Liguori: It's Time For A-Rod To Follow In Lance's Footsteps And Come Clean
By Ann Liguori
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In all the madness that has defined Alex Rodriguez in this latest, overbearing chapter of his tumultuous career, the words that he spoke while at a promotional event in Mexico City were the most sensible words that have emanated from his mouth in years! And they were in Spanish!
The translation: "The year 2014, the league has done me a big favor. I've played 20 years without a timeout. I believe 2014 will be a good year to rest physically, mentally and to prepare for the future and to start a new chapter of my life…"
No, he did not admit guilt. That's not going to happen.
Reading between the lines, though, it's the first time -- despite his trying to put a positive spin on the fact that he will not be playing baseball in 2014 -- that he has admitted defeat. He and his lawyers will continue fighting the suspension, but his words in Mexico were the first time he accepted, publicly, that he will not be playing baseball in the major leagues in 2014. For once, he dropped the gloves and offered a different perspective, one he and all of baseball need from him -- a year off!
Most of the dialogue throughout his career, and particularly during the Biogenesis saga, has been one of denial, self-righteousness and pointing his finger at others.
You would think he would be absolutely exhausted from the lying, the fight, the legal battles and the overall cloud of negativity that dominates his space.
It's time for A-Rod to regroup. Take a break. Stay out of the news! Go home and reflect! Dig deep. Take long walks on the beach. Stop spending money on lawsuits. Spend some quiet time reviewing the blunders of your life, the PR disasters when you speak.
Lance Armstrong has said he has been spending a lot of time playing golf recently. (That may be because he is banned from competing in cycling, swimming, races, etc.) Perhaps A-Rod should join Armstrong on the links and spend the year playing golf while they figure out a game plan for rehabbing their images.
May I suggest that once A-Rod is rested, he realizes that his image can only be rehabbed once he decides to speak the truth and then apologizes for all the controversy, distraction and harm his saga has caused baseball and to their fans.
It seems all too simple: Admit you were wrong AND apologize. Only then will he be able to move on in a healthy and better way.
Time will only dissipate the dark cloud if he comes clean. The same can be said for Armstrong.
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