A-Rod Gate? Yankees Warn Alex Rodriguez Against Partaking in Illegal Gambling Activities

In addition to slapping opposing players' arms and struggling in the playoffs, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez apparently has an affinity for illegal gambling. According to the New York Daily News, Rodriguez is frequenting illegal city poker clubs, where it is thought that those who bet on baseball may also frequent. (Jim Rich et. al, "Play-Rod's Bets Called," N.Y. Daily News, 11/2/2005). Rodriguez, who is the highest paid athlete in the world (10-year, $252 million contract), is apparently not breaking the law by gambling at these operations, as under New York law, only the actual operators face liability.

The nefarious behavior is especially abhorrent to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who is one of the strictest owners in pro sports. However, the Daily News quotes an unnamed Yankees executive who states that Rodriguez has not violated his contract's morals clause. Most moral clauses feature the following type of language (and thanks to Frascogna Courtney LLC in Jackson, Mississippi for this info):

The Player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to obey the Club's training rules, and pledges himself to the American public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship

I suspect if it is proved that Rodriguez is playing poker with those who also bet on baseball, the Yankees could more closely investigate the possibility of terminating his astronomical contract, or at least threatening to do so. Regularly mingling with those who bet on baseball may not "conform to high standards of personal conduct." It is also possible that Major League Baseball would intervene at that point, and threaten suspension. After the Pete Rose betting scandal, the MLB would seem to have little tolerance for those who associate with baseball bettors.

Regardless, A-Rod's gambling activities cast a poor light on a player seemingly obsessed with his image. One would think that A-Rod could get his gambling "fix" in his own clubhouse, as many players like to play cards. Or he could have poker games in his own home. But instead, he chooses to frequent illegal gambling operations, and associate with serious, hardened gamblers. Maybe he shouldn't have skipped college after-all!

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