A-Rod's Affair with Madonna? Davis and Brand Opt Out, Ronaldo Not Re-Signed by AC Milan

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is no stranger to publicity and the media inciting rumors about his professional career and love life. Neither is singer and worldwide pop icon Madonna. Are both so used to the spotlight and controversy surrounding them that they are fueling it even more with an alleged long-time affair? The New York Post and Us magazine say so. All I can say to A-Rod is: Your wife's hot, Madonna's ugly, you have two kids, you just signed a record deal that you could lose half of in a divorce settlement...are you really that stupid?

I do not know why everyone is so surprised about Baron Davis and Elton Brand opting out of their contracts. Both play for sub-par teams with low market shares and neither gets the respect they deserve. All staying under contract does is limit their chances of winning a championship and earning their worth at the present market value. I hope both wind up in better situations, though Davis claims he is focused on Brand's former Los Angeles Clippers but prefers to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors. Speaking with ESPN's J.A. Adande via e-mail, Davis wrote: "Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b." Good thing the contracts don't take into account their grammer.

Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo met with AC Milan over the weekend, only to be told his contract with the club would not be renewed. After severing a tendon in his knee playing in a Serie A match against Livorno in February, Ronaldo has been recovering from surgery and is expected to return in early 2009. The non-renewal is interesting as Milan is said to be considering re-signing El Fenomeno if he can prove his health. Prove his health? Besides winning World Cups and league titles, I do not see what he has left to prove. If the man says he will return, he will return. Chances are he will not be re-signed and while he could go to Brazil and play at home, I would not be surprised to see a lucrative offer come his way from the MLS in the next six months.

A-Rod Powers Up

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez completed the second and final "game" of his rehab stint at the team's Minor League facility (Himes Complex) with what many Yankee fans hope is a dubious omen on his impact once he returns: a grand slam.

Earlier today, in a situation of the bases loaded with two outs, Rodriguez launched a ball off of the high center field fence for a grand salami--now it is time for him to do it in the big leagues.

The three-time American League MVP will be returning to the Yankees' line-up on Tuesday in New York against the Baltimore Orioles.

After straining his right quadriceps against the Orioles on April 28, A-Rod returned after just three games, a desperate move that backfired for the Yanks as he re-aggravated the injury. He has been eligible to return from the 15-day DL since May 15, but the Yankees decided to give him an extra five days to recuperate as they have a scheduled day-off on Monday.

After Sunday morning's simulated game, Rodriguez said it was the best he has felt since before the injury occurred.

"I did as full of a workout as I could do today," Rodriguez said. "I left it all out there. I felt nothing [in my quadriceps], so I'm ready to go."

This is his second Minor League home run in as many "games," as A-Rod made his first rehab start yesterday at the Raymond Naimoli Complex of the Tampa Bay Rays and hit a solo shot. He played five full innings.

The Yankees are 20-23 and in last place in the AL East. They trail Boston by 5.5 and Tampa Bay by 4.5 games respectively. It is important to note that New York has been without their top two power hitters from last year in Rodriguez and catcher Jorge Posada for the majority of the season.