A-Rod opts out of contract

[Phlegm]

He is a free to sign with any team now. It will cost a bunch of money though.

Boras hasn't said how much he believes Rodriguez is worth on the open market, but he suggested in interviews that Rodriguez could be worth $500 million to the Yankees over the next 10 years. It's clear he's shooting for a deal well in excess of $300 million, perhaps even as much as $400 million. Rodriguez was to make $91 million over the final three years of his Rangers/Yankees deal.

[Kramer]

i wonder if he would do the whole noble athlete thing and wander down to Houston...

[Tikker]

i still can't get over how much money baseball owners throw at players

then when I boggle at that, I realize soccer players make more money, jeje

[Harrison]

If Boston signs A-rod, he'll be booed at every game.

[Ouchyfish]

The red sox will sign every good free agent that files this year. I can't blame them and wish the cards would too, lol, it's just funny how fast the red sox fans stopped mocking the yankees for doing it.

[Harrison]

I would rather us lose every game next year than sign that faggot.

[Ouchyfish]

If Boston signs A-rod, he'll be booed at every game.

You forget how fickle the fans are. The booing will stop when he starts cranking out home runs.

[Harrison]

I personally don't foresee Boston fans ever liking Gayrod.

[Iccarra]

I remember when he was in Seattle & left. What a When he came back there on his new team (Texas, right? Sorry, the old-timers might be kicking in.) the fans in Seattle threw dollar bills when he came out on the field.

[Lyion]

i still can't get over how much money baseball owners throw at players

then when I boggle at that, I realize soccer players make more money, jeje

I need to find 2007 numbers, but the top cash makers are golfers, which blows me away.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/s ... rtunate50/

Although checking #10 makes me chuckle at the foolishness of some.

I had a long conversation with a buddy who is an Economist about why pro athletes are so high paid. He made a good point in that it's supply and demand. There are a few hundred MLB players and they are the pinncale of their profession, one that earns gargantuan sums of money. For those few hundred MLBers, there are thousands in farm teams who'll never make big bucks, and hundreds of thousands who never make it professional. Thus, the top of the supply chain, they are worth what they are being paid.

http://www.forbes.com/sportsbusiness/20 ... letes.html

This list is from this week. Tiger still is on top

When we looked at the highest-paid athletes in the world three years ago, Tiger Woods narrowly topped the list ahead of German Formula One legend Michael Schumacher. Today, Woods still sits on top--and no one is even close.

Woods earned $100 million in the 12 month period ending June 2007. That is the most an athlete has ever made in one year. Woods banked $13 million in prize money and $87 million from endorsements and appearance fees. His take was more than twice the amount earned by the second highest-paid athlete, pugilist Oscar De La Hoya. The "Golden Boy" pocketed $43 million from his May fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

One big shift on this year's list is the presence of athletes from outside the U.S. Only three of the highest-paid athletes were from outside the U.S. in 2004. This year that numbered tripled to nine athletes, led by Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen, who earned $40 million and ranked fourth overall.

Other international notables: British soccer star David Beckham, ranked sixth with $33 million; Brazil's Ronaldinho, tied for ninth with $31 million; Valentino Rossi, the Italian motorcycling champ, who raked in $30 million, placing him at No. 11; and Yao Ming, China's most famous export, who banked $26.3 million in the NBA. He was 17th overall.

Our list represents both the young and old. Tennis star Maria Sharapova can’t legally buy a drink at 20 years old, but she can certainly afford it on her $23 million income last year. Sharapova ranked 25th, and is the sole woman on the list (no women made the list in 2004).

On the other end of the spectrum is 78-year old golfing legend Arnold Palmer. Despite retiring from competitive golf last year, Palmer still earned $25 million from sponsors like Callaway, Rayovac and Rolex.

[Zanchief]

Dear god, Tiger makes 87 mil annually in endorsements?

When Kobe and LeBron make so much more in endorsements then the do from their team, you have to wonder which one is really their employer.

[Lyion]

Golf is a cross spectrum popular sport, and the equipment and sales it generates dwarves football, baseball, and basketball combined. It's absolutely huge in the U.S., and cross genre.

That still is a staggering sum in endorsements.

[Eldred]

Golf is a cross spectrum popular sport, and the equipment and sales it generates dwarves football, baseball, and basketball combined. It's absolutely huge in the U.S., and cross genre.

That still is a staggering sum in endorsements.

Another thing is that golf isn't just an "American" sport, it's huge all over the world. Not that I'm really a fan of golf I think it's boring as hell to watch although I don't mind going out and shooting a front or back nine once or twice a month.

[Haylo]

I can definitely see where he would generate that type of cash. The difference to a tournament in which Tiger plays vs the ones where he doesn't is huge. I watch pretty much every golf tournament shown on TV, and even the announcers are noticeably more excited when Tiger is in the field. So splashing Tiger Woods on a product is just like guaranteed cash, everyone takes notice.

[Tikker]

it's still just fucking golf tho!

[Haylo]

Haha golf is exciting! Nothing like watching someone go for a shot over water and watching the ball slowly roll, will it drop in the hazard, will it hang up???? Doesn't get much better than that.

[Ouchyfish]

Haha golf is exciting! Nothing like watching someone go for a shot over water and watching the ball slowly roll, will it drop in the hazard, will it hang up???? Doesn't get much better than that.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Gypsiyee]

Haha golf is exciting! Nothing like watching someone go for a shot over water and watching the ball slowly roll, will it drop in the hazard, will it hang up???? Doesn't get much better than that.

You're a crazy lady, I could never get into watching golf, it's as bad as watching bowling >.<

it's one thing to play, a complete other to watch.

[Haylo]

Man i'm telling you watch a Major if you never have. It really is exciting if you know what's going on. I used to think it was a really boring sport to watch but it's not. Now Tennis on the other hand....

[Gypsiyee]

I was watching the high stakes golf tourney the other day, but mostly just because it had a few of my favorite poker pros in it

we played tennis last night! man are we bad

thats one of those fun to play, horrid to watch sports >.<

[Tikker]

tennis wtfpwns golf

hard

golf, darts, bowling and poker

4 shows that should NOT be on my sports channels =\

[Phlegm]

tennis wtfpwns golf

hard

golf, darts, bowling and poker

4 shows that should NOT be on my sports channels =\

ESPN had scrabble, spelling bee, domino and backgammon on this year.

[Lyion]

My Ohio Canuck channel seems to have a lovefest for Curling.

Give me Golf any day over that, plz.

Golf is great to watch if you're a player. Again, it's something people from 14 to 90 have in common here in the U.S., can relate and play against each other.

Nothing better than 9 holes on a perfect day with a bunch of beer in the cart.

[Tikker]

at least curling women are attractive

[Arlos]

Isn't "Men With Brooms" like the official Canadian national Movie?

-Arlos