Let’s take a trip back to the late offseason of last year.
Alex Rodriguez, a then 33-year-old New York Yankees slugger sits in front of a microphone, trying desperately to save his legacy.
Recently, Rodriguez has been proven to be a steroid user. Now he tries to clear up the story and apologize as America—no, check that—the entire baseball world watches.
Rodriguez then sat at 553 homers. He seemed like a lock to break the all-time record, given his age and torrid pace. Then this blew up.
Rodriguez was able to get out of that pickle. Somewhat. He did avoid suspension or anything like that, but he lost trust from the fans.
A season and a half, one hip surgery, and 46 homers later, Rodriguez has gained back most of that trust, and now sits one dinger shy of 600 homers, a sacred milestone that few have passed.
If he were to stop now, even at 599 homeruns, his legacy would be undeniable. Because he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, all the way.
But there are still doubters.
Some believe that he is a downright cheater and deserves nothing. Some even believe he doesn’t deserve to be allowed in Cooperstown, let alone be enshrined in the Hall.
A question people like to toss around a lot is, “How many homers would he have hit without the help of the PEDs?”
Many say that he would be right where he is now, if not very close.
But again, there are doubters.
Some say only 350. Some, 300. Some say he doesn’t deserve any, not a single one.
However, no matter what you say, 600 is going to happen, and it will count. The reaction you have is all your own.
My take is that he deserves every one.
Now I know I look like a hypocrite after one of my other articles in which I threw Barry Bonds under the bus. But I do think the situation is a little different because that’s a guy who just so happened to hit homer after homer from age 35 and on, after he just so happened to add 40 pounds of muscle prior to the season in which he blasted 73 homers.
So don’t say that I’m biased, even though I probably am. It’s an opinion. You have one, too.
Anyways, I guess I’m trying to say that no matter what your opinions are, you should feel excited as a baseball fan. This is bringing tons of excitement to the game. If you still hate the guy’s guts, just feel happy for him as a person. Be excited.
As a Yankees fan, I know I am. Heck, I’ve never even liked A-Rod that much, but I still find myself waking up in the morning, and rather than wondering, “Did the Yanks win?” I wonder, “Did he get it?”
Now let’s look down the road. To the day when it happens.
Because whether you laugh or cry about it, it’s going to happen.
What am I talking about?
The day Rodriguez is enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
To that day and beyond, there will still be question. But my opinion will remain the same.
Untainted.
Congrats, A-Rod.
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