SI’s Selena Roberts Haunts A-Rod for Money, Fame: Are They Really So Different?
April 30, 2009 · Heartbeat Of The Bronx · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Word of a book destined to demoralize Alex Rodriguez and attack his credibility and character was common knowledge.
We all knew that the author was Selena Roberts, a relentless leech who could not quite be plucked away from Rodriguez’s skin. She continued to bite and suck until she felt there was enough damning evidence to profit from.
Roberts, interestingly enough, chose to wait until A-Rod was about ready to return to the Major Leagues. God forbid her chances of a New York Times Best Seller were at all compromised.
Late last night, many tidbits and highlights of the text were released publicly to the media.
It was done in much the same way as The Yankee Years, a book co-authored by Tom Verducci and Joe Torre. The difference is, Roberts wanted it to be done, and in this exact manner.
Readers can take a look at the report produced through ESPN, as I do not want to spend the duration of the article discussing the bevy of accusations.
The problem that I have with Roberts is not at all related to her reporting techniques. It does not even stem from her authoring of an unfairly timed and inherently ill-natured piece of literature.
The issue here is that regardless of how offended Roberts would be to hear it, she is a clear example of “the pot calling the kettle black.” She and Rodriguez are not so different after all, though she chooses to vilify him for possessing similar motives.
A-Rod elected to use performance-enhancing substances in order to maximize his achievements and ultimately his fame. He essentially vowed to do “whatever necessary” to reach his goals, as well as to earn every dime of the league’s historically richest contract.
Does this sound at all like an aggressive and unapologetic reporter to you? Roberts goes about her craft in exactly the same way, vowing to do “whatever necessary” to generate eye-catching headlines or move books off the shelves.
Roberts presumably has bent the rules or moral code of her profession to get to the bottom of a story, and her employer likely turned a blind eye to her tactics. This is more so an indictment of the nation’s mainstream media, as opposed to a personal attack on Roberts.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I find it worthwhile to express that I do not condone A-Rod’s actions, nor grant him reprieve for what he has done. In fact, I am generally left feeling uneasy as a result of his arrogance and the way he carries himself.
Regardless of these feelings and beliefs, I find many of Roberts’ “findings” to be entirely petty at this point. They appear to be derived from a personal vendetta against Rodriguez, and are generally either common sense knowledge or unnecessary public ridicule.
Roberts is pouring gasoline—as opposed to the normally accepted “salt”—on Rodriguez’s open wounds. Never before have I felt so remorseful for a man who has knowingly performed countless negative acts.
Any fan or follower of baseball understands the ramifications of A-Rod’s positive steroid test in 2003. Regardless of any further factual evidence, he will be forced to carry a black cloud over his head until the day he leaves baseball.
Speculation will run wild about what years he actually used performance enhancers, and if he still does in some capacity. Additional hearsay about his likely continued use in New York is no more concrete than before. Without another positive test taken after 2003, nothing can be proven as fact.
Publicly describing Rodriguez’s tipping habits at a “classy” restaurant like Hooters, or offering intimate details into his propensity to gamble and carouse, are simply redundant.
Everyone in the world already knows about his marital affairs and tends to agree that he is not a particularly polite or upstanding citizen. Aside from generating income, as is every author’s motive, there is no benefit from displaying the information on a book’s pages.
Understanding full well that the story will snowball into an unstoppable avalanche, I still hope that somehow rationality will prevail.
Rodriguez used steroids, cheated on his wife, gambled, enjoyed the services of strippers, and lied publicly. He ran through the gauntlet for his vices and does not deserve to jump through fire again for Selena Roberts’ benefit.
Please, America, I ask you just this once: Let it go. Leave Rodriguez buried six feet under in the grave he has already dug for himself. He at least deserves that courtesy.
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