Imagine a multimillion dollar professional athlete, the best player in his sport, making arrangements to take a tour of Harvard when his team makes a road trip to Boston.
That's exactly what Alex Rodriguez did when the Texas Rangers were completing a series at Fenway Park in August 2002. It tells you something about the 2003 American League MVP -- the star shortstop who admits he'd like to play in a city where his team has a better chance of making the playoffs.
Sox fans are over the moon about the prospect of Boston making a deal for Rodriguez. The unfortunate reality is that any acquisition of A-Rod (who has seven years left on his 10-year, quarter-
billion dollar deal) requires unloading Manny Ramirez's pact and that seems unlikely since the Sox couldn't give him away last month.
But sports fans are dreamers by nature. And the dream is that Rodriguez, his agent, and the two needy (different needs, but both needy) ball clubs will find a way to make it happen.
One thing is certain: A-Rod at Fenway would be a different breed of Red Sox superstar (without doing any research I am prepared to say with absolute certainty that Manny never asked for a tour of Harvard when he came through town with the Indians). Rodriguez is the kind of player who is comfortable with his star status, mingles easily with fans and media, and is eager to learn about his surroundings.