About 9 months…roughly 270 days…

That’s how long ago reports surfaced that New York Yankees’ superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids back in 2003.  We all recall that shaky interview in which Rodriguez “came clean” about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.  He claimed that it occured during a 3-year span after he had signed a mega-deal with the Texas Rangers (10 years, $252 million) – and that he felt immense pressure to live up to his own hype.

At that point, he pretty much handed in his “I am an All-American Golden Boy” badge.  This badge, formerly held by Mark McGwire and, more recently, Michael Phelps, is generally a one-way proposition.  You get the badge from a career of seemingly doing everything the right way. 

Looking at Rodriguez’ career, it seemed as if the super-talented New York native hadn’t taken a misstep at any particular point.  A-Rod had his share of haters, just like any other superstar…but what could they really hold against him as a player and a person?

Well, during his Rangers’ years, Alex stats were phenomenal.  His three-year averages were a batting average of around .310 and 52 HRs.  Now his previous stats weren’t that far off from these numbers (a .300 BA and 40 HRs was routine for him) - so the increase in productivity seemed fairly natural from a player that was universally regarded as one of the best in baseball.  But, of course, in hindsight the increase is more reasonably explained now that the cat is out of the bag.

So, as we entered 2009, we were welcomed to A-Rod’s surprise coming-out party.  And we expected to see him leave our network television and move off into some oblivious regional access programming.

Rodriguez broke into the league as part of a formidable Mariners' tandem with Ken Griffey, Jr.

But guess what?  It didn’t work out that way.  After a productive 2009 season that witnessed Rodriguez post 30 HRs and 100 RBI in 124 regular season games (totals that project out to 39 HRs and 131 RBI), Rodriguez was right back into the spotlight of a Yankees postseason run. 

And this postseason run was a much different one for A-Rod.  Unlike in past postseason appearances, Rodriguez was extremely productive in the 2009 ALDS and the 2009 ALCS…adding even more fuel to the fire of his haters.  He batted .438 with 5 HRs and 12 RBI.  In this year’s World Series versus the Philadelphia Phillies, Rodriguez went deep in Game Three and provided a clutch game winning 2-out RBI-double in the top of the ninth inning to place the Yankees on the brink of winning their first championship since 2000.

Pending a breakdown of historic proportions by the Yankees, it looks like Alex Rodriguez will have the last laugh in a season which appeared bleak.  While athletes like Rodriguez are held in very high esteem, they are human at their core.  Heroes that aren’t celebrities or athletes seem to be held to a different standard of expectation when it comes to deceit and impure intentions.  This debate won’t be one that is easily settled.  But with all of the hidden agendas and general dishonesty from athletes these days, we may be left to ask ourselves…

Is A-Rod the new American hero?