You can file this under “unfortunate publicity stunts”. From the LA Times’ Tim Brown.
An online gambling site claimed Friday to have offered Jason Giambi an endorsement deal worth up to $3 million annually, a formal proposal it said was made to replace companies once represented by the fallen New York Yankee slugger.
Sportsinteraction.com, which features sports betting, offered to step in for Nike, Pepsi and Arm & Hammer, which recently allowed endorsement contracts to expire after it was reported Giambi had used steroids. A news release from the company stated, “SIA believes the superstar still has huge market value in the sports world.”
Giambi’s agent, Arn Tellem, who was mentioned in the release, said the company had made no formal contact with him.
“It’s absurd and false,” he said. “Totally false and preposterous.”
Tellem would not comment on whether SIA had tried to tacitly align itself with Giambi. A spokesperson for Major League Baseball said any player who was to enter into an agreement with a gambling site, “would be a definite issue.”
(Robinson Cano can’t bear to look as Derek Jeter receives a post game foot massage from Michael Kay)
As you’ve probably read elsewhere in the wake of last night’s 5-3 defeat to Minnesota, the Yankees’ 6th in row, Joe Torre reportedly received a phone call from an aggrieved George Steinbrenner. Hopefully this conversation helped both men determine ust who was responsible for trading Brad Halsey and Javier Vazquez for Randy Johnsonj, as well as the importance of teaching youngsters like Bernie Williams how not to run the Bombers out of an inning.
As we move further into the season’s 3rd month, the Yankees will no doubt take some solace in the way Boston’s bullpen continues to capitulate. Earlier today, Garret Anderson’s 3 run homer in the 8th (above) off Alan Embree was the key blow in the Angels’ 13-6 win over the Red Sox. Embree, Matt Mantei, John Halama and Mike Timlin’s performances ranged from brutally bad to merely inept, as the Red Sox releivers conspired to erase a 3 run cushion provided for starter Branson Arroyo.