MyTenSense.com

Selena Roberts is out-of-line writing a slanderous book about A-Rod.
Not only is the Sports Illustrated writer committing a journalism sin of using unnamed sources, but she is spreading information that may not be true.
You would think Roberts learned her lesson three years ago, when she wrote numerous New York Times columns condemning Duke’s lacrosse team for raping a stripper. It turns out the rape claims were false, and Roberts never retracted.
Now, she’s ripping New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez in her book A-rod that was released today. She makes a lot of claims and just about all of them rely on unrevealed sources.
I don’t understand the purpose for writing the book because if it’s not based on substantial facts, it should be classified as fiction and Roberts should have changed the names of the characters.
Rodriguez already admitted to steroid use. But why do we need to read about his bad pickup lines, his need for attention and about how he paid someone to take a test for him back in high school?
What guy hasn’t used bad pick-up lines? Who isn’t needy at some point in their life? Hasn’t everyone cheated on a test? Who cares?
How would Roberts like it if someone aired every misstep she’s taken in her life?
I’m so tired of writers and radio personalities using their platform to condemn athletes and celebrities. How would they like it if their dirty laundry was aired in a national newspaper or radio broadcast?
Just stick to the facts. If there’s no proof and a source won’t talk on the record, forget the story. That’s Journalism 101.
Anyways, everybody has dark secrets they’d like to keep hidden. And no one, but that individual, has a right to reveal those secrets to the masses unless they have to be revealed for prosecution.
And shame on anyone who digs up and reveals someone else’s secrets by using sources that are too chicken to reveal themselves.
This hits home for me because I was very popular growing up, and I had so many lies and false rumors told about me that it’s amazing that I was able to rise above the falsities to graduate near the top of my high school class. I can only imagine how I would have coped if a reporter decided to believe the lies and write a tell-all for everyone to ridicule me.
I commend A-Rod for refusing to comment any further on Roberts’ allegations. Like the saying goes, if it isn’t true, why get mad?

By Teneshia LaFaye
www.mytensense.com