A-Rod: I've Never Used Steroids

Tells Katie Couric He's Never Been Tempted To Use Performance-Enhancing Drugs

(CBS)  George Mitchell's blistering report detailing the illegal use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in baseball rocked the sports world this week. It implicated more than 80 players, some of the best in the game: MVP's, Cy Young Award winners, future Hall of Famers.

One baseball great who wasn't on the list is Alex Rodriguez. He's on track to become the home run king, surpassing the likes of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. But for all of his individual accomplishments and seemingly clean record, A-Rod has been a lightning rod for criticism -- for his poor performance in the postseason, for upstaging the World Series this year, and, most of all, for his staggering paycheck. And that was before he signed a new contract with the Yankees worth an estimated $300 million dollars. Katie Couric spoke with him just after the Mitchell Report was released.

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"For the record, have you ever used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing substance?" Couric asked.

"No," Rodriguez replied.

Asked if he had ever been tempted to use any of those things, Rodriguez told Couric, "No."

"You never felt like, 'This guy's doing it, maybe I should look into this, too? He's getting better numbers, playing better ball,'" Couric asked.

"I've never felt overmatched on the baseball field. I've always been a very strong, dominant position. And I felt that if I did my work as I've done since I was, you know, a rookie back in Seattle, I didn't have a problem competing at any level. So, no," he replied.

But the Mitchell Report named names, including at least 16 current and former Yankees, like superstars Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.

What's Rodriguez's reaction to this investigation?

"Katie, you're putting me in a tough spot. I mean, these are guys that I play with. They're my teammates. If anything comes of this, I will be extremely disappointed. And it will be a huge black eye on the game of baseball," he told Couric.

"It sounds like this is rampant. According to the Mitchell Report, every single club has a player using banned substances. Did you ever witness or hear about or even suspect this was going on?" Couric asked.

"You hear a lot of things. I mean, I came in 1993. And you heard whispers from the '80s and '90s. But I never saw anything. I never had raw evidence. And, quite frankly, I was probably a little bit too naïve when I first came up to understand the magnitude of all this," Rodriguez replied.

But there’s no escaping the magnitude of the scandal now. The Mitchell Report comes on the heels of Barry Bonds' recent indictment in San Francisco for perjury and obstruction of justice in a federal steroids investigation.

"Given this controversy, Alex, who do you think has the real homerun record? Barry Bonds at 762 or Hank Aaron 755?" Couric asked.

"Well, I think Barry Bonds. He has 762," Rodriguez said.

"But, he has an asterisk next to his name?" Couric remarked.

"Does he?" Rodriguez said. "Not yet."

"In the minds of many, he does," Couric said.

"The federal government is going to make its decision on that. Barry's been a phenomenal player. And I've really enjoyed watching him play. But, he's innocent 'til proven guilty," Rodriguez replied.

On the same day the Mitchell Report was front page news, A-Rod was making headlines as well. The Yankees announced he had been re-signed, breaking his own record-setting deal. He already had the highest paying contract in any team sport.

Asked why he thinks he gets so much grief over his salary, Rodriguez told Couric, "'Cause I make a lot of money."

"Your new contract is worth $300 million-plus. Are you worth it? Is any player worth that kind of salary?" Couric asked.

"I'm not sure," Rodriguez said. "I mean, that's not my job to evaluate or appraise players. I love to play baseball."

[greenwave94]

I am a long time 60 Minutes viewer and the interview Katie Couric had with A-Rod disgusted me. I use the term "interview" loosely because what Katie performed was nothing less than an attack. Every question asked had a negative conotation. A-Rod has done nothing but play hard and put up some of the best numbers of any player to ever play the game, all the while keeping his nose clean. Why not talk about his charitable contributions or the fact that the best player to ever play should make the most money of all time. I certainly do not see Katie raking a movie star over the coals for the money they make. As far as his extra-marital affair, where is the proof? A picture? Please.... So why even bring it up? Katie, your attempt to make A-Rod look bad failed because he is much too classy to stoop to your level.

[violet74]

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[ronkaplannj]

Do we really need to see so many "reaction shots" of Kouric while Rodriguez is talking? Who is the subject of story here?

[raquelreid]

Horrible interview. Katie Couric obviously did not do her research beforehand. She was not prepared, and came off very unprofessional in her attack of his salary.
A-Rod, on the other hand, was impressive and handled her questions with tact and diplomacy.

All in all... it was nice to hear what he had to say and it''s too bad that we all had to be subjected to such an unprofessional interviewER

[samrensho]

Sure, just like "I never had *** with that woman". Give me a break.

[navyretired2]

Why don''t MLB just disband and get it over with. The league is corrupt, out of control, and has lost the confidence of thousands of former-fans.

[chitown639]

With A-Rods new contract, he is paid over $45,000 per times at bat!!! He could stand to lose a lot, especially if A-Rod is ever asked to speak in front of a grand jury about his alleged steriod use. Bonds lied to the jury and you see where he is today! Bonds is going to be made the example to other players. So, if any of the players are guilty of ever using enhancement drugs, they would be wise to assume that the government has the evidence against them and just come clean. The feds never really open up a case unless they have a boat load of evidence against the accused. Hence, why the federal conviction rate is a whooping 99%.

I watch this interview to see Katie Couric. Her questions confirmed my decision to quit watching the CBS Evening News because of her. The once leader in evening news has lost focus.

Does A-Rod or Ster-Roid * really need $250 million or whatever they''re getting paid these days to play ball? I just don''t get it. But someone''s been hitting it and boy, are they ever being paid.

[garfield1970-2009]

Katie Couric asked if Alex Rodriguez was overpaid. His contract equals out to about $28 million a year. No doubt that is a lot of money but sports franchises make money by winning and there is no doubt that Alex Rodriguez helps the New York Yankees win more games. On the other hand Katie Couric makes $15 million per year. The CBS Evening News remains in last place. The CBS Evening News has LOST viewers since she took over. And the CBS Evening News does not make a profit -- it loses money for CBS. In fact it is the worst financial performing unit of CBS News. So who is overpaid? It is clear - Katie Couric.

[dsnylnd55]

Alex came off well. He is articulate and I felt honest. I''ve been a fan since he was signed with my Mariners. He broke my heart when he left. Given that I enjoy his being booed at Safeco, I feel is being upfront here.

My gripe is - where does Katie Couric get off asking if Alex is worth is salary? She makes HUGE money and I feel she certainly is NOT worth her money.

She is a poor interviewer, pushy and snarky. Nothing professional about her approach or attack on people.

Loved the interview - hated the interviewer.

[incog-nito]

Bottom line: He''s making zillions of dollars, and a lot of people are pointlessly angry for some reason.

[helen61746]

I am neither a Yankee fan nor an A-Rod fan, but Katie Couric''s interview was what was disingenuous, not A-Rod. She thinks she is doing in depth reporting and all she does is come across as being ******. Big mistake taking her from NBC. I will not watch CBS news Monday through Friday as long as she is the anchor. Nor will I ever again watch one of her reports on 60 minutes.

[rudegrl]

What an amazingly gentle interview! What happened to the hard-hitting journalism 60 minutes used to be known for? How about showing A-Rod photos of himself before and after steroid testing started, and ask him to explain the dramatic change in physique? When he says he''s not in it for the money, how about confronting him with his statements about wanting to leave the Mariners for a competitive team, and then ending up with the Rangers who just happened to offer him a huge amount of money?

[icunow2]

head sizes, shoe sizes grow and no one is taking the roids? Yea good luck with that.

The creepy thing is the commissioners all knew everything and were hoping against hope that no one would notice. Well guess what, the roids are out of the bag. Barry Bonds should not be named homerun king if he used DRUGS to get there. Give it back to Hank Arron, at least you saw the struggle, the push, the white hair and finally the motherload. At least he worked for it.

[tejasdemo]

Suuure thing there Rod. I mean, I definitely believe that you''re not taking Roids.

[janeyre-2009]

I am glad I didn''t see the interview. What a bunch of XXXXX or something like that. Katie is out of her league.

[inmo-2009]

Wycook - just FYI is it not a reporters job to get the answers that the pubic wants to hear - as a reporter it is MY job to report the truth - what is said no matter how you like it.
Jboxton - who cares if you saw him cr** in his pants. Maybe that should have been a clue to not eat there.
Katie may not be the best journalist in the world. But I have questioned since she joined CBS how many of you do not like her journalistic style? How many of you do not like that a woman is the anchor of the news? and she interviewed A-Rod.

[petersemkiw]

Dear Katie,
Congratulations upon a great interview with A-Rod! It was a very interesting interview with A-Rod like I''ve never seen before! I remember the Press Conference with the Yankees when he first joined a few years ago! He''s a great baseball player and he has come a long way! Especially without steroids!
You certainly hit the ball out of the park with this one, Katie! Congratulations! Peter

[pds150]

Who made the decision to assign Katie Couric the A-Rod interview? I''ll agree with the choice only if it was made to provide Ms. Couric with one final humiliation. A humiliation that might push her out the door once and for all. Let''s hope that was the reason. Because if the people at CBS News did not have the foresight to understand that she would botch the opportunity to interview Major League Baseball''s preeminent star at a pivotal time for both Rodriguez personally (his contract with the Yankees) and for the game in general (Mitchell Report) then the incompetence at CBS is now pervasive.

Couric''s skills as an interviewer are non-existent. That''s been demonstrated time and again. But her unpreparedness for this interview is the major offense. There IS no asterisk (Spelled like it sounds, Katie!) next to Barry Bond''s name. At least not yet. Your suppositions aside.

It''s obvious that Couric feels as if she''s in a position to make all decisions for everyone from the President of the United States right down to the Commissioner of Baseball. The facts need not be damned. She''ll be the judge of what that facts are.