By Jason Klein
Originally Written For The Official Steiner Sports Blog – 5/5/09
Who cares? That seems to be the overwhelming reaction to A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, the new “tell-all” book written by Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated.
A-Rod, the player, has been on the shelf for 5 weeks to start the season (hip). As for the book, according to the New York Post, its first day on the shelf was disappointing – ranking only 61st in total sales on Amazon.com. Isn’t this the juicy book everyone was waiting for? The book that was going to expose A-Rod as a fraud, and a cheater? If a tree falls and no one’s around to hear it, does it make a sound?
It seems as though the book’s debut in stores was somewhat anti-climactic. Baseball fans got their fill of the controversy surrounding the game’s most recognizable and dominant player back in February when news of his steroid use first broke. Other revelations, including Rodriguez tipping pitches to opposing players, hasn’t translated into sales.
On the same day the book was released, Rodriguez was where he should be, on the field, rehabbing his bum hip. He had a better day than Selena Roberts too, playing 7 innings and blasting a home run in an extended spring training game. If all goes well, the Yankee third baseman could return to the big show this Friday, against the Orioles in Baltimore.
Now that’s a debut most Yankees fans are anxious about. The reality is, his reputation has already been damaged following his admission of steroid use back in February. Does it really matter how much more his rep takes a beating? Love him or not, Alex Rodriguez is the most important player in the Yankees Universe. If he hits, and the Yankees win, all is forgiven…that is…until he has an 0-4 day in mid-October.
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