 48 hours since the Sports Illustrated story broke, A-Rod gave us more than Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens have given us in years. Even more than Jason Giambi, who apologized but never told us what he was apologizing for.

My hope is that A-Rod’s admission paves the way for the rest of these guys -- especially McGwire, who’s been living in a sad cocoon -- to finally tell us the truth.

Some good reads ...
a The full transcript
a A-Rod Backs Stimulus, Says Economy Needs Shot in Arm
a Why single out A-Rod?
a Apology by a Yankees Star Becomes a Rite of Spring
a Result for Rodriguez Revives Testing Controversy

Onion reads

Jason Giambi Day-To-Day With Sore Groin, If You Know What He Means

NEW YORK—Jason Giambi will miss the next several games due to soreness in his groin, if you catch the Yankee first baseman's drift, because in...

The truth of the matter ?

From this morning's SI Extra ...

So what will Jason Giambi say? That's the question buzzing around baseball tonight now that Giambi has an agreement to become the first active major leaguer to testify before George Mitchell, baseball's steroids investigator. According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, "Giambi will be required only to speak about his own involvement and the general 'landscape' of steroid usage. But MLB officials aren't ruling out the possibility they may ascertain something useful about Barry Bonds through Giambi, who like Bonds had an association not only with BALCO but also with Bonds' former trainer Greg Anderson. The federal government is! focusing on Bonds, and it is reasonable to belief that MLB has particular interest in Bonds, as well, in that he is on the precipice of breaking baseball's alltime home run record." (More here)

I give props to Jason Giambi for stepping to the plate and finally trying to come clean. His steroid use can't bge condoned, but he's handled the storm and has come back in the years since with dignity, and that's commendable.

... As for Sammy Sosa, his 600 home runs don't guarantee spot in Hall

One year later, Giambi celebrates comeback

Society's sad state

Monday, Monday ...

The Katrina cleanup continues as more bodies were found today and the FEMA director resigned ... I just wonder what took him so long.

Also in the news today, an interesting story about Brian Williams' anchoring on NBC News. The job he and the NBC crew has done truly is remarkable and I admire the opinions and commentary the reporters have offered. As reporters we've always been taught to remain as objective as possible, but then again, we've never faced a situation like Katrina and such ignorance on the government's part. Still, as far out of hand as the Katrina situation has become, the NBC gang offered their opinions with substance and integrity ...After one broadcast last week, my wife and I quipped about Williams strong presence while becoming the eldest network anchor, 'Tom who?'

Moving on ...

Déjà Vu? Not Really ...

Supposedly Barry Bonds is returning to the Giants lineup tonight ... Part of me hopes he takes one swing and his knee crumbles like a cupcake.

Two years ago I was the one defending Bonds and his records, insisting he couldn't be on steroids because he hadn't suffered the same debilitating injuries Mark McGwire and other supposed 'juiced' players were suffering. Oh, how little I knew. ... Barry Bonds soon started complaining about his knee ailments, I soon learned that knees are among the first things to go in a player on steroids and then Barry's BALCO testimony was leaked.

... the only thing holding me back from completely detesting Barry is that trite argument that it takes great skill to hit a 90-mph fastball ...

Barry is Barry and he'll do what he wants. But Barry, in no way, shape, or form should be allowed to retake the field in pursuit of one of the most hallowed records in sports. I spent all winter and summer hoping he'd come to his senses, think about the integrity of the game, retire and leave the record alone. But again, Barry is Barry. He doesn't give a darn about what you and me think.

I'm only now, slowly, SLOW-LY beginning to regain some respect for Jason Giambi, only because he faced the adversity head on this summer, and as one story points out, has come back one swing at a time. But Barry will have to do exactly that and more for me to really cheer him again ...

For now, I'll just relish in the fall of Rafael Palmeiro and hope his saga can send a strong message.

Oh yeah, and there's this, although I'm not sure Nomar should be included on this list ...