2008 Woodie Awards
The Weekly Tail 'Gater - American Gangster in Tail 'Gater Style
Mike Nanna
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Sports
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As the semester comes to an end, I want to make a few predictions and hand out some hardware to individuals who deserve to be called out in one way or another. To give this article a twist, I've decided to take a page out of the book of my favorite sportswriter, Bill Simmons, coupled with memorable quotes from American Gangster as I headline my deserving superlatives.
"My investigation indicates that Frank Lucas is above the Mafia." This award goes to the most powerful person in all of sports, Scott Boras. Most columnists and fans alike have misconstrued the recent Alex Rodriguez saga to interpret it as a slap in the face of Boras and a blemish to his reputation. I see it another way. Upon closer inspection, Boras not only cost the Yankees millions of dollars but also insulted the organization by opting out of a record contract. Yet, he still found a way to get his client employed and paid handsomely through back door negotiations after the greatest organization in sports made a steadfast promise that it would refuse to restart talks. Did this really happen? Boras might not have had any other takers for his client but he still managed to get another record-breaking contract from the same team that looked ready to part ways with their star third-baseman. Throw in Warren Buffet and some Goldman Sachs Managing Directors and you've got a story that reeks of Boras as the master puppeteer. Don't underestimate the most powerful agent in sports because we have certainly not seen the last of him.
"That's a clown suit. That's a costume, with a big sign on it that says 'Arrest me.' You understand?" This award goes to the athlete who has hurt his public image the most over the course of this year and so, this contest is not even close. Alex Rodriguez has been caught with strippers, making bush league plays and lying to Yankee fans. That's not to mention those god awful highlights and lip gloss he loves to wear. Through all of that he will still end up richer than any player in baseball. Do you think that all will be forgotten by Yankee fans next year? If he wins another MVP perhaps, but if he struggles out of the gate, expect some tough love from the Bronx.
"My investigation indicates that Frank Lucas is above the Mafia." This award goes to the most powerful person in all of sports, Scott Boras. Most columnists and fans alike have misconstrued the recent Alex Rodriguez saga to interpret it as a slap in the face of Boras and a blemish to his reputation. I see it another way. Upon closer inspection, Boras not only cost the Yankees millions of dollars but also insulted the organization by opting out of a record contract. Yet, he still found a way to get his client employed and paid handsomely through back door negotiations after the greatest organization in sports made a steadfast promise that it would refuse to restart talks. Did this really happen? Boras might not have had any other takers for his client but he still managed to get another record-breaking contract from the same team that looked ready to part ways with their star third-baseman. Throw in Warren Buffet and some Goldman Sachs Managing Directors and you've got a story that reeks of Boras as the master puppeteer. Don't underestimate the most powerful agent in sports because we have certainly not seen the last of him.
"That's a clown suit. That's a costume, with a big sign on it that says 'Arrest me.' You understand?" This award goes to the athlete who has hurt his public image the most over the course of this year and so, this contest is not even close. Alex Rodriguez has been caught with strippers, making bush league plays and lying to Yankee fans. That's not to mention those god awful highlights and lip gloss he loves to wear. Through all of that he will still end up richer than any player in baseball. Do you think that all will be forgotten by Yankee fans next year? If he wins another MVP perhaps, but if he struggles out of the gate, expect some tough love from the Bronx.
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