Top News #3

Top News # 3

Steroids have been a controversy for many years in professional sports and just recently in the past years there have been crack downs on the people using them. The latest man to be charged with using a performance enhancer is Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees major league baseball team. He is a key player and has a record 553 home-runs; many fans know him as A-Rod. Rodriguez had failed a steroid test in 2003 but claimed he was not aware of the substances he was taking. This is now the third Yankee in five years to come out and admit steroid use.

In an ESPN interview Rodriguez confessed to his substance use and said, “I couldn’t feel more regret and feel more sorry, because I have so much respect for this game and the people that follow us.” (NY Times, A17) Everyone has to wonder the type of message using performance enhancing drugs will send to a young audience. Not only will it affect baseball fans, but other players because there will now be major drug testing quite often. This man is considered a celebrity icon and has so there is also question if the drug use would matter much if he wasn’t in major league. Currently A-Rod holds a contract of 252 million paid through the year 2017; there is no word yet if the steroid use will effect the terms of the contract in any way.

News Values

Impact: This will impact many fans of the major league as well as young fans aspiring to play baseball.

Timeliness: This is an ongoing investigation that will lead to further steroid drug testing of major league baseball players. The charges on Rodriguez are current and the charges are still pending.

Prominence: Rodriguez is in the public eye all the time, especially now that baseball season is starting. People will care more about a major public figure having a drug scandal.

Currency: This is a public concern which many baseball fans as well as others will take notice to. Many parents do not want their little league baseball players to think it is ok to take performance enhancing drugs to improve their playing skills.