Why does everyone hate A-rod

When Alex Rodriguez finally got a World Series ring a few years ago, I honestly thought that the world put him their rear view mirror and leave him alone. How wrong I have been. He is the most hated, scrutinized, polarizing athlete in the entire world. Tim Tebow nor Lebron James has nothing on A-rod. A-rod could find this spy guy in Russia right now and be arrested because somehow someway someone would say that he has aided in some way. A-rod could take a bullet for the President right now and he would be blamed for the assassination attempt. I have heard every pundit on every show talk about how hated he is.  How A-rod is not a Yankee.  How the Yankees want to get rid of him. How he has personally destroyed the game of baseball. A-rod is the only P.E.D user who admitted to taking the drugs because he was trying hard to live up to the richest contract in baseball history. Bonds denies not knowingly taking them. Clemens went to court and was acquitted during his trial for taking them. Mark McGwire took years to admit what he did. Only A-rod is getting the abuse he gets. His name is linked to the latest scandal and deservedly so he should be persecuted as a repeat offender but he is not the only one on the list. Lance Armstrong lied to us for years and years, yet every person in the world would still buy Lance a beer if they saw him in a bar. All of the things he did for Cancer patients will never be forgotten and in most people's eyes his evil was used for good.
Does anyone remember Reggie Jackson?  When Reggie became a Yankee the locker room was divided from day one. He told the press that he was the "straw that stirred the drink" on that ball club the made Thurman Munson nuts. Reggie openly fought with Billy Martin in the dugout because Billy thought he wasn't playing hard enough in a game in Fenway Park. of all places. No one would ever accuse Reggie of being precocious or shy. Even George would get on Reggie for his strikeouts and lackluster efforts at times, people associate Reggie's career only with a the Yankees. He was a stud with the A's in the early 70's. His home run in Tiger Stadium at the 1971 All Star game is still traveling.  He is often credited as being a Yankee even though so many disliked him. I know about the World Series performance in 1977. I know about 1978 as well. The Yankees immediately two rings in Reggie's tenure. When he left the Yankees it took 12 years before they went back to the post season.  Maybe if A-Rod had better success in the Post season people would leave him alone. Maybe if he had not signed the richest sports contract that the Yankees can't get out of people would leave him alone. Maybe if he didn't date Hollywood actresses or beautiful models people would leave him alone. Maybe he should be giving out autographed baseballs like Jeter after he dates you and dumps you. The man tweeted that he was getting back on the field.  Brian Cashman went psycho on him. The Yankees lost tonight.  They may lose Texirera for the rest of the season. What would happen if A-rod hit a walk off home run in game 7 of the world series and won the championship for the Yankees this season? Would you think he is a true Yankee then?  Probably not....

Alex Rodriguez or Mark Sanchez: who gets it worse?

Earlier this year I blogged about how Tony Romo and Andy Roddick get crushed by the media because of their inability to walk on water. The criticism of Romo has not relented as his Cowboys are a mediocre 2-2 and have had two very bad lossess to Seattle and Chicago. Roddick retired. Nothing left to say about him. Mark Sancez and Alex Rodriguez play in the media capital of the world and every move they make is scrutinized. No matter the excuse or justification surrounding what they have done or not done, the New York media absolutely destroys them. The problem i have with it written or said about both men is that they have been both set up to fail or have put themselves in situations where they have no one to blame for their failures. Let me elaborate...

Alex Rodriguez has been linked to two players his entire career. Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra played the same position that Alex did and they were supposed to revolutionize the position both offensively and defensively. They have done just that. The difference between the three is that Derek Jeter is a 5 time World champ, has 3000 plus hits and generally recognized as this generations greatest leader of men. Nomar's career was interrupted several times because of injuries. He could have been apart of the Red Sox teams that won two world titles. His trade to the Cubs, then Dodgers, marred what could have been a Hall of Fame career. What Alex does not possess that the other two seem to have is likability. He has been critcized from day one because he not as "quiet" as Jeter or Nomar. He was teamed with Ken Griffey Jr. and never seemed to learn the importance of being simply just being seen and not heard will give you longevity in this league. people critcize him because he signed the largest sports contract in American sports. He is getting paid 24 million dollars and is only hitting .179 in his most recent two post seasons. He has not hit homeruns or driven in runs like he was paid to do and people question his commitment and even if his gaudy career number were a by product of steroid use. Last night, the word is that Alex cannot hit a fastball anymore. I can understand a fastball going 97-100 miles an hour, but 89, 90, 91? If the Yankees could trade him he would have been gone years ago. He has had only one stellar post season and that was in 2009. There is nothing the Yankees can do other than move him down in the lineup or flat out buy him out. Alex has brought most of his critcism on himself. He has been quoted in books and magazine articles criticizing Jeter. These next few games will be interestin to say the least.

Mr. Sanchez is a completely different story because he has not come to New York telling the world that he is the greatest thing since butter pecan ice cream. Sanchez's problem is simply the Jets failed him. They give him receivers and then they take them away. He had Braylon Edwards for a season. He had Plaxico Burress for a season. They Jets brass got rid of both of them. His go to guys Dustin Keller is oft injured and Santonio Holmes is the most overrated number 1 receivers in the game. He had a good Super Bowl because the Cardinals were focused on stopping Hines Ward. He made the catch for the ages and hasn't produced since. NOt only do the Jets take away his weapons, they bring in a lockerroom divider in Tim Tebow. Tebow stands there and says all of the politically correct things to say and gains the respect of half the locker room. Last year in Denver he took a mediocre Denver Bronco team to the second round of the playoffs. He is not better than Sanchez, but different. I can complete more passes than Tebow, but Tebow just finds a way to just win. Maybe the defense knows that they have really buckle down and play hard to stay in the game because if there is 2 minutes on the clock and they have a chance Tebow can win the game. Sanchez spoiled Jet fans by leading the Jets to the championship game in his first two years. In both games, the Jets literally were one good half from winning. They dominated the first half against the Colts and dominated the second half against the Steelers. Sanchez last night played as hard and determined a game as i ever seen him play. He did not allow Mr. Foster to run for 152 yards. He did not create the confusion on the sidelines which forced the Jets to burn important timeouts. Give the man a break and give him some talent to throw to. If he does not produce with the talent given him, then by all means bring in Tebow. He is going to need therapy...

Winning will quiet everyone in both Alex's case and Sanchez's..The Yankees must get to the next round. The Jets better beat the Colts this weekend. The world is watching...

who cares about a legacy?

The dictionary defines the word legacy as something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. In this sports world today the most important phrase seems to be "what about his legacy?".. Does Mark McGwire care about his legacy. Does Barry Bonds care about his? What about Brett Favre? Tiger Woods? Serena Williams? Kobe Bryant? The rant today focuses on the legacy of two of our huge stars that have serious situations that need to be discussed. They are Alex Roduguez and Andre Agassi.
I was, am a huge Andre Agassi fan. I remember going to see him play in a tournament back in 1987 in Vermont. He was there, Pete Sampras was there and John McEnroe was their too. I believe Micheal Chang was their and so was Ivan Lendl. Agassi had on this bright yellow outfit and all of the women there were going nuts over his long hair and matinee idol looks. I have watched thousands of his matches throughout his near 20 year career. I rooted for him when they called him "gagassi," when he did his image is everything commercials and all the media kept saying "no Andre, winning is everything". I got up bright and early and watched him survive 8 million aces from Goran Ivanesivic and win his first Wimbeldon. I watched when he and Babs and Brooke Shields fawned all over him when he won the US open. I was an Agassi guy. I love Pete Sampras but I would always support Agassi over him. When Andre opened that school in Las Vegas I was overwhelmed. He was the first athlete that i thought finally got it. Oprah opening schools in Africa made little sense to me when the schools in this country need help and there needs to be more schools in this country than malls or restaurants. The news I heard today about Andre and crystal meth is disturbing. I have no other way to describe how i feel about the news. Is his legacy destroyed? In my opinion, his legacy is tarnished some because he lied to the ATP. My only question is why tell everyone now? You are a leader in your community and the past is the past. I have never done drugs so I don't understand the mindset in taking them,but Andre is a leader of young children now. If you wanted forgiveness or help, you should have admitted this back in 1997. The world would have never turned their back on you despite all of the phases of what you were going through. He was every one's brother, big or small. He is still one of my faves but this day will be apart of the Agassi story forever..
Today also marks the beginning of the world series. The new york Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies'. Two very evenly matched teams who have stars up and down each lineup. The focus of this series will be on two players: Brad Lidge and Alex Rodriguez. The Phillies are the defending champs so basically none of their players have to anything to prove. Raul Ibanez is probably the only Phillie starter that has something to prove but he is not the player that A-rod is. This world series will either destroy Alex or finally make him a New York icon. What kills Alex is that most of the Phillie players are so young and most their stars have performed on the big stage a year ago so no matter what happens they are going to be okay. Ryan Howard is a post season star and if he continues to play the way he has through his first 5 years, he is going to the Hall of fame on the first ballot. With the steroid scandal hanging over Alex's head, he has to have a memorable world series to make everyone forget what has transpired this year. Even if the Yankees win, Alex needs to be a vital reason why. Whether it is a walk-off home run in multiple games or clutch hits when the Yankees need them. Sounds impossible right? That is the kind of scrutiny he is under. He may finish his career as baseball first 800 homer guy. (Saduhara Oh has 812 but they don't count here).. He needs a defining series that will make his legacy worth leaving behind.
The irony for Alex is Barry Bonds had a defining world Series and his legacy is still tarnished. It wasn't Bonds fault that the pitchers gave up a 5-0 lead in game 6 nor it wasn't Bonds' fault that in Game 7 the didn't pitch to him. He was awesome in the series. He hit a ball off of Troy Percival that is still traveling..
Do athletes care about their legacies, in private hell yes!!! In public they pretend they don't but we know the truth. Why do you think Roger Clemens is fighting so hard to clear his name.?