Mr. Sparkle Saturday - How News Works
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Three baseball stories popped up yesterday that deserve attention. Yet, only two of them are getting full-bore coverage, while the third is going by the wayside. This is, as the professionals say, just one of those things that happens.
Story number one is that Barry Bonds was indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. This is possibly the biggest American sports story of the past twenty years, so I can hardly blame ESPN, FoxSports, Yahoo!, et al, for hitting the story hard and devoting lots of resources to it. Sportszilla has chimed in over the many months and years, too.
Story number two is that Alex Rodriguez has agreed to a ten year, multi bajillion dollar contract with the Yankees. Setting aside that the deal pretty much corresponds with reasonable projections of what his production should fetch in the free agent market, it's big news because the highest paid player in baseball should now remain so at least until Albert Pujols, David Wright, or Johan Santana sign a new deal, possibly longer. The sticker shock is what's driving that story, and the meme that ARod is bucking the conventional wisdom that he's a wuss and didn't want to play in New York anymore.
Story number three is the one that's under the radar. It involves one of MLB's poster children. A man who's seen as the face of its most storied franchise. And there's a distinct possibility he's in for a huge fight with with the New York state government. In case you didn't hear under the avalanche of Bonds and ARod coverage, Derek Jeter is being asked to pay millions in back taxes because he's been claiming his primary residence is in Florida, not New York. They're not charging him with tax evasion, just trying to reclassify him as a New Yorker for the years 2001-2003. I have so many questions, such as: What? They can do that? Why now? What changed between 2003 and now? Are they making an example of him? Are they going after any other athletes with this sort of vigor?
Funny. Same questions I had about Bonds. Granted, it doesn't go to the core of the game the way the Bonds issue does, but I want to see how the Jeter saga plays out.
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College Football predictions:
Michigan wins big.
Florida Atlantic loses handily, but takes solace in putting up a good showing against the Tim Tebow: Force of Nature.
Missouri crushes Kansas State.
Boise State rolls on.
Cincinnati wins thanks to special teams play.
Doom.
