Daily Jolt: A-Rod prepared to retire, until ...
Wednesday, August 14
Today's must-see content delivered straight to you.
A-Rod prepared to retire, until ...
Still, a strange limbo hangs over Alex Rodriguez. [Rodriguez] struck out at "Let's Make a Deal" with Major League Baseball just days before commissioner Bud Selig smacked the disgraced ballplayer with an unprecedented 211-game suspension, sources familiar with the negotiations reconfirmed on Tuesday. Rodriguez was prepared to accept an 80- to 100-game suspension and then retire following the ban, the sources said. The offer, however, came with one crucial caveat: Rodriguez would retire with pay, meaning he would collect about $80 million of the remaining $100 million on his contract. Baseball officials refused to make the deal and instead hit Rodriguez on Aug. 5 with an unprecedented 211-game suspension for his dealings with Anthony Bosch and his now-defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic. (New York Daily News)Comment
Bill Belichick has a plan for Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow may only have been a spectator Tuesday, but that didn't keep him from becoming a major topic of conversation. Tebow clearly was the third quarterback as the first-team units from New England and Tampa Bay got in a lot of passing work on a rainy day in Foxboro. Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett handled the throwing as Tebow watched. ... Coach Bill Bellichick was asked before practice if he was ready to say that Tebow will have a spot on his 53-man roster. "That's not anything that we're ready to talk about right now," he responded. "There's a lot of competition out there." However, during his weekly appearance on WEEI radio, Belichick did indicate that he has definite plans for Tebow, specifically letting him run the ball when he is on the field. "Tim is certainly a good runner, so when he's in there, we'll probably let him carry the ball a few times," Belichick said. (Providence Journal)Comment
Wizards' Al Harrington makes bold prediction
Credit Al Harrington for his optimism -- and for drawing up a goal for his new team. Harrington is confident that he can help [John Wall] make the playoffs for the first time in his career -- and also end the Wizards' five-year postseason drought. After a season spent recovering from a staph infection following surgery on his right knee and as a misplaced piece in the Orlando Magic's rebuilding efforts, the 33-year-old Harrington is eager to once again play a significant role on a team that is playing for something. ... "I'm excited and I feel like this team is definitely going to make the playoffs," Harrington said in a telephone interview late Monday night. "And I don't care. I'll go on record saying that. I feel like if this team is healthy, it will be one of the top eight teams in the East, for sure." (The Washington Post)Comment
Must-See Photo
Japan's Sara Takanashi competes in the FIS Ski Jumping Grand Prix Ladies Training Session in France. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Must-See Video
SI Now's panel discusses which sports superstars they'd love to see back in action.
Game To Watch
New York Mets at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. ET
- New York Mets
- Los Angeles Dodgers
SI Vault: Reggie Jackson
This Day in Sports
- 1993 -- New York Yankees retire Reggie Jackson's No. 44.
- 1973 -- Johnny Unitas files $725,000 suit against Baltimore Colts.
- 1964 -- Pitcher Bo Belinsky is suspended after attacking sportswriter Braven Dyer.
