Exceptional From hero to host to hero It's a New Season by jmdg1954 Artwork by MKFlood at FanArtReview.com

With approximately twenty games completed, the 2015 baseball season is in full swing. Rival teams have squared away for a three or four game series, jazzing up newspaper headlines and sports talk radio. Players have began the season with tremendous offensive numbers. Some are household names to baseball enthusiasts and others are in the process of making themselves into one. For sure, sluggers are slugging, speedsters are stealing bases, pitchers are pitching deep into games and striking out sluggers at alarming rates.    Earlier this week, one of baseballs all time leading home run hitters had zero hits in six times at bat with four strikeouts. The player, Alex Rodriguez, the player people love to hate, for the first time in his roller-coaster career took the collar of going 0 for 6 in one game.    For those who aren't aware, Alex Rodriguez or A-Rod, was banned for the entire 2014 baseball season for repeat violations of the leagues rule against performing enhancing drugs (PED's). His PED history had been the result of his attempts to remain atop the list of the most successful players in baseball, both current and through history.    To put it another way: he cheated. He put something in his body that allowed him to gain an edge over his peers. Whether it be bat speed on his swing, or upper body strength and muscle mass, he did something illegal to improve his legacy. And I presume having contracts over the course of his ongoing career totaling around three-quarters of a BILLION dollars was also a factor.    Most children at some early point in their childhood wake up one morning and tell their parents they are going to be a baseball player when they grow up. Well in order to achieve that pinnacle in baseball, they must, eat, sleep, dream and live baseball every day. It takes years of practice, tolerance to failure and a get up and do it again attitude to make oneself into a ball player. It's a long road... T-Ball, Junior Baseball, Little League, High School, Fall Ball, College, minor leagues once drafted, winter ball all happens typically before they earn a chance for a position on the clubs roster.    How does a players peers feel after taking the high road, paying their lifelong dues and then someone comes along and receives extra benefits to play better, recover faster and is well into his tremendous contracts because of his PED use?    That's exactly what Alex Rodriguez did. He vehemently denied taking and using PED's countless times. But facts are the facts and he was caught and subsequently suspended.    When spring training for the 2015 season arrived, so did an apologetic, and humbled Alex Rodriguez. Is it real or a facade. Once a liar, always a liar? For now we'll never know. All I can say is, he's back. Our society one of second chances? We are all entitled to make mistakes, realize them, correct them and move forward, God know I have.    It's the same in baseball, but magnified a hundred times over with all the instant media. For me, a die hard Yankee fan, I was glad he was suspended for using PED's, it's illegal. But now he's back and playing on the team I've rooted for since 1961.    So, Mr. Alex Rodriguez, when you go, 0-6, and four strike outs like you did the other night, I'm going to boo you. But when you hit a home run against the dreaded Red Sox, like you did on Friday night, I'm going to cheer and fist pump you around the bases. I'm a fan and thats my right.      This is baseball. I love the Yankees and I want to feel the joy of winning... With or without you, makes no difference to me! Recognized Author Notes My computer has been off line since Wednesday. No phone or internet. I hate Comcast.

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