In Selena Roberts’ book, “A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez,” the Sports Illustrated writer reveals that Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez may have used steroids in high school and let opposing batters know what pitchers were coming in blowouts while with the Texas Rangers.

In previous interviews, Rodriguez denied using steroids outside of his three-year tenure with the Rangers, and there have been no other reports of him tipping pitches. Also, he has said that Roberts is paid to basically stalk him and write nothing but negative things about him.

Whether or not Roberts’ allegations about the one-time sure-fire hall of famer are true, should we believe what she or her sources say about Rodriguez rather than believe the man himself?

One can argue we cannot believe him because he will say whatever he can to protect himself from any more damage that he has self-inflicted. So, we automatically don’t trust anything he says and take anything the A-Rod haters say as absolute truth.

Roberts, who took over as the Sports Illustrated back-page columnist when Rick Reilly left for ESPN, has become the leader of the Rodriguez witch hunt. Even though there is no documentation that supports her current allegations, anything she writes is all that is needed to find him guilty in the court of public opinion.

She has been a credible journalist for many years, but I don’t think what she writes — or what anyone else who publishes a book based on investigative hearsay and rumors while dismissing those who side with Rodriguez writes — should be considered 100 percent truth.

I may be completely wrong about this, but I would rather believe the player himself than rumors and allegations. Roberts’ book likely will be a best-seller soon, but what is written should be taken with a grain of salt until her claims are proven true.

-Jono Greco is a journalism sophomore.