Disgraced cheater: Hey, sorry for destroying whatever little credibility baseball had left
posted at 6:35 pm on February 17, 2009 by Allahpundit
Ha, no, just kidding. He never really apologizes.
This doesn’t quite sink to the depths of the average Blagojevich press conference but it comes closer than you’d expect. All this tool had to do was go out there, speak off the cuff about “youthful mistakes” and how his drive to excel led him to make a bad decision, and the whole mess would be over with (until Opening Day). Instead, he (a) reads stiltedly from a statement, as if to emphasize his insincerity, (b) offers the absurd excuse that he thought his cousin was injecting him with an “energy booster,” the name of which he never thought to check against baseball’s list of banned substances, and (c) uncorks one of the longest, most awkward pauses I’ve ever seen. If you watch nothing else here, at least skip ahead to 4:20 and wait — and wait, and wait — for him to thank his teammates. It’s fully 37 seconds by my count. I think he’s trying to work up some tears but can’t quite pull it off. The only thing sweeter to this Mets fan than Yankee-themed schadenfreude is Yankee-themed schadenfreude at the expense of A-Fraud. Come, share my joy.
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All major sports are a joke now. Why I hardly watch anymore.
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Pff. Go wallow in your team’s pathetic ability to choke every single year, Met boy.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:37 PM
The boos Bonds got will not even come close to what A-Rod is going to get on the road.
JeffreyLloyd on February 17, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Is that why Madonna dumped him? The Roids have a bad effect?
PappaMac on February 17, 2009 at 6:37 PM
We still have a better rotation than the mets….
ahahahahhaa
TimeTraveler on February 17, 2009 at 6:37 PM
But they will still put him in the hall of fame some day,but not Pete or shoeless Joe whom really belong there.
tee866 on February 17, 2009 at 6:38 PM
They all do it. So what. Pro sports are entertainment. Strippers have silicone tatas, cheaters.
Play ball.
redrock on February 17, 2009 at 6:38 PM
What’s worse, getting caught doping with stimulant or being the dope stimulating Madonna? I think both are extremely terrible. You should be banned for life for doing either.
portlandon on February 17, 2009 at 6:39 PM
BFD… announce all the names on the list of 104. Then move on.
Wade on February 17, 2009 at 6:40 PM
When this decade ends, people will compare the Yankees of the ’00s to the Braves of the ’90s.
All that talent, and they couldn’t win the World Series once.*
*The Braves won in 1995, but, like, that’s it!
YYZ on February 17, 2009 at 6:40 PM
What a dingleberry! I saw a bit of the press conference and he was asked if he considered what he did cheating…
“That is not for me to decide, I’m just sorry…”
For what!? If you do not know if you cheated, then what are you sorry for? This is just a lame attempt to salvage a chance at the Hall of Fame; put together by “handlers”, PR people, etc.
yubley on February 17, 2009 at 6:40 PM
You know, AP, when you said 37 seconds, I thought you must be pulling our legs. But I think you actually shortchanged it a little…
gridlock2 on February 17, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Baseball is a sport?
NorthernCross on February 17, 2009 at 6:41 PM
As a fellow Mets fan, I am overjoyed.
A-Clod going down is sweet.
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 6:41 PM
He may be a fraud, but he’s one gorgeous fraud…just sayin’.
dcwvu on February 17, 2009 at 6:43 PM
So in sports, roids bad but pot good? Just thought I’d stir the, er, pot.
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 6:43 PM
The guy is a head case with a serious homo-erotic fixation on The Captain.
He should never get in the hall, just like Bonds and McGuire. Unless, of course, if they open a Hall of Shame steroid wing. Put Bud Selig and that Red Sox protecting Mitchell in there too.
I’d still like to know who the other 103 steroid cheats were.
Iblis on February 17, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Hey, Us smart mets fans. We like to thinks of things that rhymeses with Rod. We’s is so smarts.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Its tough being a Yankees fan on hotair.
Atheists need not apply.
:)
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Yeah Allah, Go Mets, until the last game of the season when we miss out on the playoffs. Oh well, i still could enjoy this.
MDWNJ on February 17, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Guess what people — the man is going to be worth over a billion dollars one of these days. He probably doesn’t care if he makes the hall of fame.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Well, if nothing else this puts to rest one point of contention: A-Rod does indeed know how to read.
Jim Treacher on February 17, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Heh. So you’re a Jet fan, a Mets fan, and a McCain fan? I’m seeing a pattern, Jetboy. You must be miserable all the time.
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Not if Obama has anything to say about it.
PappaMac on February 17, 2009 at 6:45 PM
I hate the Yankees just because of the team name. “Evil Empire” certainly has some interesting parallels in American history…
The Dean on February 17, 2009 at 6:46 PM
GREAT KARNAK
Holds envelope up to head
What is a masochist
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Yeah, he really came across as sincere.
During the pause, it almost looked to me as if he were trying to stifle a giggle.
tru2tx on February 17, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Ha!
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 6:48 PM
LOL Mets fans and their imaginary rivalry with the Yankees.
lmao
Brains on February 17, 2009 at 6:48 PM
GREAT KARNAK
Holds envelope up to head
A Sadist ?
Opens envelope
What is Bengals fan, A Phillies fan and an Arlen Spector fan ?
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:50 PM
snorts…
Snorts again because she remembers meeting this tool when he was a Mariner and everyone hated him then too! LMFAO!
upinak on February 17, 2009 at 6:50 PM
*sigh*
That’s why I drink.
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Not surprised to see Miss October crying.
benny shakar on February 17, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I just like to thank the Player’s Association for vetoing the A-Rod to Boston trade. Best veto EVER.
SnarkVader on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Dude’s a tool. His actions toward SI’s reporter makes everything that follows (including this superb presser) irrelevant. I like how he says he out of control of opinion. Yeah, your actions stamped you.
That pause is awesome, thanks for highlighting it AP! I like the part of it where he looks down at the floor like he’s looking for his iphone.
Spirit of 1776 on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
This guy has worse PR than OctoMom.
You know, I think the Rangers are still paying his sorry a$$.
carbon_footprint on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
I personally don’t feel sorry for this loser anymore, I just hope he doesn’t become a significant distraction for our team going forward…
Count me in on wanting those 103 players names released.
TimeTraveler on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Wait, did he read a poem? I hear that’s all the rage now.
I think Obama should do that to end all his pressers now.
meep on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
ALL METS-HATERS ARE BANNED.
Allahpundit on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Allah,
%^$#E^&E# You ! i didnt know you were a Metrosexuals fan – but i do agree with the fact that he is A-Fraud.
Most embarrassing day for the Yankees since the disaster of 2004. Yankee fans have to now grudgingly accept that they have to stand up for this moron. Ugggh.. well atleast if he plays well in the post season, he will be forgiven. but that’s a big IF after seeing him play in 4 post seasons.
nagee76 on February 17, 2009 at 6:53 PM
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I think that just leaves the two of us…
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I only hate things that are worthy of such a strong emotion.
I pity the Mets.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Heh. Cheap whiskey, no doubt.
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Nothing good comes out of New York.
faraway on February 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Haha! Nice!
MDWNJ on February 17, 2009 at 6:56 PM
We already forgave Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte, one more can’t hurt.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:56 PM
He tested positive for stupidity, sure, but this is a mere blip on the inexorable march to their 27th World Series title.
Of course that may not come until he retires, but I’m sure it will.
Eventually.
JammieWearingFool on February 17, 2009 at 6:56 PM
LOL
carbon_footprint on February 17, 2009 at 6:56 PM
A-Rod may be a post-season no-show, but he’s the guy you want up at the plate in April in the bottom of the ninth when the Yankees are already smashing Kansas City 15-0.
whitetop on February 17, 2009 at 6:57 PM
*and MDWNJ too…We’ll be a small, but exclusive group haha
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Oh snap!
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 6:57 PM
You’d think the fact that it had a street name would have been his first clue.
clearbluesky on February 17, 2009 at 6:57 PM
So we have A-Rod, OctoMom and Chris Brown not doing so well in the court of public opinion.
carbon_footprint on February 17, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Yeah, i guess it might get a little lonely….
MDWNJ on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Its because Bush was president. Apparently we only win when Dems are in office, at least going back to the 70s.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Oh god, Allah is Mets fan too? Favorite conservative evah!
And what’s the over under on number of posts before someone manages to blame Obama for this?
As for A-rod, whatever, until they start actually banning people who dope this is meaningless.
DeathToMediaHacks on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Make that top of the ninth.
whitetop on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I Guess ATool was taken ?
William Amos on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Shhh! George Steinbrenner still doesn’t get it.
The Mariners got rid of A-Rod, Griffey, AND Randy Johnson — then and ONLY then did they win 116 games on the season (in 2001).
My collie says:
CyberCipher on February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I hear the Padres are hiring…………..
Seven Percent Solution on February 17, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Plus, from the photo, it looks like he plucks his eyebrows. Eyeew.
ILB on February 17, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Why couldn’t Cashman and Hank stick to their guns and let this fraud go during the offseason….. *&$*(&*9##
TimeTraveler on February 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM
The team is still turning a profit, right? How, then, are they overpaid?
Conservative Yankee-hate never made sense to me. This is a business. What business is it of ours what these guys get paid? People say “Oh, i can’t believe they get paid that much to swing a stick.”
What happened to conservative principles? I guess people throw that out when it comes to sports.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Oh, and it’s no accident that he got caught juicing when he was with the Rangers, they were notorious for it. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more Rangers caught (looking at you Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez).
clearbluesky on February 17, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Once again, smartest dog I’ve ever known.
Weight of Glory on February 17, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Heh.
clearbluesky on February 17, 2009 at 7:03 PM
On the upside, he’s nowhere near as dumb as Plaxico.
JammieWearingFool on February 17, 2009 at 7:05 PM
The Man was dating Madonna. I question his judgment. I don’t think he can blame steroid use.
Dr Evil on February 17, 2009 at 7:05 PM
I don’t like A-Rod’s lifestyle, from what I’ve read, BUT the “drug scandal” in baseball is b/s.
Of course A+ athletes try to achieve max-fit with any means possible and legal/deniable.
But “retro-guilt”?
A-Rod is a great baseball player.
Randy
williars on February 17, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Because it’s not about the money. It’s about winning.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on February 17, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Steelers Rule.
Bishop on February 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Meh. I can’t for the life of me figure out why I should care. I can’t believe the pres waisted time during the Presidents prime-time press conferenced with questions on this.
Especially when there are more important questions like how does the POTUS feel about Marvel Comics raising prices %33 from $2.99 to $3.99? What about my hobbies?!?!
Ampersand on February 17, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I. Couldn’t. Care. Less.
Ugly on February 17, 2009 at 7:11 PM
There. FTFY.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on February 17, 2009 at 7:11 PM
What the hell is his PR person thinking?
The best possible spin on this that he had the courage to come forward, apologise and admit his mistake in order to “raise awareness” or something. That doesn’t make him less a cheater, but at least makes him look somewhat honest. You could feel at least a little sympathetic for such a person given the pressure they are under to perform.
Instead we get tap dancing, which makes him look like both a cheater and a liar not deserving any sympathy at all.
Hollowpoint on February 17, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Ahh…time to re-watch that 2004 ALCS just for giggles…
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 7:14 PM
CyberCipher on February 17, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Now now…hang in there, the Lions will do better next year.
They only need to win one game, after all, you can have a big party.
Bishop on February 17, 2009 at 7:16 PM
I gotta find a little paper bag to put over my bobblehead…
ladyingray on February 17, 2009 at 7:17 PM
I’m a lifelong Yankee fan, but I hated the day that they signed this buffoon. My displeasure with him grows every season.
Sir Corky on February 17, 2009 at 7:18 PM
After the corruption and lies coming from the white house,..this is second rate.
christene on February 17, 2009 at 7:22 PM
I’m so sick of everyone blaming playoff losses on A-Rod, though. Look down the list of stats. There have been maybe 1 or 2 people who didn’t stink up the joint almost every year. The entire team enters a funk come playoff time. Its not just A-Rod.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Maybe there’s a job for A-Rod in Detroit——Lions
Rovin on February 17, 2009 at 7:23 PM
That’s why college basketball is where it’s at .
pmanley on February 17, 2009 at 7:24 PM
And to think the sports media and fans across the nation ripped Bonds, (who new but said nothing) while the other 104 sat in pathetic silence.
Rovin on February 17, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Of all the players in MLB today he cares the most. Seriously. Read anything about him and you’ll see what I mean. It’s probably one of the most important things in the world to him.
TheBigOldDog on February 17, 2009 at 7:29 PM
This one’s for you, jimmy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TTBcsLyVfA
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Real conservatives support the Ole Miss Rebels. There should be a baseball team in Virginia or somewhere in the South with that nickname, then we would have a real rivalry on our hands.
The Dean on February 17, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Well then he still could make it. He says he used steroids in 2003. If he plays for over a decade after that, which is more than reasonable, and gets the home run record, hits 800 home runs, and gets a world series ring, I think he probably still has a chance. People are surprisingly forgiving.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Thanks to $150 in HGH and Testosterone and a 22 year team Doc willing to use it…
TheBigOldDog on February 17, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Wow that was the very GOD of awkward pauses. Holy crap man. Nothing comes close.
Dr. Manhattan on February 17, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I counter with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXMMhu4SDQ
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Punk A$$ B*tch if you ask me. Kick him to the curb. He is not worth it.
milwife88 on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Mike Lupica thinks what we saw today was the start of a 15 year campaign to influence future HOF voters. He compared him to Obama running for Presidency for 2 years….
TheBigOldDog on February 17, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Fifteen years is forever in baseball time. People will always boo him. People booed him before this. Hell, Yankee fans booed him before this. If he can put this behind him and play at the same level as he’s always played at…it might help put up an argument that steroids never did that much to help him. Whether that argument is valid is up to the voters.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Baseballs geeks (purists) are especially saddened because they were counting on A-Rod to clean up the Bonds mess by breaking his records. They are all despondent now. Their heros are all dead.
TheBigOldDog on February 17, 2009 at 7:45 PM
heh…knew you’d pull that one out :)
’til we meet again! But no ‘roids means the Bombers are sure to continue choking.
JetBoy on February 17, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Here is a warning to the Yankees…GET RID OF ALEX RODRIGUEZ OR I GET RID OF YOU AND JOIN RED SOX NATION!
BobAnthony on February 17, 2009 at 7:47 PM
That’s exactly what I was hoping for. I got worried last year though when Jose Canseco said he was planning on mentioning A-Rod in an upcoming book. At the time, I thought that whether the allegations were true or not, it would always taint A-Rod. Now I guess that’s a moot point.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:50 PM
If you are honestly a Yankee fan who would give them up to root for the Sox…good riddance, we don’t want you.
jimmy the notable on February 17, 2009 at 7:50 PM
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