From this, I can only assume that Rodriguez reads Poz's blog and really craves his respect.

When is Roberts going to call the Duke lacrosse team and apologize to them?

When is Roberts going to call the Duke lacrosse team and apologize to them?

Right after Duff Wilson, Nancy Grace, Wendy Murphy, and John Feinstein apologize.

That is to say, never.

Roberts said Sunday that Rodriguez called her last Wednesday. She didn’t want to comment on the call until Rodriguez holds a news conference after arriving at spring training Tuesday.

So she is deciding whether to accept his apology. Priceless.

So she is deciding whether to accept his apology. Priceless.

There's absolutely no indication in her quote that this is why she's deferring her comment. Your comment is asinine.

I've never disagreed with Poz more than that blog he wrote about this. A-Rod may be a sleezeball, but it's completely understandable why he would be very very upset and assume the worst about a woman who has shown a strong dislike for him in the past and now orchestrated the release of confidential information about him that serves no public good when she's got a book about him coming out. I am so so so much angrier at her than at A-Rod. I hope she's forced to reveal her sources or go to jail.

I guess even Poz isn't immune to identifying as part of the sportswriters' club.

There's absolutely no indication in her quote that this is why she's deferring her comment. Your comment is asinine.

What is so hard about her saying "And I accepted his apology"?

I frankly think she should apologize for disclosing that he had tested positive, and for writing an upcoming book which reveals aspects of his private life that he probably doesn't want revealed. Those are scummy things to do, especially in the name of making a buck.

---

By the way, Scotto, I meant to comment during the Roberto Alomar discussion to say that I'm sorry for what your brother is going through. It must really be difficult for all involved, obviously. Best wishes to him.

By the way, Scotto, I meant to comment during the Roberto Alomar discussion to say that I'm sorry for what your brother is going through.

Thank you, that's very gracious of you. The person going through the worst of it, as he has for many long years, is my father. It's a long and not pleasant story. That's not to say that my brother hasn't suffered, he has. I'll leave it at that.

Regarding her saying "I accepted his apology", I think it's fair for her to wait to see what he says before responding. That's because I wonder who initiated the comment that he called, his side or her side. The article seems unclear to me on this point. Did his side inform the media, and she responded to questions from ESPN confirming the call? Or did she call ESPN to tell them about it, thus initiating the story? My suspicion is the former, and that's why I'm willing to cut her some slack.

Of course, neither of us has a clue as to who initiated, I don't think. It's just a two or three graph blurb, so to some extent we're both guessing.

I agree with Scotto here. Maybe they called Serena and said "We hear A-Rod called you to apologize", and she doesn't know whether A-Rod wanted anything he said to be made public, so she has no comment until she heard what he has said publicly.

Imagine if she had started talking about what A-Rod said over the phone to her, and revealed something that he hadn't previously publicized..."Has she no shame? Leaking A-Rod's private life once again for the sake of her own publicity?" Yada yada. This is a nonstory anyway.

I am ambivalent about your handle, Crispix. My 6 year old was recently given an HB Dastardly and Muttley collection and has gotten into it. I had forgotten that cartoon, and wished not to be reminded of it.

Rocky and Bullwinkle, following my successful introduction of classic Looney Tunes, was where I was hoping he'd find interest. I erred when I showed him some Ren and Stimpy, though. Now I have to hear a lot about not whizzing on electric fences, which is a good life lesson, but it ain't Boris, Natasha, Sherman and Peabody. Not to mention Aesop's Fables.

Rocky and Bullwinkle, following my successful introduction of classic Looney Tunes, was where I was hoping he'd find interest

I trust you told him about QB Bob Waterbucket from Wassamatta U

I trust you told him about QB Bob Waterbucket from Wassamatta U

No, I didn't want to spoil the story arc.

touche

Anyway, I don't get why ARod has to do a news conference on Tuesday. (I say this because there's a report that he doesn't want to do anything formal, but the Yankees want him to.) He gave a lengthy interview already. Sure, there were some gaps and details that didn't quite make sense, but it seems like the media just wants to ask him questions so that they can play gotcha, which is rather pointless; we've seen that most people don't really believe that he only used from 2001-2003 anyway, so I don't see why people will believe him any more following the next go-around of this nonsense.

After all, we know that he's not as truthful as Honest Andy.

Ray,

A news conference is the best way to get all the NY reporters off A-Rod's back (at least to some extent).

Since you are giving them some red meat, they'll eat it up and be fat and happy (for a while).

For about two seconds when the next round of accusations will be thought of. Everything ARod says is going to be dissected and analyzed. So really it does really serve ARod any good to keep on talking, he is simply adding fuel to the fire. All the reporters and sports talk radio heads want is churn. Keep the story spinning and keep the ratings flowing.

Anyway, I don't get why ARod has to do a news conference on Tuesday.

You already answered this:

the Yankees want him to.

When the guy who's going to be paying you $300M tells you to hold a press conference, you hold a press conference.

When the guys paying you have signed a guaranteed 300 million dollar service contract with you and you have a union you can tell them to go fudge themselves.

When the guys paying you have signed a guaranteed 300 million dollar service contract with you and you have a union you can tell them to go fudge themselves.

Well, I don't think she deserved an apology, but if HE thought that he should, he did. Sometimes people actually do things they think are right to do, you know.

Well, I don't think she deserved an apology, but if HE thought that he should, he did. Sometimes people actually do things they think are right to do, you know.

And you know what we call those people, son?

Hippies.

When the guys paying you have signed a guaranteed 300 million dollar service contract with you and you have a union you can tell them to go fudge themselves.

Especially when there is potential criminality involved, depending on what he took and when (for example, say his use was more recent than he has let on). Remember, Pettitte had already testified fully under oath by the time he got to camp, so he could just stick to his script. (Not that the press asked him any difficult questions anyway.)

Also, the feds may want to talk to ARod at some point regarding his use and to seek information as to from whom he obtained any illegal substances, and so ARod doesn't want to be in a position where he has to give a different version to the feds than what he has said publicly.

There were good reasons for him to be vague during the Gammons interview.

In any event, as you also point out, the more specific ARod gets, the more the press is going to dissect and analyze his latest details, which only serves to add fuel the fire.

How I wish ARod would just tell the press to go scratch, and cite the Gammons interview as his first and last word on the subject. I wonder how many people pushing for him to be more specific would volunteer to provide their own laundy list of embarrassing and potentially illegal conduct in a public forum.

Incidentally, I wish the Duke LaCrosse team's experience on no innocent person the world over.

On a completely unrelated note, I do think some of their conduct is completely unjustifiable and if it gets their asses kicked one day, I doubt I will feel one tinge of regret.

But the justice system should not exist to punish people we disapprove of for crimes they did not commit, even if this is what it has been used for for generations.

But the justice system should not exist to punish people we disapprove of for crimes they did not commit, even if this is what it has been used for for generations.

At least somebody knows how the A-Team feels.

"I do think some of their conduct is completely unjustifiable"

Which part? Hiring a stripper? Throwing a party? Going to Duke?

“I know this lady from Sports Illustrated, Selena Roberts, is trying to throw things out there that in high school I tried steroids. I mean, that’s the biggest bunch of baloney I’ve ever heard in my life,” he told ESPN, adding that “this lady is coming out with all these allegations, all these lies.”

This is from the "article" linked, and I've seen the interview several times.

What is so hard about her saying "And I accepted his apology"?

Answering one question about the call leads to follow-ups from the media. "What, specifically, did he apologize for? How does this make you feel? What's next for The Rod?"

If the Dread Pirate doesn't feel right about answering those, it's better for her to clam up completely and let A-Rod control the public release of the substance of the conversation. In other words, I agree with Crispix's #8.

But honestly, unless there's unaired parts of the interview in which he paints Selena as the she-devil, I don't see what's worth apologizing for either.

I frankly think she should apologize for disclosing that he had tested positive, and for writing an upcoming book which reveals aspects of his private life that he probably doesn't want revealed. Those are scummy things to do, especially in the name of making a buck.

I see this a lot. I'm not criticizing Ray directly here, but his is the most easily quotable passage available to me, and I want to talk about this.

IF this positive test explains anything about Rodriguez's performance on the field, it's at least tangentially relevant to Roberts' book. Everyone wants the media to obey certain "privacy boundaries", but everyone wants a sports book that reveals something not in the public record already. Do I find the Dread Pirate's (apparent) methods unsavory? Yes. Would I be pissed off if she did this stuff to me? Yes. But I concede that writing a good book about the $300 million man who has had 24/7 media attention on him for a decade or so involves bursting though some ethical (though not legal) boundaries.

Answering one question about the call leads to follow-ups from the media. "What, specifically, did he apologize for? How does this make you feel? What's next for The Rod?"

If the Dread Pirate doesn't feel right about answering those, it's better for her to clam up completely and let A-Rod control the public release of the substance of the conversation. In other words, I agree with Crispix's #8.

I'm not sure I understand this. She thinks it's ok for her to out him with regard to failing a 2003 test (and god knows what else to follow), but when it comes to explaining what he apologized for and how she feels about that... suddenly she thinks that crosses the line?

Crispix's #8 was kind of ridiculous. "She doesn't know whether A-Rod wanted anything he said to be made public." I think she knew damned well that he didn't want the 2003 test made public, and that didn't seem to stop her, nor will she care whether he wants whatever is in her book to be made public. But suddenly she has a conscience when it comes to the silly apology? Please.

Let's assume that in doing normal research for the book, she was told "A-Rod failed a steroids test in 2001" by four people. Because it would cause him embarassment, you would prefer that Roberts doesn't follow up and doesn't report this?

Which part? Hiring a stripper? Throwing a party? Going to Duke?

Being white.

To be fair, when I hear "men's lacrosse", I figure that while the athlete himself may be clear of it, there's probably a monocle and top hat somewhere in the family.

I figure that if Scrooge McDuck was a fan of a sport, it would be lacrosse. Or maybe polo.

Let's assume that in doing normal research for the book, she was told "A-Rod failed a steroids test in 2001" by four people. Because it would cause him embarassment, you would prefer that Roberts doesn't follow up and doesn't report this?

Yes, but that's not the issue; I was questioning the claim that Roberts felt it was ok to release the 2003 test results but that it would suddenly breach ARod's privacy to comment on the apology.

Anyway, I'm not claiming Roberts has done anything unethical with respect to ARod; I just think it's rather scummy to reveal embarrassing aspects of another's private life in order to make a profit.

I think Roberts' was justified to report his test failure, but reporting on his shemale stripper dalliances is low-class.

Rocky and Bullwinkle, following my successful introduction of classic Looney Tunes, was where I was hoping he'd find interest. I erred when I showed him some Ren and Stimpy, though.

Courage the Cowardly Dog is an heir of Rocky and Bullwinkle. I think it's still on Cartoon Network at times. I would watch that even without my son, as I do with my old Rocky and Bullwinkle DVD's.

"I do think some of their conduct is completely unjustifiable"

Which part? Hiring a stripper? Throwing a party? Going to Duke?

Pretty much. But then fratboy types have always made my skin crawl.

"I figure that if Scrooge McDuck was a fan of a sport, it would be lacrosse. Or maybe polo."

I always figured that if Scrooge McDuck were a sports fan, it'd probably be something traditionally Scottish, like caber tossing.

I always figured that if Scrooge McDuck were a sports fan, it'd probably be something traditionally Scottish, like caber tossing.

Golf.

"Golf."

Probably more likely, but the visual isn't nearly as funny.

Also, the feds may want to talk to ARod at some point regarding his use and to seek information as to from whom he obtained any illegal substances, and so ARod doesn't want to be in a position where he has to give a different version to the feds than what he has said publicly.

"It was years ago, I don't really remember."

If memory serves me right, Don Rosa's Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck dealt with him coming back to the Scottish Highlands, and participating in some contests.

Scrooge "won" all the contests, but was disqualified because he wouldn't "do" things the traditional way.

That being the case, he probably doesn't much care for old-time Scottish pastimes.