Billionaire businessman Warren Buffett helped steer Alex Rodriguez into reaching agreement on terms of a record-setting new contract with the New York Yankees, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper's Web site reported that "A-Rod" called Buffett and two executives from Goldman Sachs Group last week for advice after opting out of his Major League Baseball contract to become a free agent.
The third baseman has reportedly agreed with the Yankees upon a 10-year deal worth up to US$275 million, including money for passing recently indicted Barry Bonds to become the all-time US home run king.
Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, was effectively booted out of the deal after Rodriguez went to Golden Sachs executives to reopen a dialogue with the club, which vowed not to negotiate with Rodriguez once he opted out of his old deal.
With Rodriguez seeking US$350 million but finding no takers, he went back to the Yankees and still wound up being the highest-paid player in the history of his sport.
Rodriguez, 32, called Buffett, 77, last week and spoke to Goldman executives John Mallory and Gerry Cardinales in what might have been a breach of protocol, since the Goldman firm manages finances for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and other Yankee investors.
Rodriguez met Buffett, a baseball fan, several years ago when he flew to Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska, headquarters for a meeting. Buffett has an autographed "A-Rod" Yankees jersey.
It was Buffett who advised Rodriguez to go back to the Yankees without Boras.
"A-Rod really loves being a Yankee," Buffett said.
Rodriguez went to Mallory, who contacted Cardinale, who worked closely with Yankees executives on television deals, the Journal reported. Cardinale called Yankees president Randy Levine and the door to a new deal was opened.
The Goldman executives took themselves out of the actual talks since only an agent or a player can represent himself in negotiations under baseball union rules.
Jonas Vingegaard on Tuesday claimed the overall Vuelta a Espana lead while Jay Vine earned the stage 10 victory for his second triumph of the race. Two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard overhauled Torstein Traen’s lead to head the general classification by 26 seconds from the Norwegian, with Joao Almeida third and trailing the Dane by 38 seconds. Vine put in an unmatchable performance on the final climb to finish ahead of Spanish Movistar riders Pablo Castrillo and Javier Romo. “Back in red, I’m happy with it, it’s a beautiful jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I’m happy with how the day went,
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a brief visit to Brazil on Friday with a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but despite the defeat, the team outshone their divisional rivals in the fight for the hearts and minds of Brazilian fans. In Sao Paulo for just the second-ever NFL game in the city, Chiefs players — especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were treated as major celebrities throughout their stay, turning Corinthians Arena into a scene reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. Before kickoff, crowds of fans gathered around the Chiefs’ tunnel, eager to catch a
RIVALRY: Carlos Alcaraz lost his previous two matches against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and Paris Olympics final last year Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday dazzled at the US Open to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic of Serbia danced his way through to book a New York showdown with the Spaniard that would mark the latest chapter in their generational rivalry. Former champion Alcaraz produced yet another entertaining display at Flushing Meadows to dismantle 20th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at a sunbathed Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his place in the last four without dropping a set this year. “Sometimes I play a shot that I should not play in that moment, but it’s the way I love
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides yesterday. Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches. Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at halftime before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of
RSS