A-Rod Needs to Man Up

Every year, the April showers bring May flowers and among those flowers are different types of pansies. And the biggest pansy of them all just happens to wear pinstripes in the Bronx. Whether it involves fake displays of passion on the field or real displays of passion with various women off the field (hello Madonna), you can always count on Alex Rodriguez to create headlines in the sports world for all the wrong reasons. Most recently, A-Rod decided to skip the Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities. That usually wouldn't be a bad thing most years except that this year's events are being held in YANKEE STADIUM! A-Rod has given the media the lame excuse that he does not want to mess up his swing for the second half of the season. Forget the fact that he always finds a way to mess up his swing as soon as the playoffs begin each year. The real reason he doesn't want to participate is because he is scared of choking in front of the home fans (again) and coming up short in the Derby. Given the performance by Josh Hamilton last night, I doubt A-Rod would have made the finals anyway. It's funny how he tries so hard to get people to like him, yet the one time he has a chance to do something genuine for the fans, he runs and hides behind an excuse. You have to wonder if A-Rod will ever "get it" or if he will go down in history as the most talented and uninspiring player in this history of the game. It's time for A-Rod to man up.