Eye on Controversy

WESLACO — J.C. Vargas is a nine-year-old boy who loves baseball.

He plays it, he enjoys it.

Vargas also follows the major leagues and is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. Vargas, a Weslaco little leaguer who played for Team Athletics this summer, also is a big fan of Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez.

But while he's admired those two superstars for what they have accomplished on the field, it's their off-the-field behavior that has caused the youngster some disappointment.

Vargas said he has taken notice of the negativity and controversy that surrounds steroids and drug testing among athletes in the last decade.

In 2009 alone, Ramirez was suspended 50 games for failing a drug test, while in March, Rodriguez dominated the headlines after it was reported by SI.com that he tested positive for steroids in 2003 according to the 2007 Mitchell Report. Shortly after the story broke, Rodriguez confessed publicly.

Looking up to these marquee stars, Vargas couldn't believe when he first heard the news.

"I was afraid he (Rodriguez) wasn't going to be in the MLB anymore," Vargas said. "I was afraid (Ramirez) was going to get kicked out of MLB."

When there is disappointment, anger is not too far behind.

R.J. Reyna, also of Team Athletics, has followed Ramirez since his days with the Boston Red Sox. Reyna was also shocked with what transpired with Ramirez.

"I couldn't believe it, he's real good," Reyna said.

Other elite superstars such as Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Texas native Roger Clemens are in the thick of the steroids scandal, which have many kids across America wondering whether or not their heroes cheated in the game they love.

All 10 kids from Team Dodgers present at the teams practice agreed Bonds' homerun record should be revoked.

"It's not fair to the other baseball players that they (possible steroid users) make that much more money," said 10-year-old Brian Cisneros.

 
Team Athletics head coach Emiliano Saavedra knows today's little leaguers are in a generation where stories regarding steroid use have dominated the headlines. Saavedra fears children lack the education needed to prevent them from taking steroids when they get older.

"They hear about it, but are not educated," Saavedra said. "They need to see that they don't need it."

According to a report by CBSNews.com, a survey taken by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention said roughly 580,000 high school students used steroids in 2007. Saavedra said steroids weren't even a topic when he played little league more than 20 years ago. Saavedra believes if young athletes are introduced to hard work and proper training, the rest will take care of itself.

"Be confident in themselves," Saavedra said. "It's disappointing to hear that role models, they're really not considering that the kids look up to them."

Since the season began in April, reaction to A-Rod's return has been mixed from cheering at Yankee Stadium to a roar of boos on the road. Ramirez is scheduled for his return from suspension on Friday. When asked if Reyna he will still be cheering for him, the Reyna replied, "Yeah."