When Sportscenter Gets Old...

Lately I have been watching lots of Sportscenter in between late night diaper changings, and for the first time in my life, I am tired of it. Probably because lately it has all been about athletes and drugs. In a word, it is disappointing.

First, was Michael Phelps. Of course, it was disappointing to hear about his party antics to know that an athlete of his caliber would stoop to that.

Second was Alex Rodriguez. To hear that one of the best athletes in one of my favorite sports is a fraud is disappointing. To watch the continued downward spiral of baseball is disappointing.

Perhaps what is most maddening to me as a youth sports coach and as a sports fan in general is the way that each athlete chose to handle it and the opportunity that was missed to turn a negative into a positive.

Phelps' statement:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

Rodriguez's statement:
"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day. Back then, [baseball] was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful."

Both admitted their guilt, but in a way that avoided real responsibility.

Phelps stressed that he is "learning" from the incident. Really? Haven't we heard that before? What he seems most regretful for is that he disappointed people. Even USA Swimming's statement of suspension emphasized only that his actions disappointed people, not that what he did was illegal.

Rodriguez blamed the culture of baseball and the "pressure" of his quarter-of-a-billion dollar contract, and said that he as "young" and "stupid." I believe the stupid part. Young? In 2001, when he says he began taking PEDs, he was 26. When he says "I am very sorry and deeply regretful," it just seems like he is mostly talking about being caught and outed.

Both of these men are extraordinarily talented athletes whose accomplishments are impressive. It is most disappointing that their integrity in the face of their mistakes wasn't a better example for the young athletes who admire them.