While most of the baseball world was focused on the part where Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking banned substances during his Texas years, there were quite a few eyes and ears that were focused on the reporting of the story. Selena Roberts, Peter Gammons, Bob Costas, ESPN and the MLB Network (among others) were on display this weekend. Some did better than others.

First off, Selena Roberts is to be commended on getting this story, sourcing it, and having enough information to break the news and then back all of her information up. She was vindicated when A-Rod took a mere 36 hours to confirm her story.

So what does A-Rod do when it is time to admit your guilt? Hit up the Worldwide Leader and play a little softball with Peter Gammons.

The New York Daily News was especially forward with their criticism of Gammons’ “journalism.”

From Bob Raissman, sports media columnist:

Gammons, clearly handpicked by Rodriguez, Scott Boras or both, didn’t even try. His mouth appeared to be moving, but he must have not heard A-Rod’s replies. He let A-Rod con viewers into believing he didn’t know what illegal drugs he was taking while a member of the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez also claimed he never knew he had actually failed a drug test until SI reporter Selena Roberts told him last week.

Raissman wondered where the follow ups were, noting that Gammons let A-Rod say what he wanted to say, unchallenged. What would Raissman do if he were in Gammons’ chair?

Still, if he had a skeptical bone in his body, he might have asked a follow-up that went something like this: Alex, you said you didn’t know what you were taking, you didn’t know you failed a six-year-old drug test until a reporter told you last week, you say you didn’t even know who turned you on to the drugs – and now you are saying you didn’t know you were lying on national television. Why should anyone in their right mind believe you?

Gammons never asked that question. He never even came close to trying to probe in an effort to get one straight answer. After A-Rod immediately admitted he had taken performance-enhancing drugs in Texas, confirming SI’s story, ESPN could have shut off its cameras. The rest of the interview was garbage.

The criticisms of Gammons’ interview are dead on, as he allowed this to be a Rodriguez/Boras propaganda interview, even letting A-Rod’s outrageous claims about Roberts being a “stalker” go unchallenged.

From Filip Bondy, of the Daily Blahg:

Gammons couldn’t carry Roberts’ laptop, when it comes to real journalism. He is a pitchman who has the trust of the sport’s insiders for all the wrong reasons. She is a real reporter who broke this major story, one that had nothing to do with some contract minutia.

One thing I do know: Gammons was completely wrong about steroids from Day 1. He tried to bury the story, because he wasn’t comfortable with it wrecking his vision of baseball. And there was certainly something ironic about watching him question Rodriguez the other day, while the world watched.

Because according to Gammons, this was never going to be a big story.

Bondy is right on about this point. A-Rod flat out accused Roberts of stalking him, without so much as a single follow up question from Gammons about the accusations. Luckily, there are other journalists and media types who are actually looking for answers, not just ratings.

Roberts told Dan Patrick on his show that the meetings Rodriguez was referring to were grossly mischaracterized.

“I can tell you that long list of things he alleged were a complete fabrication,” Roberts said.

A-Rod said that she was kicked out of a gym by the University of Miami police for trespassing. Roberts said she talked to a University of Miami official before entering the weight room. She then approached A-Rod and gave him a chance to respond to her story. Rodriguez said he wouldn’t talk. Roberts said she then tried to hand him her card and left. Roberts said the university police were not involved and it was not a contentious situation.

Roberts also explained the situation when the police came to talk to her near Alex Rodriguez’s property. She said the police were called to answer a guard’s question about whether the island A-Rod’s home is on was public or private property. Roberts said it turned out to be public. It was a non-incident. Totally benign, even though there is a report because the police file paperwork on all their activity. She said A-Rod’s claims that she tried to break into his house were ridiculous.

“I never rang his doorbell,” Roberts said. “I never stepped on his driveway. I was never anywhere near his house.”

Gammons got a chance to chime in on the discussion after former colleague at ESPN Jeff Pearlman referred to him as the “Larry King of sports” for the way he let A-Rod get away with the Roberts accusations.

Pearlman said:

The reason Gammons scored the interview with Rocker a decade back is the same reason he scored one with A-Rod today: He’s the Larry King of sports television. Softball questions, limited inquisitiveness, an easy time for all involved. I’m not sure if Gammons was jealous of Selena for scoring a huge story, but he had to—absolutely had to—follow up Rodriguez’s presumably ludicrous accusations with a question or two or three or 10. “Alex, are you saying Selena Roberts literally broke into your building? Alex, can I see the paper you’re referring to? Alex, you rip Selena Roberts’ reporting? But wasn’t she, ahem, correct?”

After hearing what Pearlman said, Gammons replied in an email to deadspin.com that read:

“I think in retrospect, I should have interrupted the Arod rant. My first question asked if Selena’s story were true, he essentially admitted it was, and I believed she was therefore vindicated. I usually don’t get into grudges, and felt he was promoting her book, which will be her response. I was trying to get Alex in his own words, but Jeff’s criticism has merit that I accept.”

And of course the rest of the New York media isn’t about to give Rodriguez a free ride on this one. Between Newsday, the Daily News, and the New York Times, they all either question A-Rod’s honesty , see holes in his story, or don’t believe his selective memory.

This weekend was not just a lesson in steroids in baseball (anyone may be guilty), but it was a solid lesson in journalism.

Selena Roberts was a superstar. Peter Gammons was a puppet.

MLB Network won credibilty. ESPN continued to support favorites.

Being right and having all of the information once again prevailed over timeliness and a “big score.” Sure, ESPN got the interview with the guy, and their ratings were likely fantastic, but in the end, Roberts was right, MLB Network was better and ESPN failed.

Finally, there is some competition to the Worldwide Leader, even if it is only in baseball.

UPDATE: A-Rod called after the interview to apologize to Roberts. He sure is good at truth-telling.

UPDATE II: ESPN’s Ombudsman takes on the Gammons/A-Rod interview. As per usual, her coverage of the coverage is better than the rest, and her access to the major players gives her a unique perspective. We’re going to miss her when she’s gone, since she is arguably the best things that ESPN currently has on its payroll.

Share this story...

Discussion

No comments for “A-Rod vs. Selena Roberts vs. Peter Gammons”

Post a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.