Maybe Those who Didn't Want ARod were Right.

[TheKilo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07roberts.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

To them, he isn’t A-Rod, a regular-season crackerjack on the verge of a Yankees deal potentially worth $300 million. To them, he is Tight-Rod, an apartment tycoon, who, renters say, has jacked late fees to $100 from $50 on units that run around $600 a month.

 

But A-Rod is a star constantly locked in a contradiction of conscience as evidenced by his charity. The homey surface of the AROD Family Foundation’s Web site, which promotes a slogan of helping “families in distress,” belies its cap on generosity.

 

Rodriguez has earned nearly $200 million over the past decade, but, according to 990 tax records dating to 1998, he is a cheap tipper to his foundation.

 

In eight years of available documents, donations averaged $30,000 a year and gifts distributed to the community averaged $13,000 a year. In 2002, A-Rod did not contribute more than $5,500. In 2006, the foundation did not give away more than $5,090 despite a fund-raiser that collected $368,000.

 

Interesting article. I guess Yankee fans will have a tough time saying how disingenuous Curt Schilling is after this one.

[Mr Crunchy]

In 2006, the foundation did not give away more than $5,090 despite a fund-raiser that collected $368,000.

 

sounds like hes a thief as well as a choke

anyone drop a dime to the IRS or DOT yet?

 

the thing hes got going for him here is hes more feminine than leona helmsley

[Thumper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07roberts.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article. I guess Yankee fans will have a tough time saying how disingenuous Curt Schilling is after this one.

 

It's quite simple, Alex Rodriguez is a douchebag.

[jacksonianmarch]

In 2006, the foundation did not give away more than $5,090 despite a fund-raiser that collected $368,000.

 

sounds like hes a thief as well as a choke

anyone drop a dime to the IRS or DOT yet?

 

the thing hes got going for him here is hes more feminine than leona helmsley

 

interesting article. I wonder who is actually running this though. I have a feeling ARod is very hands off on this issue.

[Jayhawk Bill]

interesting article. I wonder who is actually running this though. I have a feeling ARod is very hands off on this issue.

 

I don't know. If the foundation's director is an attractive woman previously employed as an escort, he might often take a hands-on role.

 

Seriously, charities that don't return even half of their donations to those they're intended to benefit are usually being run for the opportunity to pay their employees. Follow the money, and you'll get a better answer.

[example1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07roberts.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article. I guess Yankee fans will have a tough time saying how disingenuous Curt Schilling is after this one.

 

Good find TheKilo. There's a lot there.

 

I'm not sure what to take away from it. Sounds like he owns the apts as a business venture, does the non-profit thing for PR, and probably isn't overly involved in either of them... :dunno:

 

I doubt he's trying to be malicious, but I also doubt he's ever said "Here's my checkbook, write away!" Dude could do some serious good with his money, and I'm not convinced that he won't eventually. We will see.

[cam780]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07roberts.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article. I guess Yankee fans will have a tough time saying how disingenuous Curt Schilling is after this one.

 

I was one of the few that would've liked to see A-Rod come to Boston and its stories like these that make me wonder why he decided to return to NY. The press there can be vicious. This is the AL MVP that carried his team to playoffs. I'm not trying to brush off the content of the article because it doesn't make him out to be the best person but you don't see the Boston media digging into JD Drew's personal life for news stories.

[TheKilo]

I was one of the few that would've liked to see A-Rod come to Boston and its stories like these that make me wonder why he decided to return to NY. The press there can be vicious. This is the AL MVP that carried his team to playoffs. I'm not trying to brush off the content of the article because it doesn't make him out to be the best person but you don't see the Boston media digging into JD Drew's personal life for news stories.

 

Well, JD Drew never put up the front of being a charitable person and then pocket over 90% of the funds for a fundrasier.

 

What were the Boston media going to find with Drew? That his wife was pregnant? His kid sick?

[He Hate Me]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/sports/baseball/07roberts.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article. I guess Yankee fans will have a tough time saying how disingenuous Curt Schilling is after this one.

 

I don't have a problem saying it. I did not want A-Rod back and I still don't want him back. He's a phony, very talented, but phony. This does not surprise me the least. If the article's true then he's not only a phony, but also a big time crook. Arrest him and void his contract.

[Gom]

I don't have a problem saying it. I did not want A-Rod back and I still don't want him back.

This is why most Yankee fans are clueless.

 

Do you realize that without his season, we don't make the playoffs this past season? That with the team constructed as it is, we wouldn't make the playoffs next season? Do you realize that he's the only legitimate righty power threat in the lineup?

 

Do you realize that he hits well against the Red Sox pitchers? Do you realize he out-hit most of the Yankees against Detroit? Even the famed Derek Jeter, who was unquestionably the offensive goat against Detroit?

 

Personally, I know we'll be there in October again, barring injury. So will the Red Sox and the Angels. The question will be Detroit or Cleveland. We are a stronger team heading to 2008 than we were in 2007. Without Arod, we have NO CHANCE.

 

We got lucky in the early 90's. Do you really think our farm system will turn out a boderline Hall of Fame center fielder and catcher, a hall of fame shortstop, and the greatest reliever in the history of baseball all within 4 years like we did in the 90's?

 

I hear this ******** from Yankee fans all the time. Dude, look at the Red Sox. Who the hell did they rebuild with? Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis? Merry f***ing Christmas. As good as those players are, Ortiz, Ramirez, Schilling, Beckett, and Lowell had more to do with it. Those guys were trades or free agents.

 

You hope to get lucky with some players from your farm system, and you use trades and free agent signings to supplement what you have. It's what we did in the 90's. It's what the Sox are doing now. We were successful in the 90's, they are now. It's the same strategy.

 

Wake up.

[rician blast]

This is why most Yankee fans are clueless.

 

Do you realize that without his season, we don't make the playoffs this past season? That with the team constructed as it is, we wouldn't make the playoffs next season? Do you realize that he's the only legitimate righty power threat in the lineup?

 

Wake up.

 

The post you quoted also acknowledged his talent but stated he did not want ARod back due to character issues. I think that is a perfectly legit point of view and requires no "waking up."

 

There were quite a few Red Sox fans that did not want him in Boston either, although they acknowledged he could make the team better, talent wise. Not sure how you can belittle someone for caring about the type of player that plays for their team.

[Gom]

Because none of these players are angels.

 

The Red Sox fans who don't want Arod are just as idiotic, if not more so [when not factoring in the salary concern].

 

You know what? I've got great character. I'm honest, I don't steal, I don't cheat. I've never cheated on a girl [and yes, hold that thought, I've been with girls, emphasizing plural]. I give to charity, I hold the door open for ladies and older folks.

 

So what if I can't hit a 95 MPH fastball with regularity? I'm a good person with an average glove and arm at third. I may hit .069 in the major leagues, but you won't hear a complaint from anyone in the clubhouse about me. Plus, I'll take less than minimum wage, I won't sign up with the player's union, and won't hire an agent.

 

Would you rather have me or Arod at third?

[ksushi]

I'll take you for my beer league softball team, A-rod doesn't seem like he'd fit in with the guys.

 

I think you're right though, anyone who doesn't want a RH .300 40+ 100+ lock of a bat in their lineup they're insane. Having a great farm system is a huge advantage, but free agency gives you more known commodities and for you're buck, bring in an A-rod, you're getting a guaranteed .300/.380/.550 animal. That changes a team.

[yeszir]

I'll take you for my beer league softball team, A-rod doesn't seem like he'd fit in with the guys.

 

I think you're right though, anyone who doesn't want a RH .300 40+ 100+ lock of a bat in their lineup they're insane. Having a great farm system is a huge advantage, but free agency gives you more known commodities and for you're buck, bring in an A-rod, you're getting a guaranteed .300/.380/.550 animal. That changes a team.

...why do you have meatspin in your signature

[Gom]

I'll take you for my beer league softball team, A-rod doesn't seem like he'd fit in with the guys.

 

I think you're right though, anyone who doesn't want a RH .300 40+ 100+ lock of a bat in their lineup they're insane. Having a great farm system is a huge advantage, but free agency gives you more known commodities and for you're buck, bring in an A-rod, you're getting a guaranteed .300/.380/.550 animal. That changes a team.

I'd hit better than .069 in your league. Maybe even break .100. We'll see.

[rician blast]

The Red Sox fans who don't want Arod are just as idiotic, if not more so [when not factoring in the salary concern].

 

You know what? I've got great character.

 

 

One could say that your statement above, calling fans idiotic for not wanting a certain player, contradicts the "great character" statement. But I'll leave that for others to judge.

 

 

Would you rather have me or Arod at third?

Now that is just silly.

 

Because someone doesn't want a player on their team doesn't make them an idiot...perhaps it reflects that they're less concerned about winning than they are with rooting for players they like on their team. There are other points of view than your's Gom, and although you see fit to negatively label those whose thinking is different, their opinions are no less valid. Just saying.

[ORS]

Didn't Gom applaud Cap'n Jete's tax shenanigans and claim to cheat on his when he can get away with it? Real character guy.

[TheKilo]

No one has ever doubted ARod's talent on a baseball field, however it is interesting to hear many Yankee fans (not necessarily here) call Schilling a blowhard and completely ignore the massive amounts of charity work he does.

 

Like I said in my OP, it'd be interesting to hear Yankee fans call Schilling disingenuous after this fiasco and the Jeter tax issue.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Didn't Gom applaud Cap'n Jete's tax shenanigans and claim to cheat on his when he can get away with it? Real character guy.

 

Find me one American who doesn't take a few liberties on his taxes. It's like embellishing a resume...it's expected. There is a certain degree that is almost condoned.

[TheKilo]

Find me one American who doesn't take a few liberties on his taxes. It's like embellishing a resume...it's expected. There is a certain degree that is almost condoned.

 

Few liberties =/= millions of dollars

[ORS]

Find me one American who doesn't take a few liberties on his taxes. It's like embellishing a resume...it's expected. There is a certain degree that is almost condoned.

Irrelevant. If you tell me you cheat at something, and then tell me 3 weeks later that you have character because you don't "cheat", then I call BS.

[He Hate Me]

This is why most Yankee fans are clueless.

 

Do you realize that without his season, we don't make the playoffs this past season? That with the team constructed as it is, we wouldn't make the playoffs next season? Do you realize that he's the only legitimate righty power threat in the lineup?

 

Do you realize that he hits well against the Red Sox pitchers? Do you realize he out-hit most of the Yankees against Detroit? Even the famed Derek Jeter, who was unquestionably the offensive goat against Detroit?

 

Personally, I know we'll be there in October again, barring injury. So will the Red Sox and the Angels. The question will be Detroit or Cleveland. We are a stronger team heading to 2008 than we were in 2007. Without Arod, we have NO CHANCE.

 

We got lucky in the early 90's. Do you really think our farm system will turn out a boderline Hall of Fame center fielder and catcher, a hall of fame shortstop, and the greatest reliever in the history of baseball all within 4 years like we did in the 90's?

 

I hear this ******** from Yankee fans all the time. Dude, look at the Red Sox. Who the hell did they rebuild with? Pedroia, Papelbon, and Youkilis? Merry f***ing Christmas. As good as those players are, Ortiz, Ramirez, Schilling, Beckett, and Lowell had more to do with it. Those guys were trades or free agents.

 

You hope to get lucky with some players from your farm system, and you use trades and free agent signings to supplement what you have. It's what we did in the 90's. It's what the Sox are doing now. We were successful in the 90's, they are now. It's the same strategy.

 

Wake up.

 

clap clap all good point about A-Rod. Still not worth bringing him back at $275M plus all the drama he brings. happy?

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Few liberties =/= millions of dollars

 

Yes, it does. It's all relative.

 

You taking a few liberties on your taxes to save $5,000 when you make $50,000 is the exact same, proportionally, as ARod taking a few liberties to save $3,000,000 when he makes $30,000,000.

[rician blast]

Love ARod's spin regarding his turnabout:

 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12172007/sports/yankees/a_rod__boras_not_speaking_878373.htm

 

Alex Rodriguez said during an interview with 60 Minutes that he and agent Scott Boras are not speaking to each other.Rodriguez indicated that he's upset over the way Boras handled negotiations with the Yankees. "The whole situation saddens me a little bit," Rodriguez said.

 

"There hasn't been much back-and-forth talking. When I realized things were going haywire, at that point I said wait a minute I've got to be accountable for my own life. This is not going the way I wanted it to go, so I got behind the wheel."

 

Forgive me for being cynical, but wasn't it reported that Warren Buffett advised him to go around Boras....and didn't a high-powered Goldman-Sachs employee contact the Yankees for him?

 

Besides, when has ARod ever done something without the advice of his image consultants?

 

What a piece of work.

[TheKilo]

Yes, it does. It's all relative.

 

You taking a few liberties on your taxes to save $5,000 when you make $50,000 is the exact same, proportionally, as ARod taking a few liberties to save $3,000,000 when he makes $30,000,000.

 

 

No, because the taxation rate on levels of income isn't the same across the board. So thanks for playing.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

No' date=' because the taxation rate on levels of income isn't the same across the board. So thanks for playing.[/quote']

 

I know they aren't, and they don't have to be.

 

(I don't know why I started this discussion about ARod as this thread is about Jeter, but I'll continue on ARod for the sake of consistency of example...)

 

Taking liberties on your taxes to save 10% of your total income on last dollar earned is the same REGARDLESS of what your tax rate is. We're discussing pre-tax income here anyways, aren't we? That IS what you're taxed upon after all, isn't it?!? I'm going to give you a brief tax lesson, pay attention.

 

The "liberties" that most people take are usually one of two things, if not both: understating earnings or overstating deductions. You speak as though athletes have been climbing this ridiculous step-ladder of tax brackets. Federally speaking, you hit the maximum tax bracket by the time you earn $350,000 (assuming you jointly file with your wife) which ARod surpassed during like, the top half of the 7th on Opening Day. Once in that bracket, your federal income tax is 35% of your earnings over (about) $350,000. You think he's going to be able to overstate deductions or understate earnings enough to bring him down below $350,000?!? Of course not. He may save a bit here and there, but his tax rate is staying the same regardless of what liberties he takes. The problem with the taxation system in this country is that it's NOT how you imply that it is. My parents are part of the same tax bracket as ARod, and ARod is in the same tax bracket as Donald Trump, and Donald Trump is in the same tax bracket as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Something about that just doesn't seem right, but that's another discussion entirely.

 

So, in response to you my friend, tax brackets have absolutely NOTHING to do with this argument. Thank YOU for playing.

[YAZMAN]

HOSN, give to Caesar what is Caesar's...

 

As for what's fair, let's introduce all of you who are sick of all the BS in our tax code to the reform that Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are raving about:

 

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

 

Buy the book, read the book.

[ORS]

It seems as if HOSN is suggesting it's perfectly fair to use the same rate for the determination of relative "cheating" on taxes, but it's not fair that dissimilar income levels are taxed at the same rate. Can't have it both ways.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

It seems as if HOSN is suggesting it's perfectly fair to use the same rate for the determination of relative "cheating" on taxes' date=' but it's not fair that dissimilar income levels are taxed at the same rate. Can't have it both ways.[/quote']

 

I do not think it's fair that dissimilar income levels are taxed at the same rate. I respect your opinion, but fail to see why you think that I can't feel both ways.

 

We're discussing pre-tax income. We're discussing liberties that can be taken on one's taxes to save 10% of that pre-tax income. (I only used the 10% thing for the sake of example/easy math.) These are both determined before tax brackets and the like are even taken into consideration. But regardless of that...

 

My main argument in this whole thing was to show that what (if) ARod did on his taxes to save a few million dollars is no more morally reprehensible than what you and I do to save thousands. It's all proportional.

[ORS]

It's mathematically proportional, but not morally proportional, not for someone who thinks proportional income means more to those with less, which is what you are saying you feel about the current tax structure.

 

I agree with you. 10% of gross income to the working stiffs mean a heckuva lot more than 10% to someone making millions, and it's because of what you end up with. The $50K example guy ends up with $45K. The $30M guy ends up with $27M. You have to budget everything, where you live, what you eat, what you drive, what you wear, around an extra $5K at that income level. At $27M? You don't have to budget anything, you can still live wherever you want, drive whatever you want, eat wherever you want, etc., etc.