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Alex Rodriguez -- Steroid Cheat.  It is not a major shock to anyone, especially those of us that root for the Yankees.  We've seen him fight for the attention of the media for several years now, and it hardly comes as a surprise that this insecure prima donna would feel the need to "keep up with the Joneses."

I hadn't planned on saying anything about the Yankees until I finished reading Torre's book ("The Yankee Years") so that I could say definitively that it wasn't nearly as inflammatory as many have made it out.  But, as he often has during his tenure in pinstripes, ARod intervenes and gives you something to say.

I remember a few years back when I learned that two of my current favorites were linked to HGH -- Andy Pettitte and Rick Ankiel.  Those revelations hurt.  This one not so much.  This one just makes me mad.  If you're a fan of the Yankees -- especially one that has lived his entire life in Illinois -- you endure a lot of talk.  No one here cares much for my team and most people aren't shy about sharing their opinions.  This, obviously, ain't gonna help things much.

The worst part about it -- I agree with just about anything you can say to slam the guy.  Evidence currently suggests he's been clean for the duration of his time in pinstripes although that point doesn't make a bit of difference.  The guy went on "60 Minutes" and flat out denied ever using steroids.  Once again, he looks like a fool.  For a time, I felt sorry for all the negative press the guy received.  Not anymore.  His stunt during the World Series -- opting out of his contract -- proved to me he only cared about two things:  ARod and Money.

The other group I feel no pity for is the Yankees.  They brought (bought?) this on themselves.  They could have washed their hands of the whole mess and been done with the little brat, but the thought of gate receipts as ARod chased Bonds record blinded them to the reality of what life with ARod had been and would always be.  Now, they are stuck with him for 9 more years.

I'm only about 60 pages into the Torre book, and what I've read so far coupled with the news regarding ARod makes me long for the days of 1996 when the Yankees actually had a team.  They were a team full of gamers.  A team you could like.  They were high priced for their time, but that has always been a trademark of the Yankees.  But many of you "Yankee Haters" out there had trouble hating that team.  I know how you feel, because these days I'm finding it just as hard to love the team.