MLB to look into A-Rod’s involvement in illegal celebrity poker game

By Jul 2, 2011, 9:08 AM EDT
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According to the Associated Press, MLB plans to look into allegations that Alex Rodriguez participated in an illegal, high-stakes poker game that included such celebrities as Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.

If you recall, Rodriguez was previously “warned” by the Yankees for playing in some underground poker games in Manhattan back in 2005, but these new revelations came to light from a report in Star Magazine yesterday.

Rodriguez refused to comment on the matter before last night’s game against the Mets while his spokesman Richard Rubenstein said A-Rod “has not participated in these poker games.” The 35-year-old third baseman is not mentioned in any court filings in relation to the games in question.

By the way, Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in last night’s win, pulling his batting average up to .301 for the season.

Nevada Senate vote on proposed A’s stadium in Las Vegas extended until next week

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 11:36 AM EDT
MLB: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Senate adjourned Thursday without voting on a financing bill for a proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas Strip stadium for the Oakland Athletics, extending the special legislative session into the next week amid negotiations over whether to contribute $380 million in public funding to the project.

The measure can still be amended by lawmakers, and if it passes the Senate it would still need approval from the Assembly before going to the desk of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has expressed support for it. Both the state Senate and Assembly are adjourned until Monday.

In a hearing that began Wednesday and stretched into the early morning hours Thursday, lawmakers peppered tourism officials and a representative from a firm partnering with the ball club with questions about the feasibility and benefits of financing such a deal.

Public funds for the stadium would mainly come from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds. Backers have pledged that the creation of a special tax district around the proposed stadium would generate enough money to pay off those bonds and interest. The plan would not directly raise taxes.

The A’s would not owe property taxes for the publicly owned stadium. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, would also contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

A’s representatives and some tourism officials say a deal would further grow Las Vegas’ developing sports scene and act as an economic engine, but a growing chorus of economists and some lawmakers warn that the project would bring minimal benefits for the hefty public price tag.