It appears I owe Alex Rodriguez an apology.

After Game 4 of the World Series, I blasted A-Rod for the announcement made by his agent to opt out of his record $252 million dollar contract to pursue an even bigger payday.

While the annoucement was disrespectful to baseball and all parties involved, new information has come to light, and it appears his agent Scott Boras was at the helm, not Rodriguez.

I'm still giving A-Rod some accountability - but does anyone really care about my opinion?

The bottom line is that we don't know what discussions went on between Boras and Rodriguez leading up to the moment in which he chose to opt out. Did A-Rod give his agent the green light to inform the Yankees? Did he tell Boras to wait until after the series, but his request wasn't heeded?

It was ultimately Alex's decision, and I still believe it's his responsibility, but the combination of Scott Boras and a leaky Yankees front office appear to be the biggest culprits.

On to other news of late:

• Continuing with Scott Boras, it appears he isn't having a good week.
  
  After A-Rod negotiated the outline of a contract with the Yankees without him, Kenny Rogers has decided he no longer needs his services.
  
• Ohio State and Michigan are about to kick off. Outside of Michigan, Ohio, and Bristol, Connecticut, does anyone care?
  
• What people should care about: just more than 24 hours away - Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys!
  
• Everyone knows how I feel about Barry Bonds, but I'm not going to get worked up over the indictment -- yet!
  
  When Barry testified to the Grand Jury, he was given the opportunity to testify honestly about his steroid use and not be prosecuted, meaning he was offered immunity. According to the charges, he chose to lie instead.
  
  Forget the steroids - the government is claiming Bonds lied under oath. Not good.
  
  Here's my problem: Rafael Palmeiro was under oath in front of Congress and vehemently denied ever using performance enhancing drugs. Five months later, he was suspended for using steroids.
  
  If you go after Bonds, go after Palmeiro. Then the world won't feel like Barry's being singled out.
  
  But let's be clear: Bonds isn't in trouble for using steroids - he's in trouble for lying under oath. That's a big no-no.
  
• Ed Wade, the Astros new GM, hasn't been scared to change the franchise, trading away our closer and center fielder in waiting. We began the season with many needs, but one glaring need: a true #2 starter.
  
  Now we need a #2 starter and a closer.
  
  Show me whatcha got, Ed!
  
• And does anyone care that the 2007 MLS Cup will happen tomorrow morning? The New England Revolution will take on the Houston Dynamo! Give the MLS some love.
  

Labels: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Dallas Cowboys, Football, MLS, Soccer, Sports

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

Alex Rodriguez announced today that he will opt out of the remainder of his contract with the New York Yankees.

...and Mr. Arrogance couldn't have waited another 24 hours?

To clarify, A-Rod has a clause in his current contract allowing him to opt out and become a free agent, as long as he does so within 10 days of the end of World Series. Since the Sox completed the sweep tonight, the clock was set to begin now.

He decided he didn't want to wait. In the middle of Game 4, the announcement was made.

Personally, I'm upset with the absolute disrespect shown by Alex Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras towards Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and all the fans.

While the biggest story in sports will be the Red Sox second World Series Championship in four years, ARod has found a way to include himself.

I'm not a Yankees fan, but they have a history of showing respect to the game, their players (with the exception of the recent Joe Torre debacle), and the fans. The Yankees are a class organization, and were ultimately given the finger by one of baseball's best player.

"Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do," Boras told the Associated Press. "He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing."

By "not" making a decision, I suppose he made a decision.

Jerk. If you want to opt out, do so; but have the respect to give the Red Sox their time to shine.

Right in the middle of the World Series celebration? I've been an A-Rod fan for a while... but I may need to rethink that.

Labels: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Sports, World Series

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments