Sampling of the reaction to the news that Alex Rodriguez apparently tested positive for steroids in 2003.
ESPNews: ESPN’s Buster Olney: “Well, you mentioned of course that [2003] was the year they were trying to decide whether to implement a testing program with penalties. That was the year they gave tests to players. The results were supposed to be anonymous. Going forward, you can bet A-Rod has questions about how info from the 2003 testing got out. …
“He’s tarnished forever by this. … This will change his image forever, and it’s a big deal. Remember, it was just a year and a half ago that Barry Bonds was pursing [the home run record] Alex Rodriguez was supposed to be the guy who was going to rescue the record from the specter of steroids. . … This will probably cost him a chance to go to the Hall of Fame. … This is going to hurt him forever.”
ESPN’s Roger Cossack: “Well, the problem that A-Rod has, is that as Buster alluded to, we don’t know who leaked it. … These tests were supposed to remain confidential. … The government has had 104 of these results in their possession. Where did the leak come from? Major League Baseball? The Union? Or the prosecutors office?”
ESPN Radio’s Andrew Marchand: “It’s huge. If it turns out to be true, it is huge. Look what’s happened to Barry Bonds’ legacy because of steroid allegations that he’s gone through, and now there’s a criminal case. So for Alex Rodriguez, yeah, it’s going to besmirch his record, if people believe it. And I think that if you look at the evidence that Sports Illustrated has, I think a lot of people are going to believe it because of the era that he’s played in. And … like I said before, I think people look at these guys as guilty until proven innocent. And now when A-Rod approaches Barry Bonds’ record, people are going to say, ‘ Well, is it the real record’, because A-Rod may have done steroids as well.”
Buck Showalter: “Obviously, Alex is a very talented player who has great skills. And he had an unbelievable year for us that year.”
Will Rodriguez’ legacy be tarnished? “Well, I think that what’s gone on in the past 3-4 years, with some of the people who were very big in the game, the obvious answer is yes. But once again, let things run their course, make sure they get all their facts straight. … [T]here’s a lot of reputable people out there who’ve put their reputations on the line reporting this.”
MLB Network: Larry Bowa: “It’s devastating. It’s devastating for the sport. … I know Alex, and right now I feel sorry for him. … I feel sorry for what’s ahead of him for the next six, seven, eight months.”
Dan Plesac: “We all have to be a little bit sensitive… this is going to rock his world for the next few days.”
Harold Reynolds: “We’re dealing with a whole different animal here with Alex Rodriguez … whatever he does is bulletin board material. This is gonna be a lightning rod. … This is gonna go on for a long time.”
Tom Verducci: “This is not a crisis. This is not a 24-48 hour event.”
Barry Larkin: “I can’t say I was really shocked by the revelations. More disappointed than anything. Alex is such a big strong guy and he’s been so successful his entire career. … It’s just very disappointing. That’s my initial reaction.”
On the difference between Barry Bonds and Rodriguez:
Plesac: “Barry Bonds was loved in San Francisco, and booed everywhere he went on the road. But I don’t think you can equate Bonds and A-Rod in the same way.”
Matt Vasgersian: “I don’t think [A-Rod] is at Bonds’ level either. He’s not at that level of villianary, if you will.”
CNN: Larry Smith: “For his career, this is devastating. … Spring training starts in a couple of weeks. I’d be surprised if he even looks at a TV camera, much less talks to one. … If we are to believe this … it shows that one of the biggest names in the game — if its true — again, a future Hall of Famer, has used steroids. … Its big because he’s a big name.”
