A-Rod's Drug Mule Cousin Was a Proud Flunky

It took all of two days for reporters to track down just who Alex Rodrgiuez's steroid-supplying cousin was. It wasn't too difficult for ESPN to find Yuri (pronounced "Judy") Sucart because a source tells them, "He's been following Rodriguez around for years telling anyone and everyone that he was Alex's cousin, friend, and 'personal manager.'"

While Sucart hasn't talked to the press, his wife told a reporter who showed up at their Miami home, "What A-Rod said at the press conference is what happened and that is all. And if you want to talk to my husband, why don't you talk to his lawyer?" Rodriguez told reporters Tuesday that his unnamed cousin only did what he was asked when obtaining drugs for the slugger.

So who is this Johnny Drama? A trainer who knew Sucart in Texas says, "He would talk about Alex all the time. It seemed like he lived his life vicariously through [Rodriguez]. Does the family carry a Single White Female gene?

Sucart apparently shadowed A-Rod during his time as both a Ranger and a Seattle Mariner. Another source tells ESPN that Sucart would "pay Rodriguez's bills, secure reservations by blocking off parts of restaurants for privacy and clean up after any mess left behind." And if Derek Jeter ever crossed his cousin, he would kill him in cold blood.

No one expects any charges against Sucart for smuggling in drugs from the Dominican Republic, a DEA Agent telling the News they'd have a "helluva time" if they tried. However, word is that Major League Baseball is not done asking questions and is requesting a meeting with A-Rod next week. If Sucart or Rodriguez were found to have distributed steroids to other major leaguers, A-Rod could find himself at risk of being penalized by league officials.

The Daily News also sent a reporter down to the Dominican Republic to see how difficult it would be to obtain illegal steroids over the counter. Without a prescription using only his first name, it took a reporter all of two minutes and $19 to secure various substances. As he described the Dominican pharmacy, "ampules of testosterone were in the same aisle as baby formula and bottled water."