November 19, 2013--Say It Isn't So Mariano

He made at least $10 million this year and more than $15 million in 2012. Over his career he earned $170 million, and it is estimated that his net worth is more than $90 million. So why does he need to do these tacky things?

He is Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankee's quintessential closer, the pitcher they turned to to get the last outs at the end of a game when they had a precarious lead.

He has been baseball's preeminent closer for nearly 17 seasons and retired in September, greatly honored and respected even by his fiercest opponents.

Those who know say he was the greatest of all time. He saved 652 regular season games during his career--more than any other relief pitcher-- and was essential to the Yankees winning five World Series titles. In five years, when he is eligible for the Hall of Fame, it is expected he will be unanimously elected. If this happens, he will be the only former player to be thus honored.

It is reliably reported that he is a fine family man (one of the few professional athletes who didn't fool around while on the road), an exemplary citizen of his native Panama, and a devout and practicing Christian.

So you can imagine my surprise when last week there was a full-page ad in the New York Times that announced a series of events that the public would be able to attend.

For a price. A hefty one.

"Meet Mariano Rivera," the headline proclaimed. "Here's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the star New York Yankee pitcher in the intimate setting of the New York Times Center."

At that event, he will "share memories of his extraordinary career."

Package #1 offers general admission and to the Q&A session. It costs $99.99.

Package #2 also offers admission, access to the Q&A, plus one "Mariano signed final season baseball." It goes for $349.99.

And the "V.I.P. Package #3" is a real deal--you get two tickets to the Q&A, two tickets to the V.I.P. cocktail party (Mariano doesn't drink), a photo with the closer, access to "two Yankee alumni mingling with guests," "passed hors d'oeuvres," and two Mariano Rivera signed 14x14 inch framed photographs.  

Package #3 will set you back $1,499.99.

I'll take a raincheck on the passed hors d'oeuvres and mingling Yankees and look back to October 16, 2003 when Mariano raced in from the bullpen to save the game for the Yankees who went on to beat the Red Sox to secure a place in the World Series. He came in in the 9th inning with the game tied. It remained tied until the bottom of the 11th when the Yankees scored on Aaron Boone's home run. Rivera pitched the final three innings and got the win by securing the final nine outs.

Priceless!

August 21, 2013--A-Rod

There was a kid in the supermarket wearing an A-Rod shirt. It takes guts to wear an Alex Rodriquez shirt these days, especially up in Maine where pretty much everyone is a rabid Red Sox fan and hates the Yankees.

As a closet Yankee rooter myself--at least while here--I asked him if he thought Rodriquez would win his appeal.

The kid just shrugged.

That's the right answer.

Because of allegedly having used banned human growth substances and lying about it, Major League Baseball has suspended Rodriquez for 211 games. That's considerably longer than a 162-game season and, considering A-Rod's age (he'll be pushing 40 when he would be allowed to play again), it is a version of a professional death sentence.

It may be that, but he is owed about $90 million by the Yankees over the last four years of his contract and he would be entitled to it even if his appeal is denied and he never plays another big-league game. He has that good a contract.

On the other hand, the Yankee owners, who have come to despise him and are attempting to cut the total team payroll to $189 million a year, have an interest in seeing him declared medically disabled and incapable of playing, which would mean that their insurance policy would have to pick up the cost of Rodriquez's remaining contract.

Ah, there may be the rub.

During the past two years A-Rod has had a number of significant medical issues that required at least two hip operations. But he is now healed and rejoined the team about 10 days ago. Since then he has hit a couple of home runs and the Yankees have again begun to win ballgames.

From a Yankee perspective this should be a welcome thing. What team really cares if its players cheat by juicing themselves up with steroids as long as they hit the ball out of the park and fans show up and spend big bucks on tickets and over-priced hot dogs and beer.

To make the game more exciting by making it easier to hit home runs, teams have been moving fences closer to home plate and making the baseball itself livelier. Who cares? We're not talking neurosurgery or rocket science but guys running around in knickers and getting paid millions to play a kid's game.

But, if A-Rod is past his peak (with or without drugs, he is) and is costing his team owners tens of millions, would one be surprised if the Yankee's greedy owners engaged in a little hanky-panky to get rid of him?

Like maybe conspiring with team doctors to claim Rodriquez is ready to play when in fact he is not? To put him out on the field before he is fully healed in the hope that he might become permanently injured and thus could be taken off the payroll and be paid through the team's insurance policy?

Rather than taking his suspension passively like the other suspended players are, A-Rod has hired a new team of kick-ass lawyers to represent him. And he has them claiming that this medical conspiracy in fact occurred.

Before dismissing this assertion too quickly (as I at first did--I don't much like him either), take note of the fact that the doctor who most recently treated Rodriquez and deemed him fit to play has thus far refused to comment about this accusation.

If true, this could qualify as one of the biggest scandal in baseball history. And that includes gamblers fixing the Black Sox 1919 World Series.