Picky, picky...I bet lawyers just luv you! I make a point using MANY examples & you nic-pik the ones on the fringe or you don`t like & ignore the rest. I noticed that you didn't address "Operation:Slapshot", Daly, Jordan, Barkley, Vick, Mickey Mantle & Willie Mays nor did you say anything about my point about what if this was just a utlity player not the top player in the league?
My point was to show what happens when sport figures dance on the edge & your point is there has to be a specific line item in his contract to prevent him from playing poker, well I believe the "Personal conduct" section would cover that.
You make the point that poker is legal, but I've pointed out that poker, casinos are not legal in every state where baseball is played...
State Dominant Factor Social Gambling Penalty for Penalty for Express Internet
Test Applied Allowed Simple Aggravated Prohibition
Gambling Gambling
New York Yes Yes Misdemeanour Felony No
(see chart on: http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Law-Summary/)
So I'll give you that A-Rod has the right to play poker where it's legal to play, but MLB has the right to ask him to act in a manor that reflects well on the game. When you have Dan Bilzerian coming to his defence over if A-Rod was at a High Stakes "private" game where cocaine was openly used, I feel MLB & the Yankees have the right to tell any player to pull up!
Lastly, as I pointed out before, MLB (& all other Pro sports leagues) don't want another Congressional investigation into sports after the last steroids hearings so they have the "Right" to protect their games.
Congress is always looking for a whipping boy to distract the public from what they are screwing up!
(look at what the DoJ is doing to Gibson Guitars s of late...)
