A-Rod: A lesson in forgiveness

I was watching the Washington Nationals - New York Yankees game earlier today, and Yankee DH Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate. Normally that wouldn't mean a whole hill of beans to me, but then moments later during his at-bat they showed the photo above, and it was the night he hit his 661st home run, breaking a tie with the legendary Willie Mays for 4th on the all-time list. Look at the fans in the background, the adoration they thrust upon him as he comes back out for a curtain call.

This still photo says a lot about the sports fan in America. Before I get to that, a question that must be asked: do you think this type of reaction would've been possible for him at THAT stadium a year ago, when he was suspended for his role in the Biogenesis scandal? Even more, the thought of him receiving any type of cheers was wishful thinking at best. Upon his return there was a fan at Camden Yards in Baltimore that would turn his back whenever A-Rod would come up to bat. HIs name was literally mud, but a few home runs later, and everyone was (mostly) ready to cheer his historic home run pursuit.

Yes, the cynic can say "Well they're only supporting him because he's wearing pinstripes," but there's a larger point here. The point that Yankee fans were ready to forgive their prodigal son, even after he disgraced the organization and tainted his accomplishments by using performance enhancing drugs. Sports as a whole becomes a platform for the display of human character, and much like fans were ready to forgive Mark McGwire for his past indiscretions, it seems that people have moved on from the chants of "A-Fraud" in Gotham. This is the same organization that saw other players who have had their own personal struggles (Steve Howe, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry) become beloved family members when they put on the uniform, but it shows that in essence, people are generally willing to forgive one another.

Forgiveness is not obviously just something Yankee fans do, but sports fans are willing to forgive and forget if a person is sincere about seeking redemption. This should be something that we should not struggle with doing, but be quick to establish rapport with everyone. It should be normal, and the sooner we learn to forgive the better off we'll be, because forgiveness is not for the person who offended us, it's about bringing release for us.