After coming under fire for lying about ever using steroids then when finally fessing up, handling it in what many considered an aloof, cocky way, New York Yankees All-Star Alex Rodriguez is in the news again, this time for his alleged involvement in ultra-high stakes illegal poker games.

According to a report by Star Magazine, A-Rod was present at these games with several star Hollywood actors at a mansion in California and cocaine was used by some of the participants.

While MLB crime sniffers are said to be trying to set up a meeting with Rodriguez to get to the bottom of this accusation, the player’s publicist went on record saying the original story “contains numerous factual inaccuracies.”

That may be true since Star is a tabloid publication but “numerous factual inaccuracies” doesn’t mean that the entire report is not true. The publicist never stated A-Rod did not participate in the games….and that interview would have been a perfect opportunity for the publicist to clear A-Rod’s name.

It will be interesting to see how MLB responds to one of their poster children who was barely slapped on the wrist after lying about steroid use that included the use of illegal substances brought over the border into the U.S.

Back then A-Rod said: “Like everyone else, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. The only way I can learn to handle them is to learn from them and move forward.”

If these accusations hold true, A-Rod’s definition of “learn and move forward” differs from mine and most other people’s.

As Kenny Rogers used to sing, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away…” and apparently A-Rod didn’t.

We may see the hammer come down hard on Rodriguez since he’s already used his Get Out Of Jail Free Card. I smell a long suspension coming….one even a guy like Bud Selig can’t avoid dishing out.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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