Fast Break
Baseball
A-Rod admits friendship with Jeter has cooled
On the first day of his fourth season with the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez finally acknowledged his relationship with Derek Jeter has cooled.
After insisting for three years they remained close, Rodriguez said it was “important” to him to publicly confirm what others have said since he joined the team.
Jeter, the Yankees’ captain, has distanced himself since a 2001 Esquire article in which A-Rod said “Jeter’s been blessed with great talent around him” and “he’s never had to lead.”
“You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie (Williams) and (Paul) O’Neill,” A-Rod was quoted as saying. “You never say, ‘Don’t let Derek beat you.’ He’s never your concern.”
What’s changed? He made it sound as if they’ve just grown apart.
“The reality is there’s been a change in the relationship over 14 years and, hopefully, we can just put it behind us,” Rodriguez said. “You go from sleeping over at somebody’s house five days a week, and now you don’t sleep over. It’s just not that big of a deal.”
Baseball
Santo wants Hall selection
Ron Santo turns 67 on Sunday, but the legendary Chicago Cubs third baseman and broadcaster hopes the real celebration comes two days later. That’s when the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee voting is announced.
“All I know is I want it very badly this year,” Santo said.
Santo was a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner during a career that spanned from 1960 to 1974. He batted .277 with 1,331 RBIs and 342 home runs, but he’s had no luck getting into the Hall.
Tennis
Federer ties Connors’ record
Roger Federer tied Jimmy Connors’ record of 160 consecutive weeks as the top-ranked men’ player.
The 10-time Grand Slam champion has held the No. 1 ATP Tour ranking since Feb. 2, 2004. The Swiss star is assured of breaking the record next week.
Connors was No. 1 from July 1974 to August 1977. He is now coaching one of Federer’s biggest rivals, Andy Roddick.
Hockey
Grabner among Best of West
The results are in from the Tri-City Herald’s annual “Best of the West” ratings of players and front-office personnel in the Western Conference of the Western Hockey League.
Ballots are mailed to players, coaches and some media members and the results make a great hockey conversation starter. Spokane’s Michael Grabner was voted best skater and David Rutherford was tabbed third-most irritating, among selected Chiefs.
To see the full results, and comment on them, click on spokesmanreview.com/blogs/ chiefs
–Jeff Bunch