Category — Alex Rodriguez

Floyd Mayweather Jr. tops Sports Illustrated’s list of the athletes who have bagged the most coin over the past year. And Mayweather has earned his estimated $90 million without a single commercial endorsement.
SI.com

African Americans agents have had a rough time in the lily-white business of sports representation far too long. Black athletes can share in some of that shame. Much of it can be attributed to ignorance. And brainwashing.
But Jay-Z entering the game significantly changes the landscape. And when he stole Yankees star Robinson Cano from the notorious Scott Boras this week, it raised more than an eyebrow or 2 in this cesspool swimming with scumbags.
N.Y. Times

Where’s Arte Moreno? Magic Johnson?
The usual suspects such as Roger Goodell, David Stern and Bud Selig are among a list of the 50 most powerful people (only 3 women) in sports. But Ed O’Bannon? That’s right. The former UCLA star could change the landscape of college sports with his suit against the NCAA.
SI.com

Like the Spurs, we believe the Angels might be good to go this season. At least we hope so as far as our boys Mahi and Bob Young are concerned.
Early favorites to win the World Series: Angels and Dodgers (6-1); Nationals and Tigers (7-1); Giants and Blue Jays (9-1); Reds, Yankees and Braves (12-1); Phillies (16-1); Cardinals (18-1); A’s and Rays (20-1); Red Sox (30-1); and just for the record, the punk-ass Cubs (70-1).

How in the world of Allan H. Selig does this happen in 1 year? Oh that’s right. They’ve done this before.
Deadspin

Forget everything we said about the Giants.
This reminds us of the Red Sox climbing off the deck and rallying from a 3-0 deficit to punk the Yankees in the ALCS and then sweeping the Cardinals for the 2004 World Series title.
But did you know the Padres have played a huge role in the winners of the last 3 World Series? They dumped Bruce Bochy in 2006 and all he’s done is guide the Giants to World Series championships in 2 of the past 3 seasons.
The Padres also figured prominently in last season’s champ, the Cardinals. They dealt David Freese for Jim Edmonds a few years ago and the rest, as they like to say, is history.
But this is the Giants time. Despite being a game away from elimination against the Reds and Cards, they reeled off 7 in a row to win it all.

The Padres fired Bruce Bochy in 2006 after he led them to the playoffs and lost to the eventual champ, the Cardinals. The Giants couldn’t believe their good fortune (or the Padres’ misguided decision), scooping up Bochy to be their skipper. It’s been a magical ride since the comical Bochy arrived in the Bay Area. In 2 of the past 3 seasons, the Giants have advanced to the World Series, winning the 2010 title by beating the Rangers. They are standing on the verge again.
S.F. Chronicle

The Tigers didn’t nab Prince Fielder until late in the off-season when Victor Martinez went down with an injury. That left the Dodgers, among others, crying in their beers. Fielder’s addition pushed Detroit to the top of the America League and resulted in it advancing to the World Series. He’s fit in well with the Tigers and he probably will determine the outcome of the Series.
And for the record, we’re picking Fielder and the Tigers in 5. Too many weapons.
Fox Sports

Is that you Albert?
In case you were wondering, your updated picks: Yankees (4-1); Nats and Reds (5-1); Tigers (5.5-1); A’s (6.5-1); Tigers (6-1); Giants (6.85 to 1); O’s and Cardinals (9 to 1).
We’re leaning towards the Reds. But never count out our boys (Cards). Right Albert?
Bankroll Sports

Former GM Tony Reagins continues to be the fall guy in the trade that sent Mike Napoli to the Blue Jays (then Toronto dealt him to the Rangers) for Vernon Wells, but this deal had Mike Scioscia’s paws all over it. As he has for the past 2 seasons, Napoli busted a cap in the Angels’ ass again that allowed the Rangers to advance to the playoffs and put the Angels on the verge of watching from the sidelines for the 3rd year in a row.
In Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Rangers and Angels, Napoli drilled 2 homers and a double and drove in 6 RBIs as Texas sent Scioscia and his crew to Seattle, where they will need prayer and divine intervention in their final 3 games.
Unless the Rangers (imagine relying on your rival to give you a jump) sweep Oakland and the Angels perform the same feat against the lowly Mariners, Arte Moreno will have another massive failure on his hands.
Moreno, in an attempt to quiet all of the wild recent speculation, said a week ago Scioscia will return. Why? Granted, he’s a good manager (spare us that crap he’s the best in baseball, because if he is, what’s that make Ron Washington?), but I believe his control-freak ways have worn thin on a club which could use new leadership. Torii Hunter even hinted earlier in the season how Scioscia should back off sometimes. Even 1 of the greatest dictators of all time, Pat Riley, said years ago that players start to tune you out after 5 years.
But those words land on deaf ears in Anaheim.
Look at the A’s. The O’s. Even the Cardinals, who have done just fine without the grumpy Albert Pujols in the middle of their lineup, are close to securing another playoff spot.
Moreno could fix this mess and hire Terry Francona or maybe even Bud Black. He probably won’t, though, because he has Scioscia signed to a ridiculous deal through 2018.
But as long as Napoli is in a Ranger uni, you can probably count on him to smack the taste out of the Angels’ mouth. It’s a bitter pill for Scioscia to swallow, but it’s the cost of being a dictator. After all, someone has to be accountable.