I am sure you sports fans are sick of hearing about this one now, BUT, it is a pretty good PR topic. If you don’t know, Alex Rodriguez, known to most as A-Rod, is the third baseman for the New York Yankees. He is considered by some to be the best all-around player in baseball. On February 7, 2009 Sports Illustrated put out a story claiming that sources indicate that he took anabolic steroids in the 2003 season. To Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees, this is a problem. This casts a cloud over any accomplishment A-Rod has ever achieved. Bouncing back from this report would require some great PR.
Some paths he could have taken with this accusation of steroid use was denial, or, he could admit to doing it. The latter was exactly what he did.
In a press conference on February 17, 2009, A-Rod told the press that he did "experiment with a banned substance." in the 2001-2003 seasons. In the interview, he stated things about his steroid use like "it was a stupid mistake and a lesson learned" and that he "didn't know what he was doing." Now, he swears that he is clean and has followed every drug rule that the MLB has set since 2003. A-Rod talked about how people will never look at him and his records the same. However, he told us to try to look past this "mistake" and hopes he can move forward. He even became a little emotional at the end and said things like "baseball is a lot bigger than Alex Rodriguez."
I think whoever is Alex Rodriguez's public relations person did a pretty good job. It seems like theres always someone who is caught in a steroid scandal in the MLB. Instead of denying all accusations of steroid, use he came clean and talked about what he did and when. He showed remorse for his actions and pledged never to fall into his old ways again.
If his statements are true and he is clean, I believe I can look at A-Rod in the future and say he was one of the baseball greats. However, if he was lying at that press conference, I'm sure the future will expose him sooner or later. I believe that with all the good public relations people out there, there must be some deceitful ones that allow their clients to lie about the problem in hand.
Therefore, if you are telling the truth A-Rod, my hat is off to you. It is quite a noble thing to sit in front of a press conference and admit your mistakes. Good PR too.
