Alex Rodriguez has gone on the offensive against Major League Baseball after an arbiter refused to compel MLB commissioner Bud Selig to testify in Rodriguez's hearing regarding an unprecedented 211-game suspension.
After storming out of the arbitration hearing, and admittedly swearing at MLB officials and kicking a briefcase on his way out the door, A-Rod went to the radio and spoke with WFAN's Mike Francesa about the "injustice" being perpetrated against him.
Watch A-Rod deny PED allegations in Francesa interview
"It was disgusting," Rodriguez said of arbitrator Frederic Horowitz's decision to not force Selig to testify. "This thing should have ended with Selig on Thursday and me [testifying] on Friday. But he did not have the courage to look me in the eye." Later in the interview, Rodriguez admitted seeing red when he told Francesa, "I'm so pissed off right now I can't even think straight."
Rodriguez and a legal representative also accused Bud Selig of "hating New York," and said a personal vendetta is behind the lengthy suspension. He hates my guts. It's 100 percent personal. This is all about his legacy. To put me on his mantle would be a big trophy for him."
MLB defended Selig's decision to remain apart from the hearing in a statement that read:
"In the entire history of the Joint Drug Agreement, the commissioner has not testified in a single case. Major League Baseball has the burden of proof in this matter. MLB selected Rob Manfred as its witness to explain the penalty imposed in this case. Mr. Rodriguez and the Players Association have no right to dictate how Baseball's case is to proceed any more than Baseball has the right to dictate how their case proceeds. Today's antics are an obvious attempt to justify Mr. Rodriguez's continuing refusal to testify under oath."
The MLBPA backed A-Rod shortly after, issuing a statement of their own.
"The MLBPA believes that every player has the right under our arbitration process to directly confront his accuser. We argued strenuously to the arbitrator in Alex's case that the commissioner should be required to appear and testify. While we respectfully disagree with the arbitrator's ruling, we will abide by it as we continue to vigorously challenge Alex's suspension within the context of this hearing."
Finally, A-Rod and his lawyer railed against a system they believe is rigged for MLB to crush players' grievances, by allowing appeals to lead to increased suspensions.
"I have no regrets," A-Rod said of fighting this nasty and costly battle with MLB. "I would do it again. It's the system that is wrong."
Rodriguez also said he is innocent of all the charges levied against him by MLB, including using steroids or attempting to purchase documents that proved his guilt.
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