MLB: Still No Deal For A-Rod

Much has been made of free agent Alex Rodriguez's recent contractual demands … and with good reason.

In addition to a contract with financial terms that exceed George W. Bush's proposed tax cut and Al Gore's lock-box fund combined (almost), Rodriguez has demanded such items as an office at his team's stadium where he may conduct his personal marketing and business related matters, use of a private jet at his leisure for friends and family, a daily pre-game meeting with his manager to discuss on-field matters, and the list goes on.

Certain contractual perks have been granted to "elite" players in the past, and as arguably the game's best player, Rodriguez definitely falls into that category. For instance, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza would be given use of a luxury suite should the Mets build a new stadium. However, the nature of Rodriguez's demands would gravely endanger any team willing to sign him to his current proposal. Fulfilling his demands would place him above the team, and for a self-described "team player" only contribute to the gradual disintegration of any sense of team unity.

Many (if not all) of the Rodriguez's demanded perks likely originated with agent Scott Boras. However, it is important to remember that as a player representative, Boras is supposed to accurately represent the wishes of his clients. If a client believed Boras failed to provide an accurate representation, his services would be discontinued. The same would hold true if an attorney misrepresented a client. The attorney would be canned. So is Rodriguez to blame? Most definitely. Any demand Boras issues on behalf of any of his clients must be taken as coming from the client himself.

I have lost a great deal of respect for Rodriguez through this year's free agent process. He has claimed for roughly a year that he wants to play for a team consistently capable of contending for the World Series title and that he is a "team" player. However, the contract that HE has demanded through the representation of his agent proves he has been nothing more than a hypocrite bent on fulfilling his selfish greed.

Rodriguez is by no means the only offender in terms of demanding ridiculous contractual perks and outrageous sums of money, but he is the worst. As one of the best players in the game (if not THE best), the deal Rodriguez signs could set a dangerous precedent for the future of the game. An example must be set that teams and fans will no longer tolerate such lavish and selfish demands on the part of professional athletes.

The New York Mets should be applauded for telling Rodriguez to take a hike when they reviewed his demands. Hopefully 29 other teams will follow their lead. Rodriguez must have his ego deflated and his demands reduced … or he could always play in Japan.