Did A-Rod really leave it all behind?

Alex Rodriguez claims now that he is now really leaving all that baggage behind, moving forward and ready to start the 2nd phase of his career.

But did he?

Or is he still lying? I watched the entire interview, and have mixed feelings about it. For the most part, I believe him - I believe that it was the first time he did it in his career, that the environment was so loose it really was acceptable in that culture, and that he was stupid. I believed most of the raw emotion I saw - he was fidgety, chose his words carefully at times so not to breakdown, and he generally was not comfortable.

But that's where it gets fuzzy for me.

I question whether he "knew he made a mistake with Katie Couric and lied because how could he be truthful with her when he couldn't be truthful with himself". I think he didn't say anything because he figured it would never come to light.

I question whether "decided to end his steroid use because of a neck injury". I think he ended it because he knew he was already caught in 2003 and why risk it all now when he escaped that incident?

I question whether he truly is sorry about it, and whether he is just sorry he got caught.

What I don't question though is that he did the right thing. And for that he has my respect. He could have gone the Clemens route, but didn't. He could have gone the Bonds route, but didn't. He could have gone the Palmeiro route and shake his finger at Couric, but didn't.

If he is clean from here on out and plays are the level he has been the last few years for the majority of those years I think he gets into the Hall of Fame. Maybe not first ballot, but he'll be there. And with his numbers, he should be.

And if a diehard Red Sox fan like myself can write that, I guess that should say something.

But it won't stop me from yelling "A-Roid" or "A-Fraud" at Fenway this year.

Comments

[Boston Knucklehead]

I hope nothing would stop you from yelling profanities at him.