Alex Rodriguez reportedly tested positive for steroids in '03.
Chuck Soloman/SI

There is only one way for Alex Rodriguez to get through the SI report that he used steroids as quickly as possible: just admit it. Tell everyone the truth because the truth eventually comes out. He needs to fess up or risk joining Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens as baseball's poster men for the steroid era.

It would be wise for A-Rod to put his corporate image away and act contrite. Yes, Rodriguez told Katie Couric in a 60 Minutes interview that he never took steroids. That was A-Fraud talking. Being accountable would go a long way to repairing his phony image.

A-Rod should take the same approach as Michael Phelps did a few days ago. In the immediate wake of a photo surfacing on him holding a bong to his mouth, the Olympic swimmer admitted he made a mistake and vowed to learn from it.

The more interviews A-Rod gives, the faster he will be forgiven. It will only get worse if he doesn't talk about the past or tries to pull the same stunt as Clemens. Being arrogant like Bonds and trying to make himself out as a victim would inflict more damage and dog A-Rod for the rest of his life. There are ways he can turn this negative into a positive. Telling the truth is a good start.