If it were me, not A-Rod, I'd give up half my $25-million a year salary to be with a contender. To play with, say, the Yankees, Giants, A's, Dodgers or Braves, not the overpriced yet underqualified Rangers.
He chose ... badly, except for riches.
Once your net worth reaches $50-mil or so, which Alex Rodriguez attained in his mid 20s, it's usually a poor idea to do stuff primarily for cash. At 27, without making another quarter, A-Rod can afford mansions, Ferraris, yachts, caviar and chartered jets for life.
Once a month, Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts could leap for another $20-million movie role despite seeing it as a shaky script with the end product almost certain to be an oversold clunker. Fortunes can come with pain.
Some do repeatedly say no.
Too many athletes, often prodded by greedy agents, will take $11-million to play for some bum franchise in an unenthralling town rather than settle for 90 percent as much with a hot ballclub in a well-fired locale. Or in the case of John Stockton, to stay in an NBA locale that was personally comfortable.
Rodriguez is a splendid guy. Well liked by fans, teammates and media. Seemingly no nasty habits. No police record. A handsome, 6-foot-3, 210-pound bachelor who plays superb defense at shortstop and hits like a power dream.
But there he is, a wondrous talent locked in with Texas-size underachievers. His choice. His golden prison. Two bonus nuggets in A-Rod's deal are unlikely to ever be accomplished with the Rangers, an extra $200,000 for being MVP of a World Series or $150,000 as MVP of an AL Championship Series.
Really rich, really gifted, really stuck.
I'm not suggesting tears for a young jock who has so much, but I do wish Alex were in a more gleeful professional situation. Mainly because I cheer the way Rodriguez goes about his life.
As a kid in Miami, his baseball skills and personal character were molded day after day at the Hank Kline Boys and Girls Club. When he wore jeans with holes and barely had four bits for a soft drink.
As the ultimate ballfield tycoon, A-Rod stays close to his roots during offseasons. "Five days a week, I'm there," Rodriguez told MLB.com. "I love it. That's where I feel most at home; most comfortable." He helps coach. He treats youngsters to lunch and other goodies. A true, working role model.
Oakland A's third baseman Eric Chavez said, "The first thing anybody thinks about Alex is the $252-million (10-year) contract. But if anybody deserves that kind of money, it's him.
"What he's doing as a ballplayer is ridiculously good. He's far and away the No. 1 talent in the game, and A-Rod conducts himself with a rare kind of gentlemanly humility."
Rodriguez, along with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, is a national spokesman for Boys and Girls Clubs. Last year, Alex gave $3.9-million to the University of Miami to fund scholarships for Boys and Girls Club members and to renovate the Hurricanes' baseball stadium. "It's the least I could do," he said. "They have meant so much to me."
Eddie Rodriguez (no kin) has run the Miami Boys and Girls Club's baseball program since the early '70s. Twenty-five of his youngsters have become major-league players. "Eddie was always there, like a father to me," said A-Rod, whose own dad deserted his family.
Alex is the best of Eddie's proteges, but another gem is Rangers outfielder Rafael Palmeiro, who recently hit his 500th career home run. "Alex really walks the walk," Palmeiro said. "As great a player as he is, this may be an even better human being."
How many wealthy athletes can we say that about? Maybe more than you think, but still not nearly enough. Those doing the most are often those seeking the least attention. Once you've made all the money you could ever need, wouldn't it be a terrific feeling to give back, making life easier for many who simply need a break.
I mean, like A-Rod does.
LOOSE CHANGE: Since we're talking money, wonder if the D-Rays will get another 10 cents worth of production from Ben Grieve, who is making $12.25-million for three seasons and is the final hope from a sad load of Tampa Bay big-dough investments, including the not-so-dearly-departed Wilson Alvarez ($35-million), Greg Vaughn ($34-million), Vinny Castilla ($13-million), Juan Guzman ($12-million) and Kevin Stocker ($7.5-million) who between them have been akin to worthless. ... Not all fat wealth brings skinny results, which I suppose makes it sound that Greg Maddux has been contracted for $99-million during his 11 years in Atlanta. ... Pedro Martinez made a puny $1.2-million for his first five big-league seasons but has recouped well with $73-million during his past six in Boston. ... Gary Sheffield is up to $83-million for 10 years, and since 1990, Fred McGriff has worked for six teams to generate $64-million. ... All of which makes David Eckstein, an Angels star in a World Series-winning season, seem a huge bargain with the shortstop getting a mere $925,000 for his three years, including this one. ... Then again, as recently as 1971, Vida Blue won the Cy Young and was MVP of the AL while being paid $14,750.
