MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 16, 2000

P.T. Barnum was right – there is a sucker born every minute.They are called professional sports owners.

How else can you explain Alex Rodriguez getting a 10-year, $252 million deal? Or Manny Ramirez getting $160 million over eight years from the Red Sox? Imagine you are Scott Boras, Rodriguez’s agent. You walk into TexasRangers owner Tom Hicks office seeking $200 million and instead are offered $252 million. What would your first reaction be? ‘What are youkidding me?” Or “where do I sign?” Can you imagine going back to your client and telling him about the deal? Rodriguez was probably wondering where he was going to get another agent after he had Boras committed.

Instead, it’s Hicks and every other owner who offers such deals that should be committed. Rodriguez may have been called greedy for some ofthe things he asked for in his free agency tour. But can you blame him orany other player for accepting such money. Would you turn down $25million a year? For the money he is getting paid, Rodriguez should be like Bugs Bunny in those old cartoons. You know, the ones with “Bugs Bunny, first base, BugsBunny, second base…” For that price tag, Rodriguez should lead the leaguein every offensive category, not make an error at shortstop, lead the Rangers to the World Series title, figure out this presidential mess in Florida, find a cure for cancer, AIDS and the yips in golf, get a peace agreement in the Middle East and bring Ross and Rachel and Scully and Mulder together.

Absurd? So is $252 million for 10 years for a shortstop.

Babe Ruth was criticized by the New York Yankees brass in the 1920s for wanting a contract for more than the President of the United States makes a year. Now Rodriguez will probably be getting paid more a year than everypublic official in Washington, D.C. for playing a game. Just think what Ruthor Cy Young or Hank Aaron or Willie Mays would be worth today.

Can you believe that it was just 20 years ago that Nolan Ryan shocked the sports world by accepting a $1 million deal. Or that 11 years ago, KirbyPuckett became the first player to make $3 million? You thought going from Kitty Hawk to the moon in 66 years was impressive? If the history of flight was like the baseball salary progression over the past 25 years, we would have daily trips to Saturn by now.

You used to be able to get a good corporation for the money Hicks paid out to Rodriguez. You probably still can. And talk about your ultimatefranchise players. Hicks paid more for Rodriguez than he did for theRangers when he bought them.

For just one of 24 players on the team, Hicks could have paid the payrolls for eight teams (Minnesota, Kansas City, Florida, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Milwaukee and Cincinnati) this year plus had some change left over. Those teams combined to win six World Series between 1985 and1997. The Rangers have yet to even win a playoff series in their history.Rodriguez by himself will not break that streak. And his deal makes iteven harder to bring in other players who will help out. The Rangers nowhave one of the best offenses in baseball but still have a suspect pitching staff. And bringing in all the Mark Petkovseks in the world will not changethat.

No, about the only thing that the deal will bring the Rangers and baseball is the more likelihood of a work stoppage after the 2001 season. Obviouslythe owners cannot stop themselves from offering ridiculous salaries so they will ask the players to do it for them. And unlike $252 million for 10years, that is one deal the players will not be buying.

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