Alex Rodriguez Support Thread

[FtheSox&RallyMonkey]

Since I was 8 and A-Rod was a rookie on the Seattle Mariners, he's been my favorite baseball player and athlete in general. I believed all of his feats were all natural which made me even prouder to be an A-Rod fan. It really hurt me on Saturday when the steroid story came out and knowing that my hero was also a cheater. Even though I feel betrayed by his words and actions, I think it's important to support him. He's still a Yankee, and he's still the best player on the team and a top 5 player in baseball. I know a lot of fans have been split on him whether it's his lack of clutchness or his huge contract but the fact of the matter is the guy's won 2 MVP's since coming to the Yankees, is probably going to be on the team for 9 more years, and may eventually break Barry Bonds' home run record (even though it may not be legit). Unlike Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, he was man enough to admit his mistake and apologize like Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi who were both forgiven. I'm sure a lot of you may disagree with this but I think as Yankee fans we should still support and cheer for him and if you're gonna boo, save it for when he doesn't hit in the post season .

[trapper700]

I'm all for supporting ARod. I think it was wise of him to accept that he made a mistake and admit it. And as long as he stays away from using PEDs again, he'll have my full support. Keep in mind he was given similar tests as olympic athletes in '06 for his participation in the WBC, and will do so again this year.

[rajah]

I am a Yankee fan. This guy is a great, great ball player who plays for the Yankees. end of story; I support him.

He made a mistake and did what many, if not most, players were doing. It did not directly hurt anyone. The guy is very human and thereby gets my sympathy as well as support.

This whole steroid controversy, in my opinion, is way, way over blown. There are tremendous problems in the world. This is not one.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

I support steroids and Alex Rodriguez

[YankeePride1967]

While I certainly don't support him using steroids, I support him as a man and as a Yankee.

[YanksFanTillDeath]

I support him 100%, two minute Standing ovation on his first at bat..

LETS GO YANKS !!!!

[junkman73]

If he delivers on the field all will be forgotten. The guy has some serious issues. Anyone who still thinks Madonna is a prize, needs to have their head examined. This isn't 1987.

[ICEBERG18]

I support the Yankees signing Manny Ramirez.

[dogg]

Alex admitted his usage and has apologized. If you want to crucify him, go ahead, you're wasting your time. This story is now officially old news.

[leutbneot]

Definitely in the Arod support camp. He was great in his interview with Gammons today. I'm glad he took the Pettitte path, came clean, and asked the public to forgive him instead of going the Clemens route. He seemed genuinely sorry in the interview and i still want him on the Yanks, doing what he does.

He's still my favorite player and this whole thing actually humanizes him a bit, in my eyes.

I should probably also say that I don't really care about steroids in general, so I'm sure that makes it easier for me to be supportive. Some of my buddies are vehemently anti-steroid, and I'm sure that they are more conflicted about this than I am. Oh well. To each his own.

[BxBomber44]

People make mistakes, and so do baseball legends. I'm behind Alex.

[Jeter Kid]

People make mistakes, and so do baseball legends. I'm behind Alex.

QFT 100%

[NYYDragoon]

Here's for a killer 2009!

[Panamaniac42]

I support ARod and all the other current Yankees (I suspect 6 or 7 on the 25 man roster) who have used PEDs.

[THEBOSS84]

Alex will continue to be my favorite Yankee - I fully support him and will continue to do so as long as he's a Yankee.

[YanksFan1992]

I've always supported him, and have never booed him throughout his career (even during his horrendous series in Seattle last year).

I was disappointed with what came out two days ago, but was still behind him, and what he did today cemented that even further.

Here's to another MVP in 09 Alex.

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

Here's for a killer 2009!

If he can pull off a great 2009... oh man.

You have my support A-Rod!

[JfromJersey]

I'm going to support him for one reason. He plays for the Yankees and they really need him.

[JBursch23]

Big fan of A-Rod. I'll be rooting for him all year long.

[apalradio]

This story is not about ARod. It's about a huge percentage of MLB players who were doing it at the time when nobody was really policing this. We don't know who they were, thanks to the bullseye place directly on ARod, but I'm willing to bet there were lots more than the 103 other names that SI has conveniently neglected to mention in its breaking news story.

Yes, I support the man and am grateful he's not pulling a Rocket or Bonds here.

[4bronxbombers]

Oh geez....I just started an A Rod support thread in the Sports Bar. Mods, if you want to merge, please do. Sorry....I thought I'd get crucified if I started an A Rod support thread in the ITL.

[montrealer]

Oh geez....I just started an A Rod support thread in the Sports Bar. Mods, if you want to merge, please do. Sorry....I thought I'd get crucified if I started an A Rod support thread in the ITL.

Can we just tie you up and spank you

[4bronxbombers]

Can we just tie you up and spank you

You shush Mr. Oh Canada

[CT_Bomber]

Never was a huge fan of the guy, but the media of course blew this way out of proportion because it's the Yankees. I'll support A-Rod, let's hope he has a monster year!

[ThePost]

I support him, I may buy his jersey now

[Young Steinbrenner]

I support A-Rod

[Snatch Catch]

PEDs? Really? Get over it.

The moment he starts raking I think even the most ardent bashers will get over it momentarily...and then revert back to hypocrites again.

[YankeeTom]

Go Alex, put up the numbers. Do it when it counts and everyone will forget this Crap. Say what you want about the man, but he is drawing the whole deal on this. What about the other 100 or so. Steroids or not Alex will be one of the best to ever play this game. Let's just stop the holier than now attitude. We have all done stuff we regret and I'm sure 95% of us or more have never felt the pressure a MLB player feels every night.

The first person who chants any BS when he goes into a slump..... Please leave your Yankee Card at the door.

[tdel23]

I still continue to support A-Rod

[yankee82093]

I'm impressed he admitted that he used steroids. I thought for sure he was going to go the denial route. That interview went better than expected. I think people are overestimating the impact of roids on A-Rod anyway. With the Mariners he averaged like 37 homeruns, though in a pitcher's park. In Texas he averaged 52, though in the prime of his career and in a great hitter's park. In New York, he's in the middle of the two.

[Zac]

I fully support ARod.

Alex, be a monster this season to shut up the haters!

[Kickyt]

I support him too. He came across as very credible.....He is a part of "the culture" that was active not just in baseball but in all sports...I'll be cheering loudly for him on Opening Day.

[bcom33]

I just listened to the Gammons interview, and I feel that he was really telling the truth and getting everything off of his chest. He knows that he will never be viewed as the semi-God of baseball that he was viewed as before, but he still wants to do his best.

I do not like that he said that it was "pretty accurate" that he was only taking roids between 2001-03...but I choose to believe that he wasn't roided up as a Yankee.

I think as others have suggested in the thread, that I will give him a standing ovation in his first at bat in the New Yankee Stadium. I hope the majority of fans choose to do the same. In a way, I feel this may help Yankees' fans view of A-Rod to improve. He was always viewed sort of as an inhuman hitting machine, who was just a mercenary player brought in because we were the highest bidder. Now...he's got issues. And New Yorkers love a guy that can battle through issues and come out the right way on the other side. Now that Alex has come down to the human level, and he's just as much of a screw-up as any of the rest of us, maybe we'll be able to accept him more as a New York kind of guy.

[YanksFanTillDeath]

what is funny about all this is that he finally might be accepted by some yankee fans....

[YESSIR!]

No, seriously. It's time to galvanize behind our player and our team, and move forward to #27.

[Doubleday]

He definitely said all the right things in his interview on ESPN. He messed up, but nothing can change that now - it is what it is. If he can perform this year in the season and the post-season it will be a big step (in my eyes) to redemption.

Should he get into the Hall of Fame? Only time will tell at this point.

[BobbyMeacham's glove]

The simple fact that all the Yankee haters are going to be even more ramped up than they already are and on their moral high horses, should give Yankee fans cause to rally around him even more. Players like Posada & Jeter saying they support him will make fans cheer for him.

[The Q Bomb]

I deplore A-Rod's steroid usage, however I do support him - and not just because he's a Yankee, but because he's a Yankee who plays the game hard, works hard, always showed intensity and joy in the game (until it seems like it was finally beaten out of him by New York in 2006) and has really been a good citizen (as far as the game is concerned) until his steroid use was revealed.

Using steroids takes away the "good citizen" label, however, when considered in the context of the entire roster of MLB players who have likely also used steroids (many, pitchers against whom A-Rod competed) - it gives the offense a less dramatic impact, IMHO. America loves a redemption story - but only if they can feel superior to the person who has been redeemed. They love Darryl Strawberry because he's the poor little slum kid who made good, fell down, and now picked himself back up. Alex, because of his awkward personality and seemingly high opinion of himself, is disliked and will most likely receive no support from anyone other than Yankee fans (and his friends and family). He has my support.

[tkl]

The Yankees win as a team. I am Yankees fan. As long as Alex is with the Yankees, I will support him. My Mom says the same thing, she's turning 84 this year and she would love to see them get the 27th championship.

[Messerwhitescooter]

Nothing will prevent boos like timely hits with runners on base. Go A-Rod!

[Rocketbooster]

I just listened to the Gammons interview, and I feel that he was really telling the truth and getting everything off of his chest. He knows that he will never be viewed as the semi-God of baseball that he was viewed as before, but he still wants to do his best.

I do not like that he said that it was "pretty accurate" that he was only taking roids between 2001-03...but I choose to believe that he wasn't roided up as a Yankee.

I think as others have suggested in the thread, that I will give him a standing ovation in his first at bat in the New Yankee Stadium. I hope the majority of fans choose to do the same. In a way, I feel this may help Yankees' fans view of A-Rod to improve. He was always viewed sort of as an inhuman hitting machine, who was just a mercenary player brought in because we were the highest bidder. Now...he's got issues. And New Yorkers love a guy that can battle through issues and come out the right way on the other side. Now that Alex has come down to the human level, and he's just as much of a screw-up as any of the rest of us, maybe we'll be able to accept him more as a New York kind of guy.

I agree. I was busy with work, so I've only caught snippets, but I have to credit Alex for admitting his steroid usage.....and for years beyond what he was caught for. I said before the interview that all Alex had to do was appear genuine in his apology - not to put up a false front, but to show that he IS upset about this, that it does bother him. I don't know why it would take something like this to make people sympathize with him, but I do think the better angels of peoples natures don't like to kick someone when they are down. I mean, after you apologize (and are sincere - not phony at all), where else is there to go? It would be mean-spirited to beat a dead horse .......The fact that he is insecure and has issues? That just shows that he is no different than anyone else, despite his $$$ and great talent. I like Alex, perhaps because he does have issues.......he's flawed, but so are we all.

I can't cheer his use of steroids - it's really a shame that he chose this road, for whatever reason - but I will absolutely support him.

My only question - I've heard that he ripped into Selena Roberts (good for him, by the way. Mostly, celebs are expected to just sit there and take the abuse from these snoopers). Will this be a problem for Alex?

[Yanks4eva1]

Frankly, I'm sick of him, but if he could just shut up, hit the ball, play a good defense and make a meaningful contribution in the postseason, he will have my gratitude as a dedicated Yankee fan.

Dee

[teknetic]

His legacy may be tainted, and while that sucks for him, I just want this team to win.

This team is gonna be a monster and without him, they're hosed.

[Norge]

Alex apologized. I accept.

[YankeesMVPDJ2]

This just proves what I have said all along, steroids don't make you a great player. Even without 'roids A-Rod was the best in the game, is his greatness tarnished to me? No way. I played colege baseball, I know guys that did them, the better players were always better, with or without.

[TheGameEpisode2]

I Believe in Alex Rodriguez.

[JCAD522]

I hope he continues on with his great career. I will always support him

[NYIndian2005]

I have never heard Alex talk as much as he did in the interview with Gammons. He seemed sincere in his apology. He admitted his guilt which is lot more than can be said of some of the others involved. And I bet none of the other 103 is going to come out and admit anything on their own. He's still a yankee and I will support him.

[CoyoteYankee]

I hope he has a kick ass year!

[Young Steinbrenner]

Nothing will prevent boos like timely hits with runners on base. Go A-Rod!

DAMN RIGHT !! Go A-Rod !!