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| The drama returns
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The New York Daily News has Selena Roberts' soon-to-be released Alex Rodriguez book, and is spilling the salacious details this morning. Among them:
That last one isn't a joke. It's really in there.
Which in some ways illustrates my skepticism about the book. Not about the facts as such -- facts have a funny way of proving themselves right or wrong on their own, and once the book is out and A-Rod and his lawyers and publicists have their say, the allegations in this book will take on either an air of credibility or not. Lord knows after Clemens and Bonds and everything else, no steroid-related fact will shock me.
No, my skepticism involves how any ambiguities in the factual record will be spun and how the biographical fill-in will be slanted in order to make A-Rod out as a generally bad person. That's not a skepticism borne of some predisposition to defend A-Rod. I admire his talents, but I'm not a huge fan. Rather, my skepticism is based on experience of reading Roberts' previous work about Rodriguez.
A couple of years ago, Roberts investigated A-Rod's charitable activities and wrote an article about it in the New York Times. The charges: (1) A-Rod owned some low-rent apartment buildings in Tampa and some residents were complaining; and (2) A-Rod's charitable foundation had been surprisingly inactive. While both of these subjects were legitimate topics for discussion, the rhetoric employed and conclusions drawn by Roberts were way over the top, exhibiting an almost naked intent of making Rodriguez out to be a villain. I originally discussed all of that here, and encourage you to read it as a means of preparation for the A-Rod book.
No, Roberts' apparent anti-A-Rod agenda has no bearing on whether what is being reported today is true or not -- like I said, facts are facts (or not) and should be judged on their own merits. But oftentimes it's the subjective judgments and conclusions drawn from these facts that are the lasting legacy of such books. It's one thing to say that A-Rod lied about certain things and broke certain rules. It's another thing to say that he did so because he's an inherently evil or damaged person. I have no problem with the former. Based on her track record, I am extremely skeptical of anything written by Roberts that posits the latter.
The fallout of all of this? My guess is that folks who have hated Rodriguez's act for a long time will likely eat it up. Folks who have come out the strongest against steroids in baseball will have a new cord of wood for the fire as well. Given what has transpired in baseball over the past several years, no serious person will be able to say they were shocked by any of this.
As for those of us who don't live or die by A-Rod or steroid news? If I've learned anything in the post-BALCO world, it's that the game still reigns supreme over all of the garbage that surrounds it. As such, I am quite confident that there will be period of awkwardness and drama surrounding Rodriguez, the length of which will be determined almost solely by how well he hits and how well the Yankees play when he comes back from his injuries. If he hits the ball, this all recedes until it's time to talk about his Hall of Fame case. If he doesn't? Rodriguez continues to be history's greatest monster. Just not for the reasons stated in the Roberts book.
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Arod is no doubt a flawed character, but I share your cynicism regarding Roberts. She has a history of developing a story line and then collecting a few facts to support her anti-male sports agenda...see the Duke lacrosse fiasco, where she tried and executed the team based on what turned out to be fabricated testimony. She led the witch hunt at Duke, and to my knowledge never apologized after her character assassination of the players proved to be incorrect based on the physical evidence. Her Times story concerning Arod's real estate in Florida was another such piece. In fact, she represents what is the worst of the media; those writing to an agenda versus reporting facts. And the facts here are that Roberts will make A LOT of money on this book. She has an agenda, and Arod is easy fodder given his clownish behavior. But I'm sure Dante had a special place in hell for muckrakers who profit from tearing down idols.
Agree completely. Judgment first; trial later.
Selena obviously is trying to cash in on her way down to the lower level of the journalist food chain.Newspapers are dying and they will ride any Arod news in order to prolong the inevitable end of the line.I have no doubt that Arod is a flawed character that is easy for many to hate.However,this begs the question what about the other 100 or so players that are on the steroid list that have been protected for whatever reason.David Ortiz has used the same trainer as Arod and has mentioned he use to drink "special shakes" but there has been little follow up by the press.Is this because everyone likes Big Papi?That's the question that today's so called Journalists must answer.
Much of the media has accepted, apparently without ever intending to revist, the idea that the Red Sox are the lovable, ethical winners who have finally won out over the evil Yankees. One never sees a negative Red Sox story, even though the Red Sox complaints about free agency are saturated with hypocrisy, Larry Lucchino is an odious man, and many of the Red Sox are classless lowlifes. Asking reporters to dig into the other 100, esp the affable oaf they call "Big Papi," is too much to hope for.
Excuse me! What's this line 'many of the Red sox are classless lowlifes' all about? Lucchino, I'll grant you that, but can you say who's among the class lowlifes on the Red Sox?
Red Sox lowlifes -- Josh Beckett and J Papelbon, to name two. Beckett is an overrated headhunter with a mouth far bigger than his talent. Papelbon exposed himself during the all star game last year as a low-rent, classless goof. He has solidified that image since then. He is good, but he is an arrogant piece of trash. He'll never have the class of a Rivera. Never.
enough already,, what does she stand to gain here???? a new book perhaps.. this is such a joke. The guy admitted taking them it's over, move on. He's guilty, case closed! The same people buying these books are the same people buying the national enquirer or the other rags spewing rumors.
be carefull how you characterise the national inquirer- for it was periodical that broke the lewinski affair with Clinton. Aroid admitted using steroids in his press conference- No one is disputing that, He cheated. No one is disputing that. Now if there is any truth to using them in high school and during any part of his tenure with the yankees. Now he is lying yet again.
I don't know about you but the simple fact he lied and could possible be lying again sickens me less than the people like yourself that feel he's being picked on. You're as much as the problem as he is. Lets put our foot down on jerk offs like this.
It is nice to see that I am not the only person who questions Robert's claims as being exaggerated and targeted for the sole purpose of personal gain. What is the obcession with A-Rod? We love baseball in my house, but enough already! It is the game we enjoy, not the silly stories and rumors that are told in these books. I hope his attorney slaps her with a slander suit as incentive for others not to pen such trash!
Is he perfect? Absolutely not! But the character assasination has to stop. I love when these writers claim to be doing it as the athletes are examples for the kids. Would the kids know of this nonsense without the gossip news?
The biggest allegation here isn't steroids, or anything about A-Rod's personal life. The biggest allegation, to me, is that he tipped his own pitcher's pitches to members of opposing teams, that he did so intentionally (as opposed to being a sloppy fielder, which he isn't), and that he did so to try and "help" his friends at the expense of his own team. That's not a judgment by Roberts. It's a fatual assertion. It might not be true. But if it is true, it's disgusting. It violates every aspect of team sports - you try and help your team win.
If he's really helping the other team, he deserves whatever happens to him.
I could care less if he shot 'riods, guns, or herion. Who gives a #@#? And, I'm not a fan of A-Rod, and am less of a fan of the Yankees. However, I see this a witchhunt and tabloid fodder that is coming inline with the BS that I see in the UK.
We have more important things to care about. LETS PLAY BALL !!!
Oh come on now, you expect me to believe this professional baseball player would stoop to taking steroids? And even if he did, what's wrong with a few lies and a little deception. Baseball is business and seats are expensiveand have to be filled. Besides, our young people can get an education on how to make it in the majors, earn big money , and laugh at all the stupid gullible sports fans that will worship them and hold them in awe. They will quickly learn how short the memory of the average fan really is, and they might as well learn early you can fool some of the suckers all the time.
Selena Roberts is a joke, most sports writers are horrible at their job & this is basically a hunt to kill A Rod. This steroid use took place when everyone was looking the other way including owners & baseball officials ei. Not illegal. Enough with the personal attacks on one of the best players in baseball. I think we should investigate Selena Roberts(along with many sports writers) & try to find the skeletons in her/their closets ( it will not be pretty.)
Lets start a boycott on the Selena Roberts book to affect those who write nonsense based on here say & not facts BAN THE ROBERTS BOOK
Roberts is not a reporter. She is a hack trying to make money. I hate A-Rod, always did and always will but I think Roberts should have her stuff printed as Fiction.
I thought the media was supposed to be unbiased, I guess that went away once big money could be made. What a shame!
The only person here at fault is A-ROD - if he did not do the things he did, the she would have nothing to report, so stop putting so much of this on Roberts., maybe if she earned 20 mil a year she would not have to write the truth, which is all she is doing., I do not see any of you claiming what she is writing is false so leave her alone and start on the one whos fault it is
There are an awful lot of kids who used steroids in high school that I do not want to see strung up by the media, or anyone else. I despise the national pastime of tearing down people because they are in the spotlight. The worst offense is the tipping of pitches. I think we should all be fans of everone; hoping that each person learns from their mistakes and grows into the best person they can be. I am reallhy glad my life is not lived in the national limelight.