A-ROD’S YEAR IN DISGRACE
His first mea culpa came in 2009. Alex Rodriguez held a press conference in Tampa, choked up several times and admitted to his doping past, a transgression he said encompassed three years (2001-03), while he played for Texas. Then came Biogenesis, a doping scandal that rocked baseball in January 2013, with Rodriguez’s name by far the biggest among the players linked to the defunct anti-aging clinic and its founder, Anthony Bosch. Bud Selig leveled a 211-game ban upon A-Rod, which he promptly appealed. But the verdict is in, with independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz ruling that A-Rod should be suspended for 162 games and the 2014 postseason (should the Yankees reach the playoffs). Below is a look back at the year of mudslinging and name-calling, legal strategies and legal gaffes. With A-Rod, there’s never a dull moment.
2013
Jan. 26: Daily News report reveals association between Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch, the founder of a Coral Gables anti-aging clinic at center of MLB investigation.
Jan. 29: Miami New Times publishes alleged Biogenesis documents that include Rodriguez’s and numerous other major leaguers’ names. Rodriguez’s spokesperson later says documents are “not legitimate.”
April 1: Still recovering from hip surgery, Rodriguez makes appearance at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day, but is not part of pregame introductions.
June 6: In Daily News report, according to a source, Bosch tries to get financial help from A-Rod, but slugger rebuffs him.
June 25: A-Rod tweets that Dr. Bryan Kelly gives him green light to play rehab games. Yankee GM Brian Cashman tells ESPN that A-Rod should “shut the f--- up.”
July 12: A-Rod, while playing for Single-A Tampa during his rehab assignment, meets with MLB investigators in connection with Biogenesis. Daily News reports
that, according to source, Rodriguez is shaken after sit-down. He fails to show up at stadium for rehab game that night. July 21: Rodriguez takes himself out of lineup before final rehab game of 20-day assignment, travels t o NYC from Moosic, Pa., and is diagnosed by team physician Christopher Ahmad with a Grade 1 strain of quad. He remains on DL.
July 22: Ryan Braun accepts suspension of 65 games — the remainder of ‘13 season — in connection with Biogenesis scandal.
July 24: Michael Gross, a New Jersey orthopedist, makes media rounds and says after reviewing A-Rod’s MRI, he sees “nothing significant.” Cashman issues press release and says A-Rod did not follow labor agreement rules seeking second opinion.
Aug. 2: Rodriguez socks mammoth home run for Double-A Trenton Thunder, then takes swipe at baseball and his employer
after the game. “There’s more than one party that benefits from me never stepping back on the field. That’s not my teammates and not the Yankee fans,” says A-Rod. “When all this stuff is going on in the background, and people are finding creative ways to cancel your contract, that’s concerning for me.”
Aug. 5: 5 Rodriguez is banned a record 211 games by Selig, but elects to appeal. Rodriguez suits up for game in Chicago, plays third and goes 1-for-4 in the 8-1 White Sox demolition of Bombers.
Aug. 9 9: In his 2013 Stadium debut, Rodriguez is met with a mixture of boos and cheers. He whiffs three
times, times Mariano Rivera blows save save, but the Yankees prevail against Detroit in 10th inning.
Aug. 11: A Daily News exclusive report details how Rodriguez met with BALCO founder Victor Conte in 2012 to discuss legal products that could give the slugger an edge. Conte says in report that he met with MLB investigators.
Aug. 17: According to “60 Minutes” report, rt, Rodriguez’s reps ps leaked names of other Biogeneesis-linked playyers — including ng A-Rod’s Yankee ee teammate Franncisco Cer velli l ll ii and Braun — to media out- lets. “I’ve been n a member of f this union for r 20 years; it ’s s important for orr all the guys too to understand d that my loyalty ty is to this union,” n,” Rodriguez says. ys. “That would ld never happen en — and it didn’t happen happen.” ” Rodriguez’s newly hired attorney, Joseph Tacopina, says in New York Times report that Yankees tried to sabotage Rodriguez’s medical treatment.
Aug. 18: With his GM calling him a liar, and his attorney stirring controversy, Rodriguez is drilled by Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster in the second inning at Fenway. But A-Rod gets last la laugh, homering of Dempster in the 6th, as B Bombers win, 9-6.
Aug. 19: Tacopin na appears on “Today” and is caught off guard when, after announcing that he would “love” to talk about his client’s “testing history,” he is presee sented by host Matt Lauer with an MLB letter waiving the confidentiality clause in baseb ball’s drug policy. Tacopina refuses to sign letter and bumbles through interview.
Sept. 20: Rodriguez swats grand slam to pass Lou Gehrig on the career list (24), and helps keep Yanke playoff hopes alive, as Bombe beat Giants, 5-1.
Sept. 28: In Houston during the Yanks’ last series of 2013 — and with team not in playoffs — Rodriguez ddrig tells reporters he is ready to too begin his arbitration. “This has been bee a burden, a big burden. Let’s get it on. It starts on Monday. Better teer to face it head on,” he says.
Sep Sept. 30: A-Rod’s arbitration begin gins at MLB’s Park Ave. offices.
Oct. 3: Rodriguez files lawsuit in New York state court against MLB an and Selig, claiming baseball officials carried out a “witch hunt” against A-Rod.
Oct. 4: Rodriguez files separate malpractice lawsuit against Ahm mad and Columbia Presbyterian H Hospital.
Oct. 19: Daily News report says A-Rod paid $305,000 for Biogene documents, according to source.
Nov. 20: Rodriguez storms out of arbitration proceedings on second t to last day after Fredric Horowitz says Selig does not have to testify. A-Rod later tells Mike Francesa d during interview that “I shouldn’t s serve one inning” of the ban, while a also adamantly denying any PED use (beyond the three years he admitted to in ‘09). Nov. 21: Arbitration ends. Dec. 13: At David Ortiz’s Dominican charity event in Punta Cana, Rodriguez drops in with girlfriend Torrie Wilson. He tells reporters he is “optimistic the (Horowitz) decision will come soon, and take all this stuff off the back pages, and focus on playing baseball and all the great things that are happening with the game.”
2014
Jan. 11: Baseball announces Horowitz’s ruling: 162 games plus 2014 postseason (should Yankees reach playoffs). It is the longest doping/drug ban in baseball history. Team A-Rod says it will take the matter to federal court and fight ruling.