A different take on the Alex Rodriguez steroids scandal

I am an unapologetic professional baseball fan.

Despite the efforts of players to cheat the game by using steroids and greedy owners who are dumb enough to give average players bloated salaries, I still love the game.

When a person considers all the scandals the sport has gone through in the last two decades, it is amazing the game remains as popular as it is. Attendance remains high even though the sport has been passed by the National Football League as America's favorite pastime.

Of course, baseball recently received another body blow when New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted that he used steroids from 2001-03.

Rodriguez's admission was an especially painful one for baseball's establishment. He was the one they hoped would lead the sport out of the steroid era.

Many of the game's important records that were set in recent years were by players allegedly linked to steroids. An obvious example of this was when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. In many ways, that record is baseball's most important achievement.

However, because of all the controversy surrounding Bonds, the celebration of his achievement was muted.

There are other examples. When Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both pursued the sport's single season home run record in 1998, there was initial jubilation, but that faded after both players were linked to possible steroid use.

These events, among others, stained baseball deeply. This is why Rodriguez's recent confession is so important.

Rodriguez is the game's best player. If he continues hitting home runs at the pace he is now, he will pass Bonds as baseball's home run king. Many viewed him as the person who could sweep the stain of steroids out of baseball's record book.

Until recently, he had not been associated with steroids in any way. However, a test he took earlier this decade was leaked to the media, and Rodriguez admitted that he used the juice while a player with the Texas Rangers.

He said he started taking it after signing his record busting $252 million contract with that team. He said he felt the pressure to perform at a high level every day.

Since then, it has been open season on Rodriguez. He has been criticized in every conceivable way, and the scrutiny intensified when the Yankees reported to spring training last week. I don't envy what he is going through.

Even though he has nobody but himself to blame, I feel a lot of compassion toward him.

This compassion is not based on the fact that he plays for the Yankees. I do not like the Yankees. If the earth where Yankee Stadium is located were to open up and swallow the huge ball park, I would be wearing a smile that reaches from ear to ear.

My compassion is that he made a big mistake and now he has to deal with it in the white-hot heat of the public stage.

Though none of us have probably used steroids, we have all made big mistakes that we hope will remain in our past. Because of that, we need to be grateful that we will not have to go through what Rodriguez will.

The New York media will hound every step he takes. When the season begins, he will play road games in cities all around the country. Can you imagine what the fans in Boston will say? My guess is it will be pretty rough going.

So, even if you don't like Rodriguez, be grateful you are not in his shoes.