BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Riley: Alex Rodriguez should go to jail

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Riley: Alex Rodriguez should go to jail

But should he have his children taken away from him too?

The game of baseball’s highest-paid player admitted to using steroids for at least three years as he struggled to earn the $252-million contract the Texas Rangers gave him in 2000. He hit 156 home runs while on drugs.

And according to news reports, his admission—and the violation of all that used to be holy in baseball—will warrant no suspension.

How stupid is that?

If that is what it is, then fine. But he should go to jail.

Former President Bill Clinton was impeached for lying. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was jailed for lying. Barry Bonds was crucified for allegedly lying in December 2003 when he told a federal grand jury he never knowingly used steroids. His trial begins next month.

Brandon in MO (Fire Trey Hillman) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:58 PM | 100 comment(s)
Related News: General

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

1. Phil Coorey Needs To Know How To Kill A Cat Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:03 PM (#3073772)

Jesus Christ - some people are over the top

2. Valentine Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:07 PM (#3073775)

Lying in the court of public opinion (on national TV, no less!) is a capital offense. Off with his head!

3. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:08 PM (#3073778)

Former President Bill Clinton was impeached for lying. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was jailed for lying.

A politician has a much higher threshold to be ethical than a freaking baseball player does.

4. Greg K : President of the Shooty Fanclub Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:08 PM (#3073779)

"If that is what it is, then fine. But he should go to jail."

I'm not even sure what this means.

5. Marc Sully's not booin'. He's Youkin'.

Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3073782)

Keep 'em coming!

6. Zuvella! Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3073783)

Make the stupidity stop!

Please!

7. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3073784)

Rochelle Riley should go to jail for stealing money from freep.com

8. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:21 PM (#3073797)

You know, this person cannot possible so stupid as to not see the distinction between the context in which Clinton, Bonds, etc. lied and the context in which A-Rod did. Just can't.

9. Dayn

Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:21 PM (#3073798)

I'm not sure I can take much more of these. I want to follow the forthcoming season, but the only way I can do that is to wade through these pig-ignorant denunciations.

10. dng Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:23 PM (#3073802)

Staggeringly idiotic. Btw, Kwame Kilpatrick was a corrupt disgrace, not simply a liar. To compare him to Clinton and A-Rod...the woman is a fool.

11. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:25 PM (#3073803)

Rochelle Riley should go to jail for stealing money from freep.com

And here I was assuming this was Rick Riley. It would certainly fit his MO.

12. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:29 PM (#3073806)

Oh great. A Nonsensical rallying point for ARod's defenders and the people who dont think steroids are bad.

No one in their right mind agrees with this awful article.

Yawn.

13. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:30 PM (#3073808)

Which mediot will truly and honestly claim that ARod should have his kids taken away?

14. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:32 PM (#3073812)

Then he can 1) be forced to resign; 2) be forced to hang out with Madonna for a few months; 3) return for a conviction and at least one day in jail.

That's three strikes.

Not really.

15. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:35 PM (#3073815)

And here I was assuming this was Rick Riley. It would certainly fit his MO.

Nah, Rick Riley would have ended each sentence with a bad joke.

16. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:37 PM (#3073817)

My last name's Riley, and I always point out that Rick Reilly spells his name differently. Now I'll have to find a different spelling.

17. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:41 PM (#3073819)

Reilee

18. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:45 PM (#3073824)

Righlie

19. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:50 PM (#3073828)

Chone Figgins.

20. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:51 PM (#3073829)

Which mediot will truly and honestly claim that ARod should have his kids taken away?

Considering Enders was responsible for the first one, shouldn't you be asking which Primate will claim that?

21. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:52 PM (#3073831)

Enders was responsible for ARod's first kid? Juicy.

22. Dedicated to Esoteric but he wasn't listening Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:53 PM (#3073832)

I want someone to say that A-Rod should get the death penalty. You can't go much further than that.

23. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:55 PM (#3073834)

ARod should get 120 lashes with the cat o' nine tails. Pour encourager les autres. Joseph Foveaux would never have put up with his damnable treachery.

24. Justin T Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:56 PM (#3073835)

Didn't Mrs. Rod already take his kids away?

25. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:56 PM (#3073836)

NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION.

26. Cris E Posted: February 10, 2009 at 08:58 PM (#3073841)

Sir Bedevere: There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
Peasant 1: Are there? Oh well, tell us.
Sir Bedevere: Tell me. What do you do with witches?
Peasant 1: Burn them.
Sir Bedevere: And what do you burn, apart from witches?
Peasant 1: More witches.
Peasant 2: Wood.
Sir Bedevere: Good. Now, why do witches burn?
Peasant 3: ...because they're made of... wood?
Sir Bedevere: Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood?
Peasant 1: Build a bridge out of her.

EDIT: Well that's an alarming coincidence.

27. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:03 PM (#3073843)

I saw Mister Sosa with the Devil!
I saw Mister Rod dancing in the woods!
Goody Tejada has often laughed at prayer!

28. E., Hinske Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:10 PM (#3073847)

I want someone to say that A-Rod should get the death penalty.

I'm amazed one of the more conservative types hasn't already. Something like:

"So A-Rod was on the needle in Texas? The State of Texas should give him one more, as that's how they deal with people of his character there."

29. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:12 PM (#3073849)

"So A-Rod was on the needle in Texas? The State of Texas should give him one more, as that's how they deal with people of his character there."

And then someone will intentionally inject race into it by saying, "colored people?"

And then people will forget A-Rod existed.

30. HGM Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:18 PM (#3073850)

These articles just keep outdoing themselves in stupidity.

31. Non-Youkilidian Geometry Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:29 PM (#3073857)

I really thought Madden's article yesterday had set a new Beamonesque record for stupidity. I never imagined it would only last one day.

32. Kiko Sakata

Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:33 PM (#3073860)

I really thought Madden's article yesterday had set a new Beamonesque record for stupidity. I never imagined it would only last one day.

Sort of like how Bonds obliterated McGwire's unimaginable 70 home runs. I wonder what Madden and Riley are on. Riley obviously has a better supplier.

33. zonk Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:33 PM (#3073861)

That's it.

No one is allowed to write anything.

It's the only way to stop this.

34. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:38 PM (#3073862)

Liberal.

35. jim in providence Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:40 PM (#3073865)

I want someone to say that A-Rod should get the death penalty. You can't go much further than that.

Sure you can. The term "death penalty" implies due process. And "should" is one of those wishy-washy subjunctives.

And here I was assuming this was Rick Riley. It would certainly fit his MO.

I freaked out a bit because I initially thought that this was Reilly in SI. Not to excuse a major metro paper for batshit crazy, but the idea of a national sports magazine sanctioning this argument was, well, disturbing.

36. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: February 10, 2009 at 09:41 PM (#3073867)

- Former President Bill Clinton was impeached for lying. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was jailed for lying.

A politician has a much higher threshold to be ethical than a freaking baseball player does.

Well, these men lied under oath as part of legal proceedings. Despite what anyone wants to think, Katie Couric is not a court of law.

37. baseball chick (now, with NEW blog) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:02 PM (#3073870)

i knew this was coming

federal prison for tejada for lying about OTHER guys using roids

so why not send arod to to prison for lying to katie couric, a television personality (that's a crime??? what are they gonna do with all the musicians/actors who ASSURE katie that they are most DEFINITELY not pregnant, only to announce that they are 5 months gone with twins the next week. yeh, i know. take their children away...)

interesting that i don't see miss riley demanding that jc romero and ryan franklin get put in prison. double standard

this was one of the most suckulous articles ever posted on this here site in the past 6 years

38. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:16 PM (#3073882)

so why not send arod to to prison for lying to katie couric, a television personality

It will be more fun to see him die inside a little more each day as he gets booed mercilessly in every away stadium... and then even more viciously at home!

ARod will be dreaming about how peaceful and simple prison would be by August.

/rimshot

39. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:17 PM (#3073883)

A politician has a much higher threshold to be ethical than a freaking baseball player does.

Really? If we took a survey and asked generally "Who are you more likely to believe, a professional baseball player or a politician?"... well, Im pretty sure the answer would overwhelmingly be "professional baseball player."

Not even joking. Totally, 100% serious.

40. Monty Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:18 PM (#3073885)

So... pitchers and catchers are reporting soon, right? And then people will be playing baseball? Right?

41. Biff uses the power of mental thinking Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:19 PM (#3073886)

EDIT: Well that's an alarming coincidence.

You have a different definition of "alarming" than I do. I would have gone with "awesome".

42. Tripon Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:27 PM (#3073890)

43. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:29 PM (#3073891)

Which is why I said threshold and not expectation.

Ah... my apologies. I thought you were arguing the other side of that, ie. that polticians are held to higher standard of truthfulness.

44. Alex Vila Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:39 PM (#3073896)

Where is Randal when you need him?

45. Edmundo is Super Average Man

Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:42 PM (#3073897)

My last name's Riley, and I always point out that Rick Reilly spells his name differently. Now I'll have to find a different spelling.
However you spell it, you should spell it wryly.

46. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:46 PM (#3073898)

A-Rod should be publicly stoned!

47. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Marching Through Georgia

Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:47 PM (#3073899)

My last name's Riley, and I always point out that Rick Reilly spells his name differently. Now I'll have to find a different spelling.

What a revoltin' development this is!

48. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:48 PM (#3073900)

A-Rod should be publicly stoned!

What? Like Michael Phelps...?

49. baseball chick (now, with NEW blog) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:55 PM (#3073903)

alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 10:17 PM (#3073883)

A politician has a much higher threshold to be ethical than a freaking baseball player does.

Really? If we took a survey and asked generally "Who are you more likely to believe, a professional baseball player or a politician?"... well, Im pretty sure the answer would overwhelmingly be "professional baseball player."

Not even joking. Totally, 100% serious.

- agree
i wouldn't believe a politician if he/she told me the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
- there is just about nobody i wouldn't believe before a politician

50. Confined to the Halls of Congers (formerly Y...) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:05 PM (#3073910)

Well, these men lied under oath as part of legal proceedings. Despite what anyone wants to think, Katie Couric is not a court of law.

Unless Prop 304 passes. And we all pray that it will.

51. LargeBill Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:11 PM (#3073918)

This woman takes stupid to a whole 'nother level. In Detroit the level of acceptable stupidity is fairly high, but she has to be testing the limits even there. Does she even have a clue about why the other goofs she mentioned were treated differently? It has something to do with lying after taking an oath under penalty of law.

52. Where's Vince Lloyd Now That We Need Him?(sjs1959) Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:15 PM (#3073922)

Where is Randal when you need him?

Damn. You beat me to it.

53. alskor Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:20 PM (#3073931)

This woman takes stupid to a whole 'nother level. In Detroit the level of acceptable stupidity is fairly high, but she has to be testing the limits even there. Does she even have a clue about why the other goofs she mentioned were treated differently? It has something to do with lying after taking an oath under penalty of law.

Which was the worse story in the last year written by a female sportswriter from Detroit, this one OR Jemele Hill's comparing Celtics fans to Nazi sympathizers on the heels of her crusade against Don Imus?

54. The Piehole of David Wells, Red Sox Colostomy Bag Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:22 PM (#3073932)

as a red sox fan, "yes please."

55. Primakov is once again done with politics Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:25 PM (#3073934)

Gotta be Jemele Hill's.

This article is simply trash.

56. Primakov is once again done with politics Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:25 PM (#3073935)

I'd call it TP but my cheeks protest at the thought.

57. Sleepy supports S.S. at second Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:27 PM (#3073937)

"If that is what it is, then fine. But he should go to jail."

I'm not even sure what this means.

That depends upon what the meaning of the word "is", is.

58. CiC Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:32 PM (#3073941)

The author of this article could use some performance enhancers.

59. Hugh Jorgan Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:37 PM (#3073945)

Please just make it stop...please.

Now there are some pretty sh*tty sportswriters worldwide, but this thing A-rod has brought out the worst in U.S. sporst journalism(if you can still call it that)

Please, please, just make it stop....

60. STEROIDS!!!!! Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:38 PM (#3073949)

Nooo this isn't a witch hunt. not at all.

Let's throw Arod into a volcano. If he's on steroids he'll be able to climb out.

61. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 10, 2009 at 11:57 PM (#3073973)

I freaked out a bit because I initially thought that this was Reilly in SI. Not to excuse a major metro paper for batshit crazy, but the idea of a national sports magazine sanctioning this argument was, well, disturbing.

He's with ESPN now, but your point mostly stands.

62. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:00 AM (#3073980)

This might be the dumbest in a long line of very dumb op-eds on this topic.

63. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:02 AM (#3073982)

And I see I'm about the 86th person to make that point in this thread (impressive, since mine was only the 62nd post). It can't be repeated often enough, however.

64. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:28 AM (#3074006)

63 comments and no Simpsons reference? And I don't mean Grampa....

65. PreservedFish Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:42 AM (#3074020)

63 comments and no Simpsons reference? And I don't mean Grampa....

I believe that #50 is a Simpsons reference

66. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:47 AM (#3074025)

So... pitchers and catchers are reporting soon, right? And then people will be playing baseball? Right?

If by "playing baseball" you mean "conspiring to destroy all that binds us as a people," then yes. Yes they will.

67. doc dynamo Posted: February 11, 2009 at 12:49 AM (#3074026)

If lying to the public was enough to sne you to jail, wouldn't the entire sports media have to go to jail for their coverage of the Duke Lacrosse case?

68. jim in providence Posted: February 11, 2009 at 01:15 AM (#3074039)

I'm thinking this is just the flat-out stupidest thing I've read about the Recent Crisis in Baseball. This is it. The floor.

But then I recall that some claimed that Madden's "The Yankees Should Release A-Rod and No Other Team Will Pick Him Up For Free Take That You Cheating Steroids Raped My Childhood Memories of Baseball At Which Admittedly I Wasn't Very Good At As A Kid" article, though it came in the wake of his "Despite His Hit-By-A-Bus-Today-He's-In-The-HOF Numbers, Many Writers Just Didn't Like The Looks of Him" piece, could not be topped for just plain old outright post-lobotomy thinking.

Given that "A-ROID" constitutes the apotheosis of all possible stories about PEDs in baseball, there will many, many A-Roid threads from here on out. I would like to see an ongoing poll - weekly? daily? - through which BTF posters could by popular acclaim elect a "Craziest A-Roid Column." The "Roidy," if you will. Surely, this is not too much much to ask of those who, as recently as a couple of weeks ago, were inviting us to speculate on where Mark Teixeira might land.

69. jim in providence Posted: February 11, 2009 at 01:23 AM (#3074041)

If by "playing baseball" you mean "conspiring to destroy all that binds us as a people," then yes. Yes they will.

Great. So we have to "come together as a nation" again? It's like every freaking spring with these "baseball" terrorists.

70. Lassus Posted: February 11, 2009 at 01:42 AM (#3074044)

Ms. Riley -

It is astounding and appalling that you could possibly write something with such a lack of perspective, sense, and clarity and managed to get paid for it. Comparisons of Presidents to baseball players, NCAA violations to federal crimes?

You should be embarrassed, as should your employers.

Regards -

I cc'd the sports editor.

(I didn't sign it Lassus, but with my actual name. Not that I'd let you degenerates see THAT.)

71. Walt Davis Posted: February 11, 2009 at 03:14 AM (#3074073)

If that is what it is, then fine. But he should go to jail.

Having twice TA'd for intro sociology courses, I'm fairly good at translating gibberish, so let me give this a go:

"If baseball is so spineless that they won't violate the CBA to suspend AROD, well we can't do anything about that. But that doesn't mean we can't violate the Constitution and throw him in jail for no reason."

See also most of Alberto Gonzalez's legal writings.

72. tjm1 Posted: February 11, 2009 at 04:55 AM (#3074083)

Does anyone even know if there's a crime with which ARod could be charged here, even if someone wanted to? Obviously, there's no chance of a perjury charge since he never testified in court. Would the statute of limitations on illegal steroid use have already expired by now? I think it's five years for drug charges, so ARod hasn't even admitted anything with which he could be charged, and all the direct evidence, again, would be for crimes that couldn't be prosecuted.

Doesn't the Detroit Free Press have editors?

73. AJM Posted: February 11, 2009 at 08:22 AM (#3074156)

If lying to the public was enough to sne you to jail, wouldn't the entire sports media have to go to jail for their coverage of the Duke Lacrosse case?

You reminded me of this segment from The Daily Show. Great stuff.

74. Confined to the Halls of Congers (formerly Y...) Posted: February 11, 2009 at 08:49 AM (#3074187)

If nothing else, this controversy has generated a tremendous amount of quality snark on this site.

75. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: February 11, 2009 at 08:57 AM (#3074194)

So, freep.com is where the term "freeptard" comes from? I've heard that but I never knew where it came from. Mystery solved!

76. what the hell, just use your initials or something Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:03 AM (#3074199)

so why not send arod to to prison for lying to katie couric

Let's blow this thread up right now: didn't Sarah Palin lie to Katie Couric?

77. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:05 AM (#3074200)

The sad part of this is that this moron probably got more internet hits on this article than any article she ever wrote before so both she and her editors are probably DELIGHTED about this sort of reaction.

78. Dan The Mediocre Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:05 AM (#3074202)

Let's blow this thread up right now: didn't Sarah Palin lie to Katie Couric?

There has to be a coherent sentence for there to be a lie.

79. villageidiom Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:07 AM (#3074206)

Does anyone even know if there's a crime with which ARod could be charged here, even if someone wanted to?

Can it be proven that he took illegal drugs while in the United States? The guy can afford to vacation wherever he wants, so why not some place where this stuff is legal? It would seem to me that he could have been using last week* and not be prosecuted for it.

*I'm not suggesting he was... though IIRC he was reportedly "out of the country" when the story broke.

80. Lassus Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:33 AM (#3074251)

I got a response to my email from Ms. Riley:

Mr. XXXX

I got quite a lot of praise for that column by people who understood exactly what it was: a tongue-in-cheek rant against cheating in baseball. I made it clear that A-Rod can't go to jail by offering hilarious alternatives.. So perhaps it isn't a lack of clarity, but just a lack of comprehension on your part.

Thanks for writing.

Rochelle

I've re-read the article about five times. Can anyone tell me if I've missed something tongue-in-cheek here?

81. Shooty Did Not Kill McGurk

Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:35 AM (#3074252)

pwn3d!

82. Dan The Mediocre Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:37 AM (#3074255)

I've re-read the article about five times. Can anyone tell me if I've missed something tongue-in-cheek here?

Saying it was a joke is how people escape punishment for saying something stupid. Email her back and inform her that if it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, then she needs to rethink her profession because she failed miserably.

83. tribefan Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:40 AM (#3074257)

So she's just a really bad writer. Got it.

84. bunyon Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:40 AM (#3074258)

The article is poorly written and stupid. However, A-Rod is basically admitting to a crime, or at least to activity that is criminal in the US if committed here. I can certainly see someone saying that someone who admits to that should be in jail. I disagree, and don't think drug use should ever merit jail time, but if you believe those who use illegal drugs should be jailed, you shouldn't make exception for rich folks.

85. what the hell, just use your initials or something Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:42 AM (#3074262)

May I suggest:

Dear Ms. Riley,

I would like to sincerely apologize for my earlier comments regarding your lack of perspective, sense, and clarity. Instead, let me simply state for the record that you are most definitely not funny. Not in the least.

Sincerely,
Lassus

86. JPWF13

Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:48 AM (#3074273)

Boog Powell. (Who knew a man that size could move that quick?)

come on, having RTFA you have to know at this point that it's not serious

87. Lassus Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:52 AM (#3074282)

Ms. Riley -

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with you regarding the "tongue-in-cheek" tone of your article. It just isn't there. It most certainly is a rant, but there is so much bitterness and bile, lengthy real-world examples, and historical anecdotes included that there is no evidence of some kind of hyperbolic or sarcastic bent to your writing.

Check any aggregator on A-Rod stories, from Stark on down to Madden, and you'll possibly see how your article offers no hilarity, just more of the same.

Best -

pwn3d!

Shut up, you!

88. Confined to the Halls of Congers (formerly Y...) Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:55 AM (#3074288)

I don't think she understands what "tongue-in-cheek" means.

89. jmurph Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:56 AM (#3074292)

I do respect that she referred to her own jokes as "hilarious."

90. Non-Youkilidian Geometry Posted: February 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM (#3074346)

So, freep.com is where the term "freeptard" comes from? I've heard that but I never knew where it came from. Mystery solved!

Actually, "freeptard" refers to right-wingers who hang out on FreeRepublic.com, not moronic columnists who write for the Detroit Free Press. But it sure fits.

91. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: February 11, 2009 at 10:54 AM (#3074390)

I've re-read the article about five times. Can anyone tell me if I've missed something tongue-in-cheek here?

She must have watched last night's TBS rerun of The Office. Also, "tongue-in-cheek" means she wants you.

92. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: February 11, 2009 at 11:01 AM (#3074406)

My last name's Riley, and I always point out that Rick Reilly spells his name differently. Now I'll have to find a different spelling.

The gaelic is "Raghallaigh"

93. David Nieporent (now, with child) Posted: February 11, 2009 at 11:07 AM (#3074418)

The article is poorly written and stupid. However, A-Rod is basically admitting to a crime, or at least to activity that is criminal in the US if committed here. I can certainly see someone saying that someone who admits to that should be in jail. I disagree, and don't think drug use should ever merit jail time, but if you believe those who use illegal drugs should be jailed, you shouldn't make exception for rich folks.

One problem with that: A-Rod is not "basically admitting to a crime, as you note, at most he's admitting to something that would be a crime if committed here, which he didn't admit. He doesn't admit to what substances he used, as far as I know, and merely saying "steroids" doesn't provide sufficient basis to conclude a crime occurred. Also, there's no "exception for rich folks" here; nobody, rich or poor, goes to jail for having used a drug in the past.

94. bunyon Posted: February 11, 2009 at 11:13 AM (#3074429)

I know all that, DN. I'm just saying, I could see the argument. I'd disagree with it even if it was made well and, of course, it's not what the author is saying.

It's just always been something that surprises me, admission of something that could conceivably be criminal behavior. Anyway, as to your last point, I thought I'd read of folks who were busted by employment drug tests (by busted I mean arrested). Am I drinking the fringe, paranoid, conspiracy Kool-Aid again?

95. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:34 PM (#3075152)

wait.

this was humor?

96. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:43 PM (#3075164)

I've re-read the article about five times. Can anyone tell me if I've missed something tongue-in-cheek here?

i reread it twice, she went on and on about how hurt she was. There was no attempt at humor in there, with the possible exception of her Madonna dig.

Clearly she is a liar, and clearly she should go to jail.

97. what the hell, just use your initials or something Posted: February 11, 2009 at 09:46 PM (#3075168)

And have her children taken away.

98. RayDiPerna Posted: February 11, 2009 at 10:46 PM (#3075222)

Saying it was a joke is how people escape punishment for saying something stupid.

Yes; Joe Torre tried something somewhat similar, when he tried to claim that the A-Fraud stuff was said jokingly _to_ ARod, and not behind ARod's back, as Torre's book says.

Doesn't pass the giggle test because the necessary implication of Torre's revised claim is that Tom Verducci wasn't able to properly articulate that in the book.

99. RayDiPerna Posted: February 11, 2009 at 10:59 PM (#3075230)

Lassus, her column is a mess -- stupid and incoherent -- but it does appear she was attempting humor. For example:

But if baseball won't punish Rodriguez for lying to the game and the justice system can't punish Rodriguez, and many sportswriters don't want to punish Rodriguez (reminding that he's not alone and wondering aloud whether to just subtract those seasons and still put him in the Hall of Fame), then perhaps fans can get Rodriguez.

For lying to us.

Perhaps he can be charged with fraud. Against the game. Against history. Against the fans.

Then he can 1) be forced to resign; 2) be forced to hang out with Madonna for a few months; 3) return for a conviction and at least one day in jail.

Aren't 1, 2, and 3 (baseball players don't "resign") meant to be unserious?

100. Lassus Posted: February 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM (#3075237)

Once it is parsed and examined and mined for the bits, I can finally see it, Ray. And really, isn't that sign of good humor?

I mean, it works on no levels at all. And to see it as a serious article is not even close to a stretch, given the insane righteousness of her peers it's been following. It's just the next step from those, and not a satire by any definition.

"A Modest Proposal", it isn't.

Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Riley: Alex Rodriguez should go to jail

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

My Bookmarks

Hot Topics