Rod 2.0:Beta

Alex Rodriguez Grabs a Handful of Derek Jeter's Butt

Ah. So this explains those Jeter-Rodriguez "sleepovers"...

Vis Outsports, from a screen capture of the Yankees-Angels game tweeted by Bill Simmons, who writes ESPN's Sports Guy.

New, Unauthorized Bio Will Examine Alex Rodriguez' "Struggles with His Sexuality" and Steroid Use

Poor Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees superstar slugger admits to ESPN he used steroids from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers. That may be the least of the star baseball player's concerns, Outsports reports. "One item that’s not being talked about that much is that the author of the story on SI.com, Selena Roberts, just announced she has a book coming out in May" that promises to examine the secretive life of baseball's highest-paid player—including the many rumors surrounding his sexuality.

Bob's Blitz is one of several sports blogs reporting that the new and very unauthorized biography, Hit and Run: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, will "look at Rodriguez'  struggle with his sexuality as well as his steroid use." The blog references an infamous Daily News article that described Rodriguez's tastes in strippers ... and women:

In New York, A-Rod used to be a regular at the VIP Club, where he always asked for a dancer who performs under the stage name Monique.

Monique is 5-feet-5 with brown hair and brown eyes and has a well-toned, muscular figure, a pal said.

When the stripper jumped over to the Hustler Club, Rodriguez started going there to see her perform and buy sexy lap dances, a source said.

He even took her out for a pricey shopping spree at the Versace store on Fifth Ave., the source said.

A petite stripper at the Hustler Club said A-Rod "likes the she-male, muscular type. They brought me up to the champagne room one time. I spun around once and that was it. I'm not his type."

The book will shed some light on A-Rod's former BFF relationship with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter which Rodriguez says involved "sleepovers." The reality is "there's been a change in the relationship over 14 years and, hopefully, we can just put it behind us," Rodriguez told ESPN in 2007. "You go from sleeping over at somebody's house five days a week, and now you don't sleep over. It's just not that big of a deal." 

Last night Jeter announced he stands "behind" Rodriguez—must be a familiar position.

Hit and Run: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to drop on May 19, exactly one week before the Yankees travel to Texas to play the Rangers. 

A-Rod Story Gets A New Wrinkle [Outsports]
Can Pre-Order Selena Roberts' Rodriguez Book [Blitz]

Some Background ....
Toronto Fans Taunt Rodriguez with Madonna Photos [R20]
Kravitz Faults Ex Manager For Rodriguez Rumor [R20]
Rodriguez's Wife Claims Madonna "Brainwashing" [R20]

Madonna Reportedy in "Meltdown" Over Tour and Bad Publicity

The stress of the bad publicity from the Alex Rodriguez divorce and the mountains of dirt dished in brother Chriptopher Ciccone's new tell-all is apparently catching up with Madonna. The British tabloids report the Queen of Pop is having a meltdown, displaying violent mood swings, "firing two dancers and her tour manager is threatening to walk out over her spectacular moods." From The Sun:

A source in her camp said: “Madonna is doing less than OK. She has been rehearsing for the tour and she is totally miserable.

“She’s down physically and mentally. The situation with Guy is very, very tense. The way the press are going crazy with the A-Rod story, her brother’s book and her physical exhaustion are all taking their toll.

“She feels nobody has taken her side. One of her closest pals says she has never seen Madonna so low. She has been feeling low and looking really gaunt.

The Sun reports Madge has a doctor, physiotherapist and a chiropractor on duty during rehearsals and this week they ordered her to take it easy with the dance routines forthcoming Sticky & Sweet world tour.

Meanwhile, no complaints from Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone. Life with My Sister Madonna debuted last week and is now number 57 on Amazon, after peaking at number 13. Writing the book "was like a giant fucking orgasm", he says.& ;

Madonna in Meltdown [Sun]
Is Madonna in Danger of Having a Major Meltdown? [LAT]

Some Background ....
Toronto Fans Taunt Rodriguez with Madonna Photos [R20]
Kravitz Faults Ex Manager For Rodriguez Rumor [R20]
Rodriguez's Wife Claims Madonna "Brainwashing" [R20]

Toronto Blue Jay Fans Taunt Alex Rodriguez with Madonna Photos

Just another day at the ballpark for Alex Rodriguez. Over the weekend, the besieged baseball diva traveled to Toronto and was greeted with some good ole fashioned psychological warfare from Blue Jays fans behind third base—photos of Madonna, a none-too-kind reference to his melodramatic divorce proceedings and rumors of being "brainwashed" by the Material Girl. Maybe the distraction worked because the Yankee slugger managed just a single in a 5-0 loss.

"Madonna color photos: $1.49. Plastic covers: $.50. Look on A-Rod's face: Priceless."

Meanwhile, the Christopher Ciccone media tour begins. Madonna's estranged brother's scandalous tell-all Life with My Sister Madonna debuted yesterday and is now Number 15 on Amazon. Yesterday on "Good Morning America", Madonna's younger brother says he "thinks it's 'highly unlikely' his sister caused the split between New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his wife, because 'despite everything else, she's still a Catholic girl, although he is kind of her type.' "

Madonna's Brother Dishes Dirt on 'Controlling' Sister [FOX]

Some Background ....
Kravitz Faults Ex Manager For Rodriguez Rumor [R20]
Rodriguez's Wife Claims Madonna "Brainwashing" [R20]

Lenny Kravitz Faults Ex Manager For Cynthia Rodriguez Rumor

Another day, another angle to the tabloid feeding frenzy around the Alex Rodriguez, Cynthia Rodriguez, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz love quadrangle. Fitness trainer Dodd Romero, who accompanied Cynthia Rodriguez on her shopping spree to Paris, tells the New York Post that Lenny Kravitz blames former manager Guy Oseary for bringing his name into the Madonna/A-Rod drama. Page Six:

" 'Romero called Kravitz two weeks ago to tip him off that Oseary—who managed Kravitz, Madonna and A-Rod—was about to "pimp out Madonna and A-Rod,' said a source. But Kravitz didn't approve and told Romero, 'I'll take care of this' - and fired Oseary.

"Kravitz was shocked when he was then accused of having a fling with the slugger's wife, said the source. Romero believes Oseary planted the story in retaliation for being dumped.

"Kravitz, Cynthia Rodriguez and Romero were all in Kravitz's tour bus when the reports broke in Paris. 'Lenny looked like he was going to throw up,' Romero told the Post. "Lenny said, 'I worked so hard to clean up my image and now I'm gonna get dragged into this.' "

Just to keep all of this, err, straight, Kravitz denies the affair with Cynthia Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez and Madonna also deny an extramarital relationship, although the two reportedly have been spending lots of time together. Oh, and now the strippers are coming forward to share stories about A-Rod. Keep the hotrod in your pants, dude.

How Kravitz Got Dragged In [NYP]
Official Alex Rodriguez-Madonna Scandal Rundown [Radar]

More LENNY KRAVITZ

Some Background ....
Lenny Kravitz's Gucci Makeover [R20]
Lenny Kravitz: Vogue Hommes [R20]
Alex Rodriguez's Wife Claims Madonna "Brainwashing" Her Husband [R20]

Alex Rodriguez's Wife Claims Madonna "Brainwashing" Her Husband with Kabbalah

Since we were offline most of yesterday afternoon, we missed the beginning of the tabloid feeding frenzy around the& ; Alex Rodriguez/Cynthia Rodriguez/Madonna/Lenny Kravitz love quadrangle. Whew.& ; The latest: One day after Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce, the diva-esque Yankees slugger accuses his estranged wife of engineering a spiteful spending spree in Paris. The Daily News quotes "an A-Rod pal.

"She's been spending wildly," the friend said. "She spent close to $100,000 on her jaunt to Paris."

Cynthia flew the godparents of her daughters, Dodd and Sabina Romero, and their older daughter, first-class to the City of Light, the friend said.

There, Cynthia "had spa treatments, she went to the best restaurants," the A-Rod friend said. "She originally was going to head to Spain, where Lenny Kravitz was touring."

Cynthia Rodriguez recently gave birth to the couple's second child and cites Madonna "as the cause of her marital breakdown, and alleging Madonna wooed Rodriguez to Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism." Rodriguez and Madonna have denied the allegation, but, reportedly A-Rod has begun dabbling in the ancient Jewish mysticism. Madonna denies she "brainwashed" Rodriguez and adds, "I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study. ... I have learned over the years not to take accusations and the many false reports about me very seriously".

Maybe all of this means Rodriguez will return to the (sofa)bed and arms of his former BFF Derek Jeter.

Madonna denies affair, divorce rumours [AFP]
A-Rod pal: Cynthia spent $100G in Paris [NYDN]
Official Alex Rodriguez-Madonna Scandal Rundown [Radar]
Madonna denies hot-rodding with A-Rod [Popnography]

Some Background ...
Alex Rodriguez Covers "Men's Vogue"& ; [R20]

Alex Rodriguez Covers "Men's Vogue", Refuses Some Questions

This is interesting. Just last week, socially unaware basketball gazilionaire LeBron James received jeers for his historic albeit ridiculous cover of Vogue. This week, the newish Men's Vogue debuts its newest issue, and, controversial baseball phenom Alex Rodriguez is (finally) getting some good press. Well, almost.

The $275 million dollar man is the face of the "Adrenaline Issue", devoted to men in sports, with the cover art also being lensed by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. The interview is a mixed bag. It seems that after the photo shoot in Miami, "Rodriguez decided he'd be more comfortable answering questions emailed to his new handler." Call it another example of his diva-like behavior, or, fear of being misquoted, but the Yankees third baseman reportedly "refused to respond to a handful of queries on subjects such as his reputation among his peers and well-documented insecurity."

Just as a point of reference, LeBron James was the first black man to cover Vogue in its 114-year history, but, at least 4 of the 12 covers of Men's Vogue—Denzel Washington, Barack Obama, Will Smith, Tiger Woods—have been black men.

Lightning Rod [Men's Vogue]