Alex Rodriguez and the doping scandal that has plagued his baseball career arrived at an interesting point last night on CBS’s 60 Minutes. During one of the show’s segments, the case between the MLB and Rodriguez was laid out in revealing fashion in what seemed to be an attempt to tarnish the player’s name.
Featuring longer than usual portions, 60 Minutes listened to the accounts of Anthony Bosch, the founder of the South Florida anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis, which is at the heart of the scandal. Bosch, the MLB’s key witness in the case, laid out several claims that he provided A-Rod with the banned substances, which included testosterone, human growth hormone and other items.
According to Bosch, Rodriguez knew the substances were banned as did he, but continued with the treatment. Bosch also claimed Rodriguez paid him $12,000 a month to maintain the treatment plan, and added that the pair first met in 2010 with A-Rod aiming to hit a goal of 800 home runs.
As a note, Rodriguez has never tested positive for drugs while playing for the New York Yankees, who signed him to an astounding $275 million deal in 2007. Rodriguez did admit to taking steroids between 2001 and 2003 when he played for the Texas Rangers however.
The 60 Minutes piece didn’t feature much in the way of evidence that could spell legal doom for Rodriguez, save for pages of damaging texts between he and Bosch. But while the segment did its best to tear down the image of A-Rod, who seems to be losing fans in the MLB and abroad lately, the MLB Player’s Association believe the interview was held in poor legal taste and addressed it in a statement.
“MLB’s post-decision rush to the media is inconsistent with our collectively bargained arbitration process, in general, as well as the confidentiality and credibility of the Joint Drug Agreement, in particular,” read part of the statement. “After learning of tonight’s ’60 Minutes’ segment, players have expressed anger over, among other things, MLB’s inability to let the result of yesterday’s decision speak for itself.”
The MLBPA said it will explore legal options to determine if the MLB breached an earlier agreement. One of Rodriguez’s lawyers, Joseph Tacopina, also had harsh words for Bosch and 60 Minutes, although he appeared on the program as well.
Hit the jump to see the first part of the 60 Minutes segment, “The Case Of Alex Rodriguez
[Deadspin]
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Photo: Reuters
