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.

Bomber Attacks as Iraqis Celebrate Soccer Win

We have all heard about ridiculous celebrations associated with soccer wins and losses but rarely does one hear of a suicide bombing attack coinciding with a national team victory. Even in the Middle East.

Earlier today in northern Iraq, a female suicide bomber targeted exhuberant soccer fans who were in the process of celebrating a national team win in a big match against China. More than 29 people were wounded when the suicide vest was detonated in a marketplace with no casualties being reported as of press time.

The match, which Iraq won 2-1 in China, was part of the Asian qualifier for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa. Iraq, along with China, Australia and Qatar are in Group 1 of the qualifier. The top two teams will advance to the next stage of qualifying. Iraq was able to eliminate China from the competition with their win this morning and is on their way to advancing.

With Iraqis fighting over a number of issues, one of the few things all of their people can rally around is watching their national soccer team in worldwide competition. In Baghdad, as is customary, celebratory gunfire rang out after the Iraqi team won. Certainly no one expected a travesty to unfold the same day the nation was able to come together and celebrate a victory.