Girardi's Book Club

Selena Roberts's book "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" is available in stores today. Joe Girardi must have received a review copy -- or he's spouting bullshit. One or the other. I think I know which one it is, but I'll let you decide.

It's interesting that the book (release) date got moved up.

Yeah, what do the young kids call it -- publicity? It's an odd thing. Hype, buzz, whatever you want to call it -- it's pretty new to American culture. It's not surprising you haven't had much experience with it.

And I get tired of answering these questions.

Is that why you "went on an unprovoked diatribe against the book" before Sunday's game against the Angels was rained out? Damn, Joe, if you're tired of the questions even before the book is for sale ...

I don't understand why someone would write a book like this anyway.

You played baseball in New York City -- with its tabloid back pages, rabid fans and sensationalist sports radio -- for four years, you worked as a broadcaster, and are now in your second season as Yankees manager. And you really have no idea why a book about the most famous baseball player in the world might be a good bet to draw some interest?

I'm a firm believer that what we do off the field is our personal life. ... I don't necessarily know why it has to be put in a book, unless the person volunteers it.

A-Rod has never been shy about putting his personal life in the public eye. Whether he's whisking escorts through hotel lobbies, wearing his Yankee cap to a strip club, undertipping at Hooters, making yet another verbal gaff or sunbathing in Central Park, he's hardly a hermit.

[come back, fjm, we miss you]