What, you thought we were going to discuss the Pirates’ trade-deadline needs? This is The Post, and this is A-Rod!
–Here’s my news story on yesterday’s bizarreness. My goodness, this was an all-timer.
Let’s break it down in the most cynical terms possible: If A-Rod truly thinks the Yankees are determined to keep him off the field to recoup the insurance money on his $28 million salary, if he thinks that he gave them an inch by complaining about his left quad and they took it a mile — the same way that the fictional George Steinbrenner assumed that George Costanza was dead based on seeing his damaged car in this “Seinfeld” episode — then he needs to treat this as a war.
That means that, either a) He shouldn’t have given them that inch — shouldn’t have said anything about the quad until he reached a major-league game with the Yankees, or b) he should file a grievance against the Yankees now, since that’s precisely what you when you think you’re fit to play and your team is not allowing you to do so.
But to do what he did yesterday, to put some doctor he supposedly has never met into the public spotlight, only to have that doctor immediately back off and also for the doctor’s past reprimand (involving steroids) to be exposed? Good grief. This reminded me of this “Simpsons” episode, when the owners of Kamp Krusty dress up Barney in a clown suit and try to convince the campers that it’s the real Krusty. Chaos ensued then, and chaos is ensuing now.
–Just so we’re clear, while A-Rod did violate the Basic Agreement by seeking a second opinion without keeping the Yankees in the loop, it appears the only penalty is that A-Rod has to pay his own way on the matter. I asked a Major League Baseball person yesterday whether something like this actually made its way to the commissioner’s desk, and the person said no, that it was a team-player matter.
–Not much else to say at this point – we’ll get more direction once A-Rod gets examined again by Yankees team doctors – so we have to thank A-Rod for picking a doctor whose name is Michael Gross, same as the actor who played Steven Keaton on “Family Ties.”
Since I’ll be traveling home tomorrow morning and therefore won’t be blogging, let’s do a “Thursday Five” and identify my favorite Michael Gross performances:
1.“Family Ties.” Sure, the writers changed him over the years from a guy who wore his politics on his chest to more of a goofy dad, but Gross humanized Pa Keaton by making him so darn well-intentioned and likeable.
2.“Tremors.” Underrated flick. It was great to see Steven Keaton transformed into a countrified gun enthusiast.
3.“Family Law” episode entitled “Affairs of the State.” He plays a very sleazy politician.
4.“Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode entitled “The Smiley Face.” As Dr. Rivkin, a dermatologist, Gross gets to project his dignified air while also getting caught in a Larry David mess.
5.“ER.” He appeared in six episodes as the father of Noah Wyle’s character. Frankly, this is the only other role from which I remember Gross. If I recall correctly, John Carter’s father was a good guy, his mother (Mary McDonnell) not such a nice woman.
–Have a great day.