Defiant A-Rod rips detractors, says 'I refuse to quit'

A defiant A-Rod says he refuses to quit even though his skills have rapidly declined. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

With all the talk of Major League Baseball's investigation of the South Florida Biogenesis clinic that alleges that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and as many as 20 other major league players were disturbuted performance-enhancing drugs, a defiant Rodriguez is finally breaking his silence and says he will not quit no matter what people say about him.

Rodriguez is battling is way back to the lineup after having hip surgery in the offseason.

"I know people think I'm nuts,'' he told USA Today. "I know most people wouldn't want the confrontation. Most people would say, 'Get me out of here. Trade me. Do anything.'

"But I'm the (expletive) crazy man who goes, 'I want to compete. I want to stay in New York. I refuse to quit.'

"You hear all of the doubters,'' Rodriguez says, "and that just fuels me. They don't know me. I'm not giving up. I never will. I'm not wired that way.

"This is the hardest fight I've ever had. There have been days, like, 'Holy (expletive), how am I going to get through this day?' But you keep getting after it, keep pushing."

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Rodriguez turns 38 on July 27, and says he has no one to blame but himself for his rapid decline in performance. He is also owed $114 million over the next five years.

"I've made a lot of mistakes," Rodriguez said. "Of course, I haven't been perfect. I've screwed up. But ultimately, let's keep things relative here. "I love being a Yankee. I love being in New York. I never want to leave."