Amid all of the predicaments facing the sports world, the issue of steroids is of great importance, and is so relevant in these current times.

We’ve all seen how the names of Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi have been dragged through the mud with the label of “steroid user” emblazoned across their foreheads. And rightfully so, as they have all either admitted to or have been found to have used performance enhancing drugs.

So it should have come as no surprise to me that earlier this month, it was reported that yet another professional baseball player had failed a test for steroids. Much to the shock of myself and many others I’m sure, the name attached to that report was that of New York Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Now, don’t get me wrong here, I am not a fan of this man, nor have I ever been. I respect him as an athlete, but have never found anything about him particularly enthralling. I will say that I was always impressed with his ability to do what he has done through his career without the use of performance enhancing drugs.

The story that he had failed a test in 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers shook me to the core. Here was a man who, in an interview with Katie Couric just after the Mitchell Report came out, flatly denied that not only had he never used steroids, but never had he at any time had any inclination of doing so. So there’s a blatant lie for you.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons just after the steroid story broke, A-Rod admitted to his use of performance enhancing drugs, but also maintained that everyone else was doing them as well.

Mr. Rodriguez, that would be like telling your wife that you’re leaving her for Madonna or an exotic dancer from Las Vegas just because all the other Yankees were doing it.

Oh wait, you already did that.

OK, so he had now admitted that he was guilty of doing steroids, but was also quick to point out that he had been clean since 2003. But tell me, you lied at least once before, why would you stop now?

Even Gammons seemed to doubt what Rodriguez was saying, looking at A-Rod with the scrutinizing eyes of a father trying to get the truth from their child.

Where does Major League Baseball go from here? Bonds already tarnished both his reputation and that of the game by flatly denying rumors of his own steroid use, only to finally be caught in his lies. Now A-Rod has shattered all of the illusions of doing things the natural way.

Frankly, as a sports fan and someone who has always enjoyed the competitive aspect of professional sports, I’m sickened by Rodriguez. And the insincerity that he exuded during his interview with Gammons was disgusting.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig has stated that Rodriguez “shamed the game,” which is heavy criticism from the man who let an All-Star Game end in a tie in 2002. But does he intend to actually punish A-Rod? I doubt it. It means causing the company to lose money, and that’s not something Selig will allow. And that actually does make sense.

However, the majesty of our nation’s pastime has been sullied, and I’m not entirely sure that it can ever be fully recovered.

So, that’s this man’s opinion. Take it for what it’s worth.