A Rod's Crazy game Of Poker

Major League Baseball is taking "very seriously" the allegations that Alex Rodriguez took part in some illegal, underground poker games, one of which reportedly turned violent, and he could face suspension if his participation in the games is confirmed.ESPN

I don't really understand this whole thing, but it seems as A Rod has been involved in high stakes poker games. In 2005, Alex was warned to not involve himself in these types of games. A lot of people say he could be suspended based on his involvement in the games.

"The allegations, first reported by Star Magazine, are that the New York Yankees third baseman played in at least two of the games, one of which took place at a record executive's Beverly Hills mansion, where "cocaine was openly used" and a fight nearly broke out when one of the players refused to pay after losing "more than a half-million dollars."

I don't think it matters, that cocaine use happened, it's more the gambling aspect. This isn't a big deal in my eyes, what did he do wrong? Play a poker game. Should he have avoided the situation, maybe? But at the end of the day, it's a card game and as much as I hate A Rod, he shouldn't be suspended for this, even if it's found he played.

Story That Should Be Getting More Attention

"A Canadian sports doctor (Dr. Anthony Galea) whose high-profile clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to bringing into the United States unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone, that were used to treat professional athletes (Boston Herald)."

I find it very odd that this story is getting no media attention. We ripped apary A-Rod for his steroid use, and yet Tiger Woods gets to walk away from this without really any notice. We were all wondering all those years how Tiger could drive so far, and be so good, could this be the answer? Could this be the reason he is having all these injuries now? I am starting to think so.

Jeter Really Hated A-Rod

We always heard rumors that these two weren't the biggest fan of each other, but today we got a look into what it was really like...

O'Connor's book demonstrates other awkward Jeter-Cashman moments. When the relationship between Jeter and Alex Rodriguez was at its coldest in 2006, the two came together for a dropped pop-up in a blowout loss to the Orioles. After the ball fell harmlessly to the dirt, Jeter gave A-Rod a death stare in full view of everyone in the ballpark. Then-manager Joe Torre would scold the third baseman and shortstop for the drop, but Cashman asked his manager to do more. The GM asked Torre to talk to Jeter about improving his relationship with A-Rod. When Torre declined, Cashman confronted Jeter himself.

"Listen, this has to stop," the GM told the captain. "Everybody in the press box, every team official, everyone watching, they saw you look at the ball on the ground and look at him with disgust like you were saying, 'That's your mess, you clean it up.'"

"Show me the video," Jeter told Cashman in disbelief. "Show me the video."

The GM didn't bother, but advised Jeter to do a better job of embracing Rodriguez, if only for the sake of perception. One friend of Jeter's agreed with Cashman and told the shortstop to try to make A-Rod feel more welcome in the clubhouse.

"Now you're sounding like everyone else," Jeter told the friend, according to the book. "Don't you think I've tried? I try, and sometimes I've just got to walk away and come back and try again, but you know I've tried. And every time I try, he'll do something that pushes me away (ESPN)."

Very interesting, and you have to wonder what their relationship is like now. Usually I would blame the player for not being there for their teammate, but A-Rod is such a douche that I feel like it really would be hard to have him as a teammate. These things that "push Jeter away" are probably the same things baseball fans (outside of New York) hate him for, like tipping pitches for the other team, slapping at the ball, yelling "I got it" behind a guy catching the ball, and just his general way he goes about his life.

The story also doesn't paint a very good picture of Jeter though as it goes on to his negotiations this last offseason. Cashman, at the end of his rope, asked Jeter how much above his market value were they going to have to pay him, and Jeter stormed out of the room. To be fair to Jeter it does state that he was more upset that everything was made so public, which I could see, because usually he is a class act.

Anyways, just more drama for the Yankees, which just seems endless.