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Gucci's in the air: A-Rod arrives

By JOHN ROMANO

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001

PORT CHARLOTTE -- This just in:

The median household income in Charlotte County rose to an all-time high Wednesday. Alex Rodriguez and his wallet have arrived.

Baseball's latest poster boy for financial insanity showed up for spring training looking and sounding like a normal ballplayer. The media, of course, would have none of that.

About 100 reporters and photographers were there to record and embellish the moment. A woman from a local television station approached a tiny blond 8-year-old and asked if she would like to talk about A-Rod on TV.

"I already did," she said, pointing to another television crew.

Before Rodriguez signed his historic $252-million contract with the Rangers in December, his representatives reportedly were telling teams they would be wise to offer perks such as a personal P.R. staff, an office at the stadium, a merchandise tent at spring training and billboards.

None of those perks were evident Wednesday, although the county fair was in full swing across the street. There was no word on whether Rodriguez had a Tilt-a-Whirl clause in his contract.

"I don't think anybody is worth this kind of money," Rodriguez said. "But that's the market we're in."

Rodriguez's deal stretched the market to a drastic new level. And if Wednesday was any indication, he will have to live with the ramifications of being the filthiest of the filthy rich.

"He's going to go through a lot this year. It's going to be tough on him," said Rangers third baseman Ken Caminiti, who said he was going to inquire about moving his locker away from Rodriguez to avoid the media crush. "I don't feel sorry for him by any means, but everything he does is going to be magnified. I'm happy for him, but I wouldn't want to be in his shoes."

For the record, Rodriguez took batting practice, sweated through some exercises and said three times he was humbled by his good fortune.

"I've been blessed in so many ways," Rodriguez said. "I'm almost embarrassed and ashamed of this contract."

Aren't we all.

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