Confessions of The Caught
The month of February has been a stream of accusations, confessions, apologies and pending justice for a handful of America’s athletic superstars.
Worthy of mention is the way in which the issues surrounding two such individuals have transpired; specifically, the actions of Micheal Phelps and Alex Rodriguez.
The former—an eight-time Olympic-gold medal swimmer—is in trouble for smoking cannabis (marijuana). The latter—Major League Baseball’s highest paid performer—is in trouble for using banned performance-enhancing drugs.
USAToday.com reported about Sports Illustrated‘s release that Rodriguez “tested positive in 2003 for Primobolan and testosterone”.
The online news source added that the SI report prompted Rodriguez’s public response.
“There is no excuse for what I did. If I were a fan of mine or fan of the Rangers I’d be pissed off. I can’t take that back,” Rodriguez told ESPN in an interview, this week. “I want to do things to change.”
Rodriguez told Katie Couric in a 60 Minutes interview in 2007 that he had never taken performance-enhancing drugs, nor had he ever been tempted to do so.
TimesOnline reported on Feb. 1, 2009, that a photo published by News of the World of Phelps inhaling from a glass bong is legitimate.
The news source stated, “Michael Phelps has admitted to smoking cannabis and apologized after a picture of the record-breaking Olympian with a bong pipe was published in a British tabloid.”
“I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said in a written statement. “For this, I am sorry.”
Separate incidents. Both with somewhat similar results.
If Sports Illustrated had not come forward about Rodriguez’s behavior would he have still been sorry? He openly apologized only after he had been caught.
If a British newspaper had not come forward about Phelps’ behavior would he have still been sorry? He openly apologized only after he had been caught.
Which begs another question: are these two men sorry for what they did, or are they sorry because they got caught?
I do not think that they r sorry for what they did. They should have had the mental toughness to not to do those things. I guess the pressure of being a super star got to them. They feel they need to be cool, or the biggest baddest baseball player or swimmer. But it is bad they lied. NICE MR. WATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting thoughts, Matt!
How could these athletes have more of the “toughness” that you mentioned?
I don’t like the fact that a-rod did steroids but I do have a little more respect for him because after he was caught he came out and atmitted he did them. The I’m glad he did is because barry bonds (the current home run record holder) is still in court saying he didn’t do steroids. My favorite sport is baseball and it’s a shame that these guys are ruining it. Stroids and the players that have done them have damaged the face of the game and thats somthing that people and players have worked for a very long time to build up, and now it’s getting tore appart.
NO they are NOT sorry…..they’re sorry they got caught!
Colton, it’s great to hear from a baseball fan!
I’ve seen and heard A-Rod compared to Barry Bonds in that both are considered great athletes, and both are now considered cheats.
So, how does A-Rod move beyond his current guilt?
Is it possible for A-Rod to salvage his reputation as a baseball player?
Coach Hill, thanks for the comment.
Here’s a question for you—do you think both men are being/will be held accountable for their actions?
i agree with colton he had the best comment bout this
I think that it is possible for a-rod to save his reputation. If he can prove that he is clean. I think that a-rod can use this mistake and use it as a platform for the rest of his life. But for him to do this he needs to just kinda layback and not get in any more trouble. But, if a-rod does break Barry Bonds all-time home run record this mistake will come back to haunt him.
i think tht they are sorry because they got caught, cuz if i wouldve done something bad and didnt admit it until i got caught, i would be srry cuz i was caught, not because i did it.
Kevin, your comment reveals a lot about human nature!
We all probably have things we do that are questionable. Hopefully, we all stop doing them BEFORE we get caught.
Thanks for sharing.