In a very interesting move, the Texas Rangers made Alex Rodriguez their team captain. Only a month after the team tried to unload him in the most talked about non-trade in history, they have now asked him to lead their players on and off the field. The move seems tinged with public relations butt-covering except that Buck Showalter's last captain was Don Mattingly--a pretty good track record.

What we will never know is how the move will be perceived by his fellow players, some of whom it was reported wanted him to go. There is always a fine line the best athlete on campus walks. Most envy him and the others fawn on him. Rodriguez has probably experienced both in spades. Neither typical reaction makes you a lot of friends.

The one thing on the side of Alex Rogriguez: He plays hard every day and he is consistent in his efforts on the field. He is not only the best hitting shortstop in the league, he has also made himself the best fielder. That takes hard work and dedication to your craft which has to impress even his most jaded teammate.

It will be interesting, but not for us. We only look from the outside in and have to decide after it's all over on whether or not to believe the inevitable auto-biography.


In another interesting story, a Cleveland Indians' minor league player from Japan, who has a good chance to make the majors this season, admitted to appearing in a gay porn video while in college in Japan. First, it's still too bad that we have to qualify the porn video by its category and second, it's sad that teams in his own country shunned him after it was known what he had done.

The refreshing part of this story is that the young man has been up front about his "acting" and acknowledges it to be a mistake. What is also refreshing is that the Indians have given him a chance and that players on his minor league teams have been supportive and accepting of him. Maybe we are making some strides in America yet.

The player says he is straight and made the movie for money. Well, that's been done before. He didn't hurt anyone and the one movie shouldn't have any bearing on what type of player or chance he will be given in the major leagues. I'm going to root for the kid and this Fan doesn't envy the abuse he will suffer at the hand of some fans.