Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Pay Rod

"The game just means so much to me, that I do not want it to be diluted by a dollar sign."
-Alex Rodriguez, 12-12-00
The day after signing a 10-year $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

Season's Greetings from Cincinnati!

I thought I would begin my periodic update to all of you with a pleasant quote. This one is by far the best one I could find. I heard it on ESPN's SportsCenter this morning and about choked on my laughter.

In other insane news, we have a winter storm warning today, calling for six inches of snow today and 2-4 inches after midnight with wind chills of 10. I love it! They say we are looking at up to 12 inches possibly.

It started here just about a half hour ago.

Stacy spent this past weekend in Chicago for a conference. She was there for the blizzard, but still had a good time. She experienced some local dining favorites while there, including the Billy Goat Tavern and Grill, where John Belushi did his famous Saturday Night Live skit, "Cheezborger, Cheezborger." She made it back safe and sound yesterday afternoon at the lovely (really) Cincinnati Airport.

I had one of my finals moved to this past Monday and it went well. I think I studied too much because my arthritis set in early. I knew all the questions and I was writing so fast. Then again, I hardly ever write anymore its all typing for me!

The rest of my finals are next Wednesday and Thursday, and I will be done for the semester, finally, but already! Next semester begins Tuesday, January 16.

Stacy and I are going to the Crosstown Shootout on Thursday. We were lucky enough to each get a ticket we are not sitting together, but we are going!

The Shootout is the main event University of Cincinnati vs. Xavier University basketball. The game is on national TV ESPN at 9:00pm. I cannot wait. The newspapers blow this up! Last year, Xavier beat then #1 Cincinnati 66-64. Dick Vitale is doing the game, one that he does by choice because he says, "this rivalry is as good as Duke-North Carolina."

I hope you have got your gifts bought and wrapped for the holiday season. I am ready to get to the families' houses and spend time with them.

If you have made it down this far, let me make you feel better when you look at your paycheck. Alex Rodriguez got his 10-year, $252 million contract. Let's break it down:

PAY PER GAME - $170,270
PER INNING - $18,918
PER AT-BAT - $45,487

· If A-Rod wanted to spend all of his $252 million in the next 10 years, he would have to spend $2,877 per hour -- around the clock It would take 23,525 years for a worker earning minimum wage to earn $252 million.

Thanks!

Well I wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever you choose to celebrate this season! Our best to you and your family this season.

I look forward to talking to, e-mailing you or seeing you soon