No comment from the Captain
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 10, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Derek Jeter just spoke to a handful of writers here. He reserved comment on A-Rod, saying he wanted to wait until the position players report and all the media was gathered.
I’m sure some will take it as Derek passing on a chance to support Alex, but I think he’s trying to be fair.
————
Selena Roberts on WFAN at noon.
Why tackle it today when he’s just going to have to do it again when Alex shows up.
I take it as him not wanting to do it 10x…when he can do it once and be over with it.
IMO…they will talk about once and move on…it will be the gotcha media that won’t let it die.
Agreed with Vader.
Man, I’m gonna miss him when he retires.
No reason for him to go thru it twice.
Clearly, Jeter doesn’t want to have to answer the same questions multiple times. Once ST starts, he’ll say whatever it is that he has to say (which probably won’t be much) and move on.
Alex admitted it. 2001-2003? Puhlease. I always assume that you can tack on double, which would make it 1998-2004.
Either way, I am happy he admitted it, was FURIOUS on Saturday when I found this out. Talk about being let down time and again.
People make mistakes and when they apologize for them it is a step in the direction.
Does anyone else fear that Alex wasn’t entirely honest? All this junk about SI shouldn’t have been even discussed. You got caught bud, don’t try to blame someone for doing their job.
I could very well be that Alex will have a one-time press conference similar to what Pettitte had last spring in the courtesy pavilion to the left of the main field at Steinbrenner Field.
After that he’ll answer only Yankee baseball related questions. Neither he or the team want the damned steroid issue talked about all year long. It’s getting boring already.
Agreed with everyone else – why do it more than once?
As far as Selena Roberts goes. She was correct with regard to ARod. I have questions about how this protected information “fell into her lap.” I don’t know if she was “stalking” ARod, but if she’s writing an unauthorized, unflattering biography of the guy, it stands to reason she’s not being happily welcomed into ARod’s and his friends’ or family’s living rooms. She may call it investigative reporting/research; I can certainly understand why ARod would feel it’s stalking. The difference is in the perspective.
“All this junk about SI shouldn’t have been even discussed. You got caught bud, don’t try to blame someone for doing their job.”
I don’t think he was complaining about her doing her job as much as claiming she was over the line in her pursuit of him and that he was annoyed by it. If you notice, he didn’t complain that the story itself got out, but he was complaining about her showing up at his homes/gym.
It might have been more prudent to not say anything, but it’s as much his right to complain about her as it is her right to get only 1 name out of 104 people on that list and conveniently release it in advance of her book coming out.
Also, a lot of media members are idiots and will ask him the same questions day in and day out. Get it over once and then you don’t have to answer it again.
We already know what he is going to say anyway, Its not like he is going to throw him under the bus or create more controversy for this team.
God Forbid Sir Derek says ” I support Alex and will be here for him as a friend and as the Captain as we start this long run at a champoinship next week, and we look forward to all having a great season”
he cant say that twice or three times????
I don’t get the outrage over the pretty accurate response. I just don’t. Gammons asked if his use was from 2001-2003. He said that’s pretty accurate. Why did he say that? Hmm, maybe because he didn’t use steroids for the entirety of those years. He said when he stopped. He stopped during spring training of 2003 after he got injured. He decided he was done then. So, he didn’t use for all of 2003. If he doesn’t say ‘pretty accurate’ he comes off as saying he used for all of 2003. Which isn’t the case. It could even be construed that he used during the off season after the 2003 season. Why would he leave that door open?
mike -
Do ya think maybe Derek wants a chance to talk to his teammates first?
mike -
Do ya think maybe Derek wants a chance to talk to his teammates first?
rodg -
He may also have started into the 2001 season, not at the beginning. So parts of those seasons. Gammons could have followed up on that, I suppose, to try and get a more exact answer. But he didn’t.
Andrew,
I disagree simply because I viewed his discussion of her reporting as off topic and irrelevant. Whether he likes it or not, she got materials and as we all know, reporters will do whatever it takes to get information.
The only thing that peeves me about the story was that it ONLY included Alex Rodriguez. That is unacceptable. As much as I hate him, Schilling is right: the names of the other 103 players MUST BE released.
Fair is fair.
I want to know who else to despise.
so I acutally posted more than a quick response or link to articles in the last thread not knowing we had all moved on
I should stick to the reading and linking from now on…
TMPiP,
That’s a fair point, Roberts’ behavior was certainly off-topic and his rant was out of left field, especially considering how it’s his big admission/apology interview– probably isn’t the time nor place to be ripping the reporter who outed you. But all I’m saying is I can understand why he was so visibly upset about her actions, not in getting his name but in showing up at various personal places. I think there is an unwritten/unspoken “line” between the celebrity/subject and the journalist, and I think A-Rod felt she crossed it. You can say he should have waited for another time/place to rip her, but I still think he’s right.
As far as the list, my guess is it will not be released willingly by anyone but some intrepid investigative reporter who manages to find the right leaky faucet to twist. Safe to say that things will spread out beyond just the Bronx once that list sees the light of day, and that will be a welcome change considering how Yankees-centric all the steroids news has been for the last 2 years.
Hey is it okay to want someone to burn in hell?
If so does anyone mind me adding Selena Roberts to that list?
Not because of her reporting leaked court-protected information. I think purgatory is okay for that kind of loser. But because of the biased, fraudulent, one-sided, totally unprofessional, and the thought that she was able to “obtain” only one name on a list of 104 – a thought that strains the believability meter or the most trusting of us.
Frankly I think Roberts is a polished liar who will do anything to get a story printed.
Just my opinion of course.
Mike,
Its not just 3-4 times. He is Derek Jeter. It would be close to 100 times if he had to answer it every day from every reporter. This is not hyperbole.
Andrew,
Ya, I agree with you on the investigative tactics of Roberts and how they might cross a line.
The thing is, though, that he better have been honest about that too because if he is ripping SI for investigative tactics and is dishonest, he’s only making himself look worse by lying…no police records as Peter pointed out. Rent-a-Copy? Maybe.
Sorry, because I’d love to defend the Captain on this one too- but Mike is right. It’s one simple sentence followed by “That’s all; I’m not going to comment further at this time.”
Doreen- why does he need to talk to his teammates first? Which part of Mike’s suggested statement needs to be cleared with teammates?
I think Derek missed an opportunity to lead by example here, and despite being a big fan, I’m disappointed. He needn’t worry that anyone’s going to think he and Alex are buddies or anything similar. That ship sailed long ago; this was just a chance to help the team move forward and focus on the task at hand. Oh well.
IMO Jeter is waiting for the position players to report to spare himself a constant repititon of the answer, but also to discuss the A-Rod issue with the players and “lead” them to a consensus.
Ultimately Jeter will say something gracious on behalf of the team I suspect. No one knows what lies ahead for A-Rod; the analogy is that he’s just found out his career has a life-threatening disease. Like Georgie, on behalf of the team, Jetes will wish A-Rod well and offer support as he deals with this challenge.
I think Derek is doing just what he said – waiting for everyone to show up so he, as captain, can say it once, speak for the team, and hopefully get it over with.
Derek has been very public now in his support for Arod and waiting to give him a chance to speak.
Please stop looking for spies behind every bush.
The Mad Prince in Pinstripes…you and anyone else that wants to get an idea of what kind of investigative reporter Selena Roberts is, just google Selena Robert and Duke Lacrosse and you may know what Alex is talking about.
Selana Roberts on WFAN
If Jeter gives anything but the same answer he had when Giambi was caught I will lose a ton of respect for him. He would have let his personal feelings get in the way of the betterment of the team.
“I think Derek missed an opportunity to lead by example here, and despite being a big fan, I’m disappointed. He needn’t worry that anyone’s going to think he and Alex are buddies or anything similar. That ship sailed long ago; this was just a chance to help the team move forward and focus on the task at hand. Oh well.”
I think you are being way too hard on Jeter. Trust me, I am the first one to get on him when he doesn’t do his Captainly duties to the best of his ability (like in 2006 when he failed to have Alex’s back). But in this case, I have no problem with him waiting to make an official announcement.
Any comments from G-Fraud yet? Big G is the closest parallel from Yankeeland.
“But all I’m saying is I can understand why he was so visibly upset about her actions, not in getting his name but in showing up at various personal places.”
Where was his indignation towards Orza and Fehr, the people who really screwed him in this? All last week, Torre was getting smacked around for citing episodes involving some of the easiest targets (Kevin Brown, Pavano, etc). Roberts, for some obvious reasons, is an easy target. Fact is, when it comes to him being bagged for PED use, Ms. Roberts ranks considerably below Fehr/Orza and Arod himself (which he acknowledges) on the list of people to blame for this circus. Blasting this woman for CORRECTLY reporting his abuses, while not taking the Union people who hung him out to dry to task lacks a certain degree of fortitude. He was better off saying nothing.
The will probably have to answer questions about this book again soon enough. All fun. Problem is Arod has lost credibility. This author obviously has gone after his character in this book and seems like she went pretty far to chase after any bit of negative info. This apparently attacks even Arod’s sexuality. If that’s the case there will be more stuff to debunk even if she proves to be a dirtbag too.
Pete’s post indicated that Jeter said he wanted to “wait until the position players report and all the media was gathered.”
I am so sick of the people who rehash every little word the man said. Give it a rest.
Think for one minute how you would have done in that position, unscripted interview, even if he was prepared somewhat, it is still him laying it out there without a teleprompter telling him what to say.
I don’t blame A-Rod for the frustration of having to even see Selena’s mug come stalking up the sidewalk, let alone knowing she has her agenda against you. He was calling her out as best he could on her motivation not for the report itself.
“Do you recall tghe crunching sound that your spikes would make on the packed dirt ….I can still hear and feel that…Man I’m glad it’s time for Spring Training”
pat m-
nothing like the feel of a good fastball hitting your mitt, the jokes, the ragging and… being young
When was the test that he failed in 2003? That was the one inconsistency (or possible one) that really jumped out at me. Gammons started to press that point, but backed off. Arod said that it was when his neck hurt and he realized he was jeopardizing his health, that he knew he had to stop. The op ed in the NYTimes today seems to at least back up that he had this severe neck pain. If he stopped then, when did the test occur? My gut feeling is that there was no wake up call like that and he made that part up to sound more realistic. I would say that the threat of being punished in 2004 is probably what really stopped him (if that part is true). I think it would have sounded less honorable and genuine to say “I stopped because I could get in trouble”. That’s the point of the program so I don’t have a problem with it.
He said he’ll get back to us later. Let’s relax.
rodg12, i agree. the media nitpicking when it comes to Alex is ridiculous. yes, “pretty accurate” can go both ways.
again, ARod is a big jock, not an english major. to me, his appology/confession seemed very sincere. he even went into details about lying in bed thinking about it in ’03. i’m sorry, but i don’t think ARod is smart enough to concoct lies like that.
also, if you think he’s lying about the ’01 thru ’03, he could have easily lied and said it was just in 2003. i believe in his sincerity…
Basic Media Management 101. Address a serious issue once before the largest audience, prior the the start of ST, and be done with it.
Derek is handling it precisely the right way.
As far as Selena Roberts is concerned, yes, she “got” Arod.
That said, the method(s) as to how she “got” him (who would leak this information to her?) as well as how she is going about getting her information to write her unauthorized bio on him is fair game.
If she’s not careful, she runs the risk of going from “intrepid reporter” to “person with an agenda”. That won’t help book sales.
the public, especially the sports fan, is a funny creature. They don’t mind having shots taken at their favorite players. When it gets to a point they percieve it as “piling on”, they turn on the people they think are “piling on”.
Her career is marked with going over the line from objective reporter to person with an agenda. That’s how she blew her job with the Times.
Just as athletes need to be a little humble when they get wins, so do members of the media.
If she was truly a reporter “just doing her job”, she would have a lower profile and be a little more humble right now.
Obviously, that’s not the case because this is a great marketing opportunity for her book on Arod.
No doubt, Arod’s stupidity has given Selena a forum to play rip city on him. That’s not in question.
However, her overall motives, as well as the person who gave her documents she has no business possessing, should also be under scrutiny.
My point in all this is, there are no “heroes” here.
Arod certainly isn’t and neither is she.
Everybody has an agenda.
Hopefully, in Arod’s case, he told the truth yesterday.
If he did, the worst is over. If he didn’t? He’s got bigger problems than Selena Roberts.
I don’t get how she was able to talk to so many people who knew that he failed the test. This is beyond ridiculous. It’s too bad that Alex can’t sue because he would most certainly have a case.
P.S. I am so totally stoked for spring training. Its snowing here at the moment, but I will be getting my gloves and a ball out as soon as its nice enough.
A-Rod is a dunce for going after Roberts with things that she can apparently shoot down with her eyes closed:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ref=sircrc
Steve B.,
I completely agree with your comment on Fehr, Orza, Selig, etc.
Those guys are the real problems and it absolutely baffles me that they all still have their jobs, Selig especially. That guy is a piece of poo and should have been ousted LONG AGO.
““Do you recall tghe crunching sound that your spikes would make on the packed dirt ….I can still hear and feel that…Man I’m glad it’s time for Spring Training”
pat m-
nothing like the feel of a good fastball hitting your mitt, the jokes, the ragging and… being young
”
While not quite as old as you randy
, I definitely know what you’re talking about. Nothing like getting out to the field in the sun with the fresh cut grass for the first time of the year. Man I miss it.
“My gut feeling is that there was no wake up call like that and he made that part up to sound more realistic. I would say that the threat of being punished in 2004 is probably what really stopped him”
Despite feeling that Arod was generally sincere, Gammons mentioned he was not really buying into the 2003 epiphany tale.
jen, I wrote a post to you regarding Selena Roberts in the “Waiting on ESPN” thread. I agree with your take on Roberts.
This is what someone for whom I have a great deal of respect wrote on my forum. The guy has always been very balanced in his approach, no matter what the topic. He’s not a homer. It was part of a discussion about Roberts.
“Media blowhards have free reign to rain on whomever they please, confident that their own peccadillos are off limits among their professional brethren. Sure, aside from the occasional plagiarist being outed, how often do these overpaid moralistic whiners get skewered by their own? Not ever, considering what routinely gets covered up (the proof? just gotta look at the law of human averages…).”
Selena is writing a book. Calling her ‘investigation’ a job is bull!
It is was an article, that would be her job.
Shouldnt she be in jail like those guys that wrote that book on bonds?
I guess I don’t get why she’s so adamant about not revealing the other 103 names, but it was okay to bust Alex. She clearly has an agenda.
Alex might actually get some ‘supporters out of this. People realize how strange it is that she only got his name, and that she is writing a book. The public might not be as harsh on him because of that. Not that they agree with what he did. But knowing that 103 other players testing positive yet he is the only name she got.
“Where was his indignation towards Orza and Fehr, the people who really screwed him in this?”
Since Orza and Fehr haven’t been stalking him and trying to write a dirty tell-all book about him, maybe his indigation toward them isn’t quite at the same level?
Come on you really believe every word she says is true as well? She may have more credibility than Arod in this case, but her credibility in the Duke case is not good. There was police at Arods house as she says, she went to go in person to get a reaction especially going to a guys home. She apparently didn’t set up a meeting thru Arod or Boras. Then she gets access to try and catch him off guard at a gym. Let’s be real, she wants a reaction, she’s looking for the dirt, she keeps talking about this “feature article” but yet she is writing a full book on him. At least be real on your point here to, you are writing a book, digging up dirt on Arod to make you lots of money. That’s your angle and bottom line.
They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned; I believe that should be amended to hell had no fury like a baseball fan scorned.
These are human beings, here. Wouldn’t it be lovely if everything could be tied up in a nice neat package with everyone playing their parts perfectly and to 100% satisfaction.
Since that’s not going to happen, we’re left to deal with reality. MANY, MANY people are at fault in this whole debacle and for MANY, MANY years.
People have been calling out Fehr and Orza just as much as they’re calling out Roberts. Not everyone is pleased with how ARod handled his interview. Now Derek Jeter, who has already made 2 supportive statements this week, is being called out for not doing this a different way. Everyone is flying by the seat of their pants here. Trying to do things they best they can (we hope).
Lots of people have “faltered at their post,” so to speak.
Using steroids is wrong; the people who used them made a grave mistake; the people who turned their heads in the other direction because of the money made a grave mistake; the people who didn’t report it originally made a grave mistake. There is no good excuse or reason to use steroids. ARod did a bad thing. No apology by anyone here will ever be enough. So, then, what do we do? Continue to excoriate people or try to move on?
If Selena Roberts truly stalked ARod, she will eventually get hers. If not, ARod will “get his.”
I’m sorry for this rant. I guess I would be better served by staying away for a few days, huh?
I guess the camp arrivals of Teixeira and Sabathia will have much less fanfare.
I do have a question for Pete (or anyone else). Is the bonus that ARod gets for each of his “milestone” home runs in anyway tied to his being clean? Was that written into the contract?
I tohugh this morning on Mike & Mike. Golic said they had a report from Miami police, like a citation kinda thing.
And she is claiming no interest in the 103 names???? Come on let’s get real again, any report would love to have the whole list
Are you listening to this witch explaining how she bulldozed her way into Alex’ gated community?
Yes, I want her to burn in hell.
This woman never suffered for the constant crap she put out about the duke players. please make her suffer this time!!!
“I guess I don’t get why she’s so adamant about not revealing the other 103 names, but it was okay to bust Alex. She clearly has an agenda.”
Have the other 103 gone out of their way to unequivocally lie in answer to direct questions about PED use?
What is she saying? I can’t listen from here…
“Have the other 103 gone out of their way to unequivocally lie in answer to direct questions about PED use?”
I guess we’ll never know since we don’t know who the other 103 are.
murpheydog – how do we know if we don’t know who they are?
murphydog -
How would we know the answer to that?
“Yes, I want her to burn in hell.”
Trisha, let’s take it down a bit. Roberts is a dirt bag. She’s an opportunist, who in my opinion, went overboard on this story (that story about going to his house sounds stalkerish to me). She does not, however, deserve to burn in hell.
“Have the other 103 gone out of their way to unequivocally lie in answer to direct questions about PED use?”
Possibly, how would you know? You have the list?
Good morning, guys. Lots going on.
1. Great to see OTA-haha batting practice.
2. Derek looks thin?
3. murphydog, thanks for your punchlist on the other thread. Good to know I’m not the only one who thought a little less would’ve been more. Can of worms, indeed.
4. Betsy, besides the fact that Kim Jones is always a little irritating, why are you surprised that the local media are taking their shots or at least enjoying this a little? Obviously, Alex didn’t feel it was important to develop relationships with the writers and YES people. Who knew that they can mold public perception? Only the smart ones knew. Yes, that would be Jeter, Damon, & Giambi. Not perfect, but definitely savvy.
5. Since when is a gated community public? So any person has a right to go on there? I’m sure Alex’s neighbors are glad this information got out.
6. The Selena/A-rod chapter has yet to be finished. This week must be worth a couple of chapters at least!
7. SJ44, I know that you don’t think this is a very big deal in the scheme of things. I’m just curious, what if your nephew lost a roster spot to someone who had a perceived unfair advantage due to PED? How would you feel about that and the Alex thing then?
“Since Orza and Fehr haven’t been stalking him and trying to write a dirty tell-all book about him, maybe his indigation toward them isn’t quite at the same level?”
Trisha:
In the end an unauthorized, dirty, tell-all probably doesn’t do a great deal of damage to him, as most people tend to dismiss such books as crapola.
Fehr and Orza are the culprits in him being exposed and seeing significant damage done to his legacy. Doesn’t make Arod any less wrong, but he’s not in this if not for their failures.
Was the citation for boiling his kid’s pet rabbit?
“Have the other 103 gone out of their way to unequivocally lie in answer to direct questions about PED use?”
These dings about him lying fall on deaf ears. What did you think the guy was going to do? Tell Katie Couric, yes I did steroids. Look at what is happening to his life now. Why would he willingly bring on this hell for no reason?
Enough with the moral high ground. What is that saying? “Let he who is without sin…….”
Rish, I don’t even know where to begin.
But I can tell you that she said it was finished her book in October but two sentences later said she’s still writing it.
iut is so riduclious how much these two hate a a-rod?
afraid of what she is writing?
i seriously doubt that.
Whatever,
Exactly, it is irrelevant to his admission.
She’s not writing a book on the other 103 people. That’s why she won’t talk about it. Also, I think she is making sure she doesn’t get hauled in front of a judge asking who gave her the list.
As far as her “shooting down” his comments, in the immortal words of Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend”.
She showed up at his house. She showed up at UM. Both times, unannounced. There is an incident report made from her trip to his house.
She was looking for her “gotcha” moment. She wasn’t “reporting”.
You don’t show up at somebody’s house, in a secure community. You just don’t.
Also, let’s not get carried away about her “identifying herself”.
I doubt very seriously she said, “I’m Selena Roberts from SI and I am seeking to talk to Alex Rodriquez about his flunking a steroid test”.
I will bet she left the “purpose of her visit” out to get onto the island.
Alex has a 4 car garage in his place. Do you really believe she just went by, didn’t see a car in the driveway, and left?
Really?
This “investigative journalist” didn’t think car(s) could be in the garage? That’s not even remotely believable.
So you may ask, what should her protocol have been?
She could have called Arod and said, “I’m seeking comment on you flunking a steroid test”. She could have called Scott Boras’ office and/or the Players Association with the same request. If she didn’t get any comment, run with the story.
There was no need to play “gotcha”. That was show biz, not reporting.
JMO but, I think she went over the line.
Again, it DOES NOT minimalize the story. He tested positive in 2003 and nothing can unring that bell.
However, the platitudes toward her reporting from some of her peers leave a lot to be desired, IMO.
“Have the other 103 gone out of their way to unequivocally lie in answer to direct questions about PED use?”
If you want to play that game, aren’t they ALL lying because they haven’t come forth and admitted that they used steroids and failed the test in 2003? Certainly some number of the 103 others know they failed–aren’t they lying right now by not speaking up and saying “hey I did PEDs for this many years, yadda yadda yadda”? Of course, though, they don’t have the enthralling Katie Couric-led video clip so it’s not as exciting.
Thanks, Trisha – I guess I was hoping they would ask real questions…
Do your job, whatever, but don’t think that makes you any better than anyone else.
What’s that thing they say about glass houses? But I guess she gets to hide behind her press pass on that one.
The Harper-Collins (book publisher)website has the release date for Roberts’ book as May 19th.
Steve B, believe me, I want Orza canned and the whole MLB administration turned over. I also want to see totally independent, unannounced testing and 50-game first-time penalties and out for good second-time penalties. Maybe then we could see the game cleaned up a bit!
Trisha, do you read what you write? Seriously? How unhinged are you? The woman is an investigative reporter and Alex is a public figure (since you claim to be an attorney, I hope you understand the legal consequences of that) of the grandest kind. You’re clearly a laundry rooting slug of a person, if you’d wish ill upon a person for doing their job. Roberts reported the absolute truth about Alex, and she deserves nothing but credit for it. Take your head out of your intestines and consider whether a homer like you would be wasting your time whingeing about a similar “bulldozing” of David Ortiz’ property.
She essentially is coming up with reasonable answers to the accusations, but not denying she was in the places.
You can see both points of view.
She wants to catch him off guard, provoke him a bit, corner him and get the exclusive breakdown and story. SI would have wanted the Gammons interview too. She’s writing the book and wants to promote herself in this case and she is getting it with all the interviews. Arod made this even bigger for her which was dumb.
From his point of view, she has written articles for the Times and SI attacking his character, writing a book doing the same. She has been trying to dig up any dirt on him for years. Probably asking questions or bugging his family, friends, following him, etc. After a point would you not be aggreviated with this happening to you. Now you can say he’s a celeb and brings some of it on himself, but at the same point there is a line you can’t cross. She crossed it with the Duke players and didn’t give them a fair shake. Is she being very honest and giving Arod a fair shake? Based on her history probably not.
This woman makes me want to throw my assistant’s iPhone across the room at the wall.
Unless she writes an addendum, it says the book is 304 pages.
I’ve never been an A-Rod fan — but Selena Roberts trying to come off as an innocent objective journalist doing research rather than an attack agenda paparazzi-type dirt digger is preposterous. Her tone sounds as phony as Alex’s — like “Gee, why is he so mad?? I was just doing a story. Gosh!” Yeah, right.
Clay
I’m not an espn insider– i can’t double check– it was something about being in the gated community… Hopefully it will be on best of this afternoon. I work with TVs on all the time, sometimes I don’t hear everything!
Everyone really needs to stop pointing fingers at Roberts. She was doing her job, even if her tactics were unbecoming. That is the life of the superstar, get over it.
A-Rod is to blame and he can whine all he wants to about how SI went about getting the story, but the bottom line is he is a Fraud.
I will still root for his success because he plays for the Yankees and is important to their offense, but I will never dignify any so-called records he sets.
“I guess the camp arrivals of Teixeira and Sabathia will have much less fanfare.”
Sadly, I think Teixeira’s will get plenty. Just not for the reasons we hoped. No idea whether he’s one of the 103, but being a Texas Ranger when he was, I’d guess he will be on the receiving end of some questions he’d rather not get.
Listing to this Selena Roberts gives me that puke in your mouth feeling.
Like Jim Bouton said, “You want your privacy, be a shoe salesman, not ballplayer.”
Anyone who takes a high profile job, in entertainment, sports, government, etc., has to expect the dumpster-diving, rich-and-famous-hunting behavior of the media. Celebrities, including the highest paid player on the NY Yankees, know or should know that they concede a certain amount of privacy and anonymity in exchange for all the perqs and privileges of their fame. (And that’s if you are a “work, church and home” kind of celebrity, like, say Mark Harmon). But when you are a “playa,” like A-Rod, you are going to get it to the tenth power. Them’s the rules.
‘This woman makes me want to throw my assistant’s iPhone across the room at the wall.’
She is coming off really fake to me for some reason. It’s the book, the process, the process, the process…and too many innocent like talks. She’s even BS’n about her book having bombshells, wench your writing a book on him ofcourse it has something !
SJ44 is exaclty right. She was looking for a Michael Moore “Gotcha” moment.
She would have done her due dilligence in giving him a chance to respond by phoning him and/or his agents.
I hope she sells 5 copies of her book – all to members of her family.
Day Two. Still not a peep out of the spineless pinata . . . . Selig.
I’m also losing a lot of respect for Kim Jones.
“Sadly, I think Teixeira’s will get plenty. Just not for the reasons we hoped. No idea whether he’s one of the 103, but being a Texas Ranger when he was, I’d guess he will be on the receiving end of some questions he’d rather not get.”
Steve B, very good point.
This book isnt like Torres (where he has credibility and first hand knowledge). She is a second rate POS and a-rod didnt offer anything to this book, hence it is not worth the money to buy it
Vader, what is KJ saying?
Ask her how credible she is after her duke lacrosse days
Last night she didn’t say if she stopped her car and snooped around. Just that she didn’t see his car. Maybe she got out of her car, and snooped around.
I mean really “Enquire”ing minds want to know, Selena
SJ- I said the same thing earlier about her not seeing a car and leaving. What a load of you know what! She went through all the trouble and than would just drive by.
How do you know if she was doing her job??? Until the book comes out how do you even know what she went after. If she had two unidentified sources saying something ridiculous about him would that be doing your job? She is doing her job if it is to dig up whatever sensational stories she can about him to sell a book I guess. All depends on what you think her job is. If it is unbiased reporter, I am not convinced she is doing her job no
Mel,
My nephew did lose a roster spot to someone who was juicing.
Four years ago, on a very prominent traveling team, he lost out to a guy many thought (and turned out to be true) was juicing.
He was crushed because it cost him a chance to play on a team that had a lot of visability with college coaches. It definitely set him back.
We had a LONG talk about PED’s that summer.
Here’s what I told him:
Life isn’t fair. If you are looking for life to be fair, you will spend the rest of your life with a severe case of agita. Those Italians on the blog can explain to the rest of the group was “agita” means. lol
I told him you can take two paths. One, be a follower and start using. If you do, you will always be looking over your shoulder, knowing that one day you may be caught. If you get caught, you are finished. You aren’t a baseball player making 8 figures. You are a HS/college kid. Completely funigble in the grand scheme of things and you will get flushed away if you test positive.
OR, you can be a leader. You can work harder, not get caught up in things you can’t control and go about it the right way. You can set an example for others to follow. When scouts see that, they call it having a great “makeup”. That’s what you should strive to have.
Fortunately, he chose the latter route and things have (at least so far) worked out for him.
PED use is something that can’t be solved by ballplayers at the major league level. You need leadership at the professional level to get a better handle on it.
On the homefront, you need to be open, honest, and have trust between yourself and your kid about this issue.
With all of that, you STILL cross your fingers everyday and pray things go the right way.
Its a very, very difficult issue to get your arms around.
You just do the best you can and hope for the best.
Mad Prince, I think it’s that people are a bit less-than- convinced that Roberts only had one name, since
Roberts is in the process of writing a tell-all about Alex.
Perhaps if a respected journalist who had never gotten canned from a job for publishing false information had broken the same story, and if that reporter hadn’t been cited for stalking Alex and going to his home to try to get comments from him, people might not be saying a word right now.
But then again, a respected journalist likely would have given up a lot more than one name out of 104, if he or she would have done it at all, seeing the information was court-sealed.
I don’t think a lot of us are making excuses for Alex taking steroids. It has to do with this excuse for a journalist Selena Roberts and her “Enquirer” methodology.
Has ANYONE asked her about the Duke Lacrosse stuff? Doesn’t that go to character etc?
Like Jim Bouton said, “You want your privacy, be a shoe salesman, not ballplayer.”
Anyone who takes a high profile job, in entertainment, sports, government, etc., has to expect the dumpster-diving, rich-and-famous-hunting behavior of the media. Celebrities, including the highest paid player on the NY Yankees, know or should know that they concede a certain amount of privacy and anonymity in exchange for all the perqs and privileges of their fame. (And that’s if you are a “work, church and home” kind of celebrity, like, say Mark Harmon). But when you are a “playa,” like A-Rod, you are going to get it to the tenth power. Them’s the rules.
*********************************************************
A.Men.
I also think it’s pretty depressing that Tex, a player I was and am so excited to have as part of this team, is almost inevitably going to get caught up in this. If you believe the reporting, and I do, it seems like the early oughts Texas clubhouse was knee-deep in PEDs. It’s hard to imagine a burgeoning young player resisting that when seeing HoF caliber talent like A-Rod, Pudge, etc. partaking. Sucks.
I am not listening, but I wonder what the Yankees think of her handling of this.
Oops meaning Kim Jones.
Roberts is trying to profit off of Alex’s misery. I’m sure the book will have “from the reporter who broke the Arod steroid news” on the front of it.
The best way to counter this is don’t buy the book.
jennifer – I was thinking the same thing…how does she go back to YES after all this venom (based on what you all are saying – not listening live)
this whole episode goes to show you just how ridiculous our society is and why countries around the world laugh at us…
jen, did you see my response to you in the earlier thread?
“Roberts reported the absolute truth about Alex, and she deserves nothing but credit for it. Take your head out of your intestines and consider whether a homer like you would be wasting your time whingeing about a similar “bulldozing” of David Ortiz’ property.”
No one, zero people, on this thread, has denied that she reported the truth. People are ripping her for her Single White Female-like obsession with Alex and her wishy-washy attitude about the rest of the list.
“Like Jim Bouton said, “You want your privacy, be a shoe salesman, not ballplayer.””
Give me a break with the “celebrities should expect this!” card–ALL celebrities file complaints when the paparazzi cross certain lines, and A-Rod is doing the same thing here, while also complaining about it to the press. Gammons asked him if he gets tired of being a celebrity and he did the “I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone’s” routine, so he is not begging off being a famous ballplayer. There is a line and, to A-Rod, Roberts crossed it showing up at his homes and gym unannounced. He has every right to say that–it’s not a matter of “well it comes with the territory”, because you don’t see A-Rod whining about the National Enquirer or having his pictures on Page Six or any of the gossip. Just this one lady who has been following/hounding him for quite some time.
“Day Two. Still not a peep out of the spineless pinata . . . . Selig.”
Has MLB released a statement? Saw the Yankees. Saw the MLBPA’s. Nothing from MLB?
I wonder if Arod can get a restraing order due to her stalking him? Go for it Boras get a restraing order.
“The best way to counter this is don’t buy the book.”
Tom, that was signed, sealed, and delivered as soon as I heard that loose cannon was writing the book.
“These dings about him lying fall on deaf ears. What did you think the guy was going to do? Tell Katie Couric, yes I did steroids. Look at what is happening to his life now. Why would he willingly bring on this hell for no reason?”
Seriously? Then he shold have been more careful about what interviews he chose to do. Saying that he lied to Katie Couric is not taking the moral high ground. (What’s wrong wiht you?) It’s merely suggesting that there are consequences to actions, pretty much the moral minimum requirement of all of us who are not sociopaths.
Doreen:
Please do not back off. Your so-called “rant” made a lot of sense. Best post in days.
Barry Lane
Thanks again SJ44 for your insight into the business of sports.
People on here are trying to use Roberts as a scapegoat for their boy.
Yes, I agree that the other 103 players should be exposed and and the legitimacy of the testing results confirmed. Fair is fair.
He admitted use, so we know he used and that their is truth to the story.
Roberts is irrelevant. GET OVER HER. All you guys are doing are giving her the publicity she needs to sell her book. And rest assured, her book is going to sell millions of copies.
That would be restraining order
Trisha just went back and read it. It is very true.
Andrew,
Single White Female tactics or not, she knew she was onto one of the gnarliest revelations in the Steroid Era. She was a bulldog for the story, got her story, published her story, end of story.
Get over it.
If A-Rod is that concerned, he will fire a restraining order. He hasn’t done so thus far.
“Roberts is irrelevant.”
I wonder if the Duke players feel that way?
“People on here are trying to use Roberts as a scapegoat for their boy.”
Mad Prince, I think I can state unequivocally that Alex has never been my boy. If you read my posts when the story broke they do nothing but trash Alex for steroid use. So I don’t think it is fair of you to paint with a broad brush and not understand that many of us are disgusted with everything that Selena Roberts did and represents. This is now about Selena Roberts, the “journalist”. Not about a random reporter who broke the news that Arod used steroids.
Honestly.
murphydog -
You’re right, of course, that “unauthorized” biographies are part and parcel of a celebrity’s life (whatever the field of celebrity).
What I object to is her “holier than thou” attitude and the pass she gets because of her SI credentials. I don’t doubt she has done many facets of her job very well, or she wouldn’t still be doing her job, and she certainly wouldn’t be doing it for SI. But something smells fishy to me. This pursuit of ARod, it’s been ongoing. She’s written several articles about him that didn’t quite undo him. Now she’s going for the jugular with a book. I will admit, he’s kind of the perfect target for such a book. But again, it’s her attitude – the way she makes it sound like she actually knows him and actually may even care about him.
“And rest assured, her book is going to sell millions of copies.”
Books don’t sell millions of copies anymore unless they involve wizards or vampires or some other silliness. Furthermore, I don’t really buy the market still being hot come late-May for her book. A-Rod could be destroying the baseball and talking about how he found God or Kabballah or who knows what kind of craziness to get him through this tough time. The A-Rod show will go on without Selena Roberts.
here’s jim kaat’s take on it:
http://mlbnetwork.mlb.com/medi.....2093811954
Trisha, SJ, or any other lawyers here-
Is there a “media shield” for Roberts’s upcomming book-something that she could hide behind if accused of slander/libel?
“She was doing her job”
could we give this a rest already? just doing her job? the job she chose and chooses how to carry out, and in her case like a tabloid reporter.
“her job”. let’s not act like she’s out mining coal.
multiple new posts:)
SJ44,
I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad things are looking up and it’s a testament to his character that he stuck with it. Many would’ve given up.
Of course there’s systemic problems. Guys don’t go to the local gym and strike up conversations with bodybuilders for this stuff.
But the responsibility lies with the players.
“Single White Female tactics or not, she knew she was onto one of the gnarliest revelations in the Steroid Era. She was a bulldog for the story, got her story, published her story, end of story.”
No, the gnarliest revelation in the Steroid Era would be releasing a list of 104 people who tested positive, because it would transcend the Mitchell Report (a lot of hearsay and first-person anecdotes, not so much cold hard scientific fact) and show the depth and scope of steroids in baseball. It is clear that her motive was not to do that, but to find out if A-Rod had used steroids. To fix your statement, she was a bulldog for outing A-Rod, she got proof illegally that A-Rod was juicing, she published her story and got in a lot of plugs for her book, and her book will come out with limited fanfare, end of story.
If she was “just doing her job” as some people are putting it. She would have had more than one name! One name smells like a vendetta, and it is obvious that it is since she is writing a book.
“I don’t doubt she has done many facets of her job very well, or she wouldn’t still be doing her job, and she certainly wouldn’t be doing it for SI.”
Doreen I feel the need to add that she was canned from her job at the NY Times for false reporting. Mike Barnacle had to leave the Boston Globe for plagiarizing and has thrived as a successful journalist ever since.
So go figure.
JETER is a class act!!
“She was doing her job” I’m sure that what Reid Seligman thought while getting a mug shot and finger printed.
Tom, if she puts something out there that is untrue, and Alex has the energy, he can sue her as flat as a pancake. Depending upon the seriousness of the allegation, she would have to prove that she didn’t act with reckless disregard for the truth in publishing the information. It could be a lot of fun to watch since Alex could attempt to make a case that Roberts has actual malice when it comes to him.
Andrew:
A-Rod gratuitiously lied about steroids. Now he’s paying the piper. Where’s the problem?
Is there a “media shield” for Roberts’s upcomming book-something that she could hide behind if accused of slander/libel?
NY TImes v. Sullivan
Trisha -
Which is why didn’t give her credit for working at the NY Times.
“I wonder if the Duke players feel that way?”
I wonder whether they care. What she wrote about them was quite clearly agenda driven and unfair to the kids, but it was written as a columnist and nothing more than her opinion. It’s an opinion that was probably quite hurtful to these kids and their families and rooted in agenda, but in the end causes them no damage of consequence. That job of doing damage of consequence was carried out by one Mike Nifong (sp?) and so far as I know, it is he who is on the business end of several suits filed by the families and legal action initiated by North Carolina.
How come the top two MVP winners,Bonds(4)and Arod (3) are the *only two names leaked?*
Jeter is definitely the class of this franchise, which is why it is worrysome to see comments about how ugly it can get in 2 years when his contract comes up. Extend him now to the end of his career!
Maybe one of the lawyers on the blog can fill us in on restraining orders.
Just based on the public knowledge regarding this case, is there enough for Alex to get an official restraining order on Roberts?
It doesnt seem so to me…unless he can prove that she actually did try to break into his house.
Thanks, Murphydog and Trisha.
I guess the whole “unless it could be proven that the statement was made with actual malice” thing is kind of hard to prove.
I didn’t follow the infamous duke lacrosse story, but skimming through a couple of articles i got the impression that her a-rod treatment is a different beast altogether. If someone could fill me in on duke lacrosse, i would be happy – but my impression is that in that story she was saying that the problem was cultural and institutional, and that in effect, these guys were following orders. But now she’s focusing on one player, and saying he has mental problems, is gay, whatever. My guess is that once she’s done doing SI’s dirty work, SI is going to throw her to the wolves just like a-rod.
“A-Rod gratuitiously lied about steroids. Now he’s paying the piper. Where’s the problem?”
What, like the pied piper? How’s the view from your moral high ground? No one is questioning that A-Rod lied. You choose to moralize about how awful and terrible he is and how he deserves his comeuppance, that’s fine. Doesn’t mean others can’t question the motives of the reporter. Unless you think reporters are off-limits from criticism except for when they plagiarize stories. But I’ll leave that to you, since you, after all, are on the moral high ground.
Selena Robert and her character, or lack of it, is not the story. Arod is the topic. As far as The Duke things goes, the villains are the District Attorney and the good folks running the school. Roberts may have had too much righteous indignation, but in that respect, she is no different from many on this blog.
Barry Lane
Interesting. Just looked at Harper Collins, Publishers Weekly and Amazon.com and the description of the content of Robert’s book is no longer found on any of those websites.
trisha – Want the truth? Read Canseco’s book.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
“Tom, if she puts something out there that is untrue, and Alex has the energy, he can sue her as flat as a pancake. Depending upon the seriousness of the allegation, she would have to prove that she didn’t act with reckless disregard for the truth in publishing the information. It could be a lot of fun to watch since Alex could attempt to make a case that Roberts has actual malice when it comes to him.”
Trisha, in asking this question I am not trying to paint you into a corner or trap you. I am honestly curious about it.
A few weeks ago you articulated several times your concern that if Pettite was resigned by the Yankees it could be a distraction throughout the year. It would seem to me that Arod’s revelations and the fact that he is considered the best player in baseball would make it so there will almost be a circus atmosphere around Arod all year and could be a huge distraction for the team.
‘Jeter is definitely the class of this franchise, which is why it is worrysome to see comments about how ugly it can get in 2 years when his contract comes up. Extend him now to the end of his career!’
Completely OT but why ? Can we wait to get a bargain on his next few yrs. instead of overplaying the market. Some of you..
“I guess the whole “unless it could be proven that the statement was made with actual malice” thing is kind of hard to prove.”
Tom, if you read the malice standard, though, it really does make it harder for a reporter to throw out garbage and hope that it sticks.
It is necessary to show that the person accused of making the false statement did so with knowledge that the statement was false *or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the statement*.
ray, my concern about Pettitte and distractions had to do with the fact that he could be called by both the federal grand jury and Clemens’ lawyers if the defamation case goes. I wasn’t worried about the press and Andy absent those things happening.
Good discussion.
Later y’all. My half-day off just ended!
Selena Roberts NYT Articles dating back the last few years…… see a trend here at all, not exactly too thrilled with Arod and since she only randomly writes about the Yankees these articles I believe are half if not more of the articles she wrote on the Yankees in total over that time period.
“A-Rod’s Properties and Charity Suggest Some Stinginess”
“Rodriguez us a Bauble A Champion Doesn’t Need”
“No Longer Trying, Rodriguez Positions Himself for Success”
“Splendor in the Park : A-Rod is Posing a Problem”
“No Longer the Prom King, Rodriguez Seeks a Role”
“Rodriguez Is Getting Hits, to His Glowing Reputation”
pat interesting. Just went on bn they have the book, but no description. She is probably adding or changing things.
“Like Jim Bouton said, “You want your privacy, be a shoe salesman, not ballplayer.”
Anyone who takes a high profile job, in entertainment, sports, government, etc., has to expect the dumpster-diving, rich-and-famous-hunting behavior of the media. Celebrities, including the highest paid player on the NY Yankees, know or should know that they concede a certain amount of privacy and anonymity in exchange for all the perqs and privileges of their fame. (And that’s if you are a “work, church and home” kind of celebrity, like, say Mark Harmon). But when you are a “playa,” like A-Rod, you are going to get it to the tenth power. Them’s the rules.”
“Them’s the rules”, but as far as I know, stalking is against the law.
Thanks for clearing that up, Trisha.
If you ever need help on 18th Century literature, you know where to turn. (nobody ever cares about 18th c. lit. I’ve wasted my life..)
Selena Roberts is an occasional guest on ESPN’s Sports Reporters on Sunday AM.
They must be chomping at the bit to get her on this Sunday to keep her A-Rod gig going right into spring training.
” “Them’s the rules”, but as far as I know, stalking is against the law.”
Your point?
Andrew:
Big, rich famous celebrity lies, went out of his way to do it too. Now he’s paying for it. That’s the way the world works. I’m just calling a spade a spade.
Why does that bother you so much?
Hey Arod you reap what you sow. Don’t rip Selena Roberts. If she really “stalked” you, call the police. Give them some evidence.
Her interview is on WFAN.com. Didn’t sound like stalking to me.
So the majority here think Arod was victimized somehow by this horrible journalist with the questionable tactics? Wow Scott Boras is good. Bush could have used him. PED’s or no PED’s, at the end of the day his most fitting moniker remains NIM-ROD.