Why Alex Rodriguez Will Be Forgiven By Baseball History

The top story around the sporting world this week? Non other than the turn up of a positive test for anabolic steroids by Alex Rodriguez. The test is said to be from 2003, and has shocked the baseball world.

A-Rod, in an exclusive interview, spoke with ESPN's Peter Gammons.

In the interview, Gammons asked A-Rod if he did in fact take performance enhancing drugs. In response, A-Rod admitted that during a time period from 2001-2003, he did take performance enhancing drugs.

When asked questions about what drugs, or how he attained them, he came back to the same answer. It was part of the "culture" of that time.

When speaking of this culture, he is referring to many MLB players testing and experimenting with different kinds of drugs, looking for an edge.

A-Rod also says several times in the interview, that in that time period ('01-'03), there were many substances that you could buy from GNC, that would be illegal in baseball now, perhaps referring to substances that he may have used at the time.

To most baseball fans, the image of Alex Rodriguez will be tarnished forever, and most will no longer recognize his successes as a baseball player.

In my mind, A-Rod will be forgiven by the baseball world.

First off, he was sincere. How many guys come right out and admit it?

Second, he used it in a time where there was no distinct rule stating that players could not use anabolic steroid (the drug tested positive for).

Third, A-Rod apparently refers to the "culture" of things back then, more than likely meaning that many players were involved. How many of these players have came out and admitted it?

Last, achievements. Its okay with me if you scratch off what he did between 2001-2003, but if in fact he has been clean since, than you can still recognize the numbers he has put up, including his MVP awards.

A-Rod may have used these drugs, but it seems to me that he will one day be forgiven by baseball.