A-Rod: Just "Friends" With Madonna. Honest. Really.

Yankee denies reports that he and pop superstar are involved in a romantic relationship

Alex Rodriguez is finally playing ball with the media. Unfortunately for scandal lovers everywhere, the New York Yankee claims that he and pal Madonna have never even gotten to first base.

"We're friends," the 33-year-old slugger told People, addressing for the first time rumors that he and the pending divorcée have become romantically involved.

"We're friends—that's it."

Say it often enough and maybe somebody'll start believing it...

Rodriguez went on to attempt to set the record straight on some of the many rumors circulating about their relationship—which he does claim exists, albeit in a completely platonic form—shooting down several embellished and just erroneous reports.

While sources told E! News last month that A-Rod and the 50-year-old pop superstar shared a private flight from Atlanta to Miami—and photos of the mile-high encounter later surfaced online—Rodriguez is adamant that the event never occurred.

"I can tell you this," he said. "I have never been on a plane with her."

And while he's clearing up rumors...

"I've been to two [of her] concerts, yet I've read that I went to 20. I've also read that we were buying an apartment together. That is absolutely ridiculous and not true."

Though he also said that "you have to have a sense of humor when it comes to this stuff," Rodriguez opted not, when pressed by People, to disclose whether he's ever spent the night at Madonna's home. Various reports have said that he and Madonna stayed together in Miami around Thanksgiving.

"If I answered every rumor we'd be here for three weeks," he said.

And while he denies his feelings for Madonna go beyond those of friendship, his admiration is clear.

"I have a lot of respect for. She's very committed to making the world a better place. She's had an amazing career, and we're friends. That's it."