Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – How do you know baseball is right
around the corner? Because there seems to be a new Alex Rodriguez story
every day.
It’s amazing we survived a whole season without him.
But, yes, once we get that little football game out the way in Arizona, the
sports world will start to turn its attention toward spring training.
At least that’s the hope of new commissioner Rob Manfred.
And there won’t be a bigger story line anywhere than the return of A-Rod from
his one-year performance-enhancing drug ban. His first day in camp is sure to
be grab-the-popcorn entertaining, as he’s expected to issue a public mea culpa
to not only the New York Yankees organization, but baseball fans around the
world.
That is, if the Yankees even let him in the building. They’ve supposedly told
him not to bother showing up until position players are required to report on
Feb. 25.
Can’t you just picture Rodriguez strolling into the locker room without a care
in the world, plopping his stuff down in front of Derek Jeter’s old locker and
asking, “Hey, is this one empty?”
He is so oblivious to everything around him that he wouldn’t even think twice
about it. Just like him getting hitting tips from of all people, Barry Bonds.
I actually thought it was an Onion headline when I saw that one. No way could
that have been real.
Steroids or not, Bonds is probably the best hitter who a lot of us will see in
our lifetime. Getting tips from him is probably not the worst thing a player
could do.
But if you are Alex Rodriguez, maybe, just maybe you might want to seek
someone else out.
There are also reports the Yankees are looking to void his marketing deal that
will pay Rodriguez a certain amount of money for each upcoming milestone he
reaches, like home run No. 660, which would tie him with Willie Mays, or No.
714, which would match Babe Ruth, and so on and so forth.
The Yanks will argue that Rodriguez is now tainted with the stench of PEDs and
the marketing deal should be null and void. The Major League Baseball Players
Association has already stated it would back Rodriguez, and rightfully so.
The Yankees should not be let off the hook here. They gave him this ridiculous
deal, they should own up to it.
This whole situation is going to be ugly, especially because the Yankees
already have a new third baseman in Chase Headley. Rodriguez, though, still
thinks it’s his job to lose.
Awkward.
Look, if the Yankees don’t want him around, they should work out some sort of
buyout and move on. You almost get the sense this is playing out like a
Seinfeld episode that saw George show up to work every day despite the fact
that his employers wanted nothing to do with him and tried to make his life
miserable every chance they could.
Now back to the Big Game in Arizona, which as a lifelong fan of the New York
Jets is going to be extremely painful to watch considering both head coaches
formerly led Gang Green, albeit for just one glorious day in Bill Belichick’s
case.
TSN’s own Lyle Fitzsimmons, another long suffering fan of the NYJ, gave a
little background on that topic here: http://tinyurl.com/p5kuhy4.
Regardless, like the rest of America, I am a sheep and will be tuned in on
Sunday.
Seattle is just impossible to root for. Richard Sherman doesn’t shut
up and Marshawn Lynch has become the most unlikable player in football.
And believe me, that is saying an awful lot.
Then there’s the cheating New England Patriots. Part of me would like to see
the Patriots win, Tom Brady get the MVP and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
have to hand both him and Belichick a trophy.
There is no more fitting ending to this, perhaps the worst season in NFL
history, than Goodell, Belichick and Brady giggling together at the end of the
Super Bowl.
But, there is nothing inside of me that will allow me to root for the New
England Patriots and for that to happen.
Give me Seattle, 24-16.
Then once that’s over, get ready for all A-Rod, all the time.
