Spring Break
Calling A-Rod a role model is an affront to role models
Matt Stevens
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Commentary
Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez is the All Star and MVP New York Yankees third baseman. A-Rod's career statistics speak for themselves. He is only 33 years old and has a lifetime batting average over .300, 553 home runs, is a 12-time All Star and three-time American League MVP. A-Rod was always, more or less, popular with fans, especially younger ones.
Since A-Rod achieved so much at such a young age, many fans hoped that he would someday break the records of Barry Bonds (which were widely seen as illegitimate because of suspicion that Bonds used steroids during his career) and restore dignity and pride to these storied achievements. However, the baseball world has been rocked by A-Rod's own admission of steroid use, much to the disgust of many fans.
I am a lifelong Yankee fan and I feel that the recent revelations about A-Rod, both professionally and personally, show him to be an extremely self-indulgent and egotistical person that young fans should not aspire to emulate.
Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated broke the story about A-Rod testing positive for steroid use while a member of the Texas Rangers in 2003. Among the substances for which A-Rod tested positive were anabolic steroids, reported The New York Times.
Anabolic steroids are derived from the hormone testosterone and build up cellular tissue within muscles. In a sport where players are paid a lot of money to hit a ball a long way, a drug that has this kind of impact would seem like one that might interest such players. However, anabolic steroids have many potential serious side effects on a user's mental and physical health.
Anabolic steroids can cause high cholesterol (a leading cause of heart disease), several serious liver diseases and dramatic weight gain. Use of anabolic steroids has also been linked to aggression and depression. To top that all off, there is no credible evidence that using these drugs will improve one's athletic performance.
These side effects alone should be enough to convince young people not to use steroids and that those who do are fools. However, it should also be remembered that past home runs kings, such as Hank Aaron and Roger Maris, were known for achieving their legendary status through hard work and talent. Achieving such fame and success through dedication and natural ability is extremely impressive, and since adults spend so much time teaching young people that honesty and hard work will pay off in the end, shouldn't players who earned their records honestly be held up as role models for youngsters?
Since A-Rod achieved so much at such a young age, many fans hoped that he would someday break the records of Barry Bonds (which were widely seen as illegitimate because of suspicion that Bonds used steroids during his career) and restore dignity and pride to these storied achievements. However, the baseball world has been rocked by A-Rod's own admission of steroid use, much to the disgust of many fans.
I am a lifelong Yankee fan and I feel that the recent revelations about A-Rod, both professionally and personally, show him to be an extremely self-indulgent and egotistical person that young fans should not aspire to emulate.
Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated broke the story about A-Rod testing positive for steroid use while a member of the Texas Rangers in 2003. Among the substances for which A-Rod tested positive were anabolic steroids, reported The New York Times.
Anabolic steroids are derived from the hormone testosterone and build up cellular tissue within muscles. In a sport where players are paid a lot of money to hit a ball a long way, a drug that has this kind of impact would seem like one that might interest such players. However, anabolic steroids have many potential serious side effects on a user's mental and physical health.
Anabolic steroids can cause high cholesterol (a leading cause of heart disease), several serious liver diseases and dramatic weight gain. Use of anabolic steroids has also been linked to aggression and depression. To top that all off, there is no credible evidence that using these drugs will improve one's athletic performance.
These side effects alone should be enough to convince young people not to use steroids and that those who do are fools. However, it should also be remembered that past home runs kings, such as Hank Aaron and Roger Maris, were known for achieving their legendary status through hard work and talent. Achieving such fame and success through dedication and natural ability is extremely impressive, and since adults spend so much time teaching young people that honesty and hard work will pay off in the end, shouldn't players who earned their records honestly be held up as role models for youngsters?
Be the first to comment on this story