Solo Shot: How Barry Bonds and Scott Boras Created a New Kind of Superstar

As the Red Sox battle to complete their World Series Sweep against the Colorado Rockies, breaking news comes across the screen. Scott Boras, Alex Rodriguez's agent, has chosen this time to announce that his client will be opting out of his current contract with the New York Yankees, effectively ending his career there. After the Red Sox win, the story fights with World Series coverage on Sports Center. As a Yankee hater, the thought of someone as talented as Alex Rodriguez not wearing pinstripes is very appealing. Then I take a step back, and think about what this means for A-rod's, and baseball's future.

The story starts at the end of October 2000. Months before, the Seattle Mariners had traded two of their biggest superstars, Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr. They still had their franchise shortstop, the 25 year old Alex Rodriguez. Alex would lead them to the American League Championship Series, where they would lose in 6 games to the New York Yankees dynasty that was pursuing its fourth title in five years. The Yankees would go on to defeat their crosstown rival New York Mets in five games, and as the World Series ended, so did Alex Rodriguez's contract with Seattle. A-Rod had already enjoyed amazing success, becoming the youngest player to dominate several offensive categories, all the while playing in relative anonymity in the Pacific Northwest, the region of the U.S. that gets the least sports coverage. Young A-Rod had dreamed of playing for the New York Mets since he spent his early years idolizing Keith Hernandez. With the Mets wounded because of their World Series defeat, the time was right for a young charismatic slugger to take the city of New York by storm, to provide a National League rival for the Yankees' Derek Jeter. Maybe the Mets could meet the Yankees back in the World Series, with A-Rod leading his childhood team into battle with the Evil Empire. Ah, but it was not to be.

Enter Scott Boras. Sports agent to the stars. While he may very well have respected, even admired, his client's wishes, he had other plans. These plans included the most lucrative contract in sports history. And this contract would not be offered by the New York Mets. Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, a classic Texas-style businessman (think Rich Texan from The Simpsons) could be the one to offer such a contract. $252 million over ten years to be precise. After three years, the contract brought precisely, zero division titles and zero playoff appearances, but three last place finishes. Tom Hicks is a businessman after all, so he begins to shop A-Rod and his massive contract around. Two teams are interested: The New York Yankees, fresh off a World Series defeat, and the Boston Red Sox, fresh off a heartbreaking ALCS defeat. The Red Sox act first, but their offer is defeated by the Players association. The New York Yankees come along with a similar offer, and the transaction is made. The Yankees no doubt believe that A-Rod will provide the missing link to what they were missing in their losing campaigns of 2001 and 2003.

The Yankees received something different entirely. They did have a player win two MVP's, and two of the most amazing April's, but they also suffered the worst postseason collapse in baseball history, followed by three straight first round exits. That brings us to where we are now, October 2007, the day after the conclusion of the World Series. A-Rod has opted out of his Yankees contract. With the Yankees and their massive payroll not biting for A-Rod, and (hopefully for the love of God) the Red Sox and their massive payroll not biting, the question is, who will be able to afford the Boras proclaimed, and I quote, "Most Valuable Player in Baseball History". First, let's get into that ridiculous statement. Wouldn't one expect the "Most Valuable player on Baseball history" to have at least one World Series ring? Okay, maybe not a ring, how about one world series appearance? Still nothing?

Here's a situation from Game 2 of the Yankees-Indians series. Top of the ninth inning, the Indians have just tied the game at 1-1. For the Indians, up one game, this would seem to be a must-win, since they are heading to Yankee Stadium. With two outs, and the go-ahead run at second, the "Most Valuable Player in Baseball History" (from here on out MVPBH) is at the plate. Instead of walking him, you know, the guy who led the majors in Home Runs, Runs, and RBI's, they pitch to him. Instead of making them pay for this oversight, the MVPBH strikes out, leading to an eventual Indians win. One more example: It is now the bottom of the ninth game 4, the Yankees are two outs away from elimination, down 6-3. Bobby Abreu provides a spark with a solo shot to right. 6-4. Enter the MVPBH. The crowd is going wild. You know that if he even gets a hit, this place will explode, and the Yankees will most likely pull this game out. What does the "Most Valuable Player in Baseball History do? Homer? Hit? Hit a fair ball? Nope, he fouls out to third. Three strikes later, the Yankees season, dynasty, manager, and third baseman are gone (with possibly more to come).

Things changed for Scott Boras on May 8th 2007. What happened on this date? Barry Bonds hit a home run against the New York Mets, giving him 745 total. This was the time when people started to realize that Barry Bonds was going to break the record this season. Thats when Giants games were on National Television at least once a week throughout most of the summer. The Giants, who were in dead last place for most of the season, were in ESPN or ESPN2 more than the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets combined. The Giants and their embattled slugger dominated the world of baseball for three months, even as they lost game after game. That's where the wheels in Boras' head started turning. He saw that a team with no chance of winning could gain the spotlight because of one man who was going after a statistical record. Just like that, Boras' gameplan unfolded. Who needs postseason wins of you can chase a number on a horrible team? We all know its only a matter of time before A-Rod breaks the record. The people of San Francisco love Bonds, and the city didn't care that their team has been in the gutter since 2002.

Which brings us, finally, to me point. Barry Bonds and Scott Boras have created a new kind of superstar. One who can thrill a market, sell tickets, and become a local hero, all without winning a ring. They can pay Rodriguez his huge contract and put eight people off the street with him. He'll put bodies in the seats while he chases Bonds, and many other records that have stood for years. A triple crown? It hasn't been done since 1967, but there's no saying A-Rod can't do it against some weak National League Pitching. And if the front office of said team gets lucky enough with some cast offs and young guys to make a run into the playoffs once and a while, its icing on the cake. This new breed of superstar would be happy without a ring. He would be happy by dominating the stats and the payroll, but never bringing a ring to his city.

I say 'new' kind of superstar because this is a truly new concept. You think Dan Marino wouldn't trade all of his records for even another chance to win the big game? That Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and others are perfectly content with their careers? They had amazing careers, but one thing was missing, one thing that you can't fake, and hell, you can't get without a ton of luck and timing, and that is to be the best of the best for one year. The undisputed champion of your sport.

I will close this article with what I believe to be an apt analogy, A-Rod as Darth Vader, and Boras as the Emperor behind him, whispering to him about the power of the Dark Side. A-Rod is more machine now than man. But there is good in him, I've seen it. Only time will tell if he can actually take matters into his own hands, or if he will be satisfied with all the records, tons of money, and no rings.