** FILE ** In this Feb. 20, 2008 file photo, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez glances back at fans while warming up during spring training baseball workouts in Tampa, Fla. How A-Rod responds to a report that he tested positive for steroids in 2003 will likely frame his pursuit of the career home run record and could define his playing days in the view of fans and Hall of Fame voters. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

Major League Baseball and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez took a big blow Saturday morning when Sports Illustrated reported that the slugger used anabolic steroids in 2003.

Rodriguez came clean in an interview with famed baseball reporter and analyst Peter Gammons Monday when he admitted to using the performance enhancing drugs during his 2001-2003 tenure with the Texas Rangers.

In his interview, Rodriguez said he used steroids because of the $252 million contract he signed prior to the 2001 season and to prove he could live up to his god-like status.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure,” Rodriguez said. “I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform – and perform at a high level – every day.”

During his years with the Rangers, Rodriguez hit .305 – four points lower than his career average – with 156 home runs and 395 RBIs.

He also won his first of three American League Most Valuable Player awards in 2003.

His reasons are inexcusable, but there are probably only two reasons the public should accept: using to recover from surgery or if a licensed medical doctor prescribes it.

Yankees pitcher and current teammate Andy Pettite admitted to using human growth hormones and was not chastised for it because he said it was used to recover from an elbow injury.

Even with the confession, Rodriguez will not be treated the same as Pettite because of the selfish reason he gave. Rodriguez was already at the top of the “America’s Most Hated Baseball Players” list mainly due to his huge contract.

Outside of the fact that Rodriguez used steroids, I have two major problems with this entire situation.

First, the 2003 drug test in which Rodriguez tested positive was supposed to be anonymous and destroyed immediately afterward. It has been almost six full years since the survey, but all the information is coming out now.

Secondly, of the 104 players who tested positive for illegal substances, why was A-Rod’s name the only one revealed? There are 103 other players on that list, yet the public has no idea who they are.

Either come out with the entire list or don’t release any names.

The only saving grace for A-Rod is that he has not failed a drug test since the 2003 survey and signing with the Yankees.

During that five-year period with the Yanks, Rodriguez has hit .303 with 208 homers and 616 RBIs. In 2005 and 2007 he earned his other two AL MVP awards.

Even though coming out with the truth was his best option, A-Rod’s Hall of Fame status is still up in the air and the odds of being a first-ballot selection is almost zero.

I thank him for telling the truth but hope his legacy will not be completely tarnished because all of this.