It's like clockwork, seriously ... recently, every year around the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions there is news that A) Bud Selig is or isn't considering lifting the lifetime ban against Pete Rose and B) names from the list of players who tested positive in 2003 are leaked.

As for option A, Pete belongs in the Hall of Fame -- but not in baseball. I mean seriously, he has the most memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, so induction is theoretically academic. Enough of that though, I want to take a look at the steroid list and the potential economic impact on baseball.

Continue reading JockStocks: Will steroids ever drive fans away from baseball?

JockStocks: Will steroids ever drive fans away from baseball? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I have never been the world's biggest soccer (football for my European readers) fan. I have attended a Columbus Crew game, that is an American Major League Soccer (MLS) team, in the past. I watch soccer sometimes when it is on ESPN, it is often the Champions League finals, and I will root for the USA during the World Cup. However, that is where my soccer fandom ends -- as far as I am concerned, "football" is the game played with the oblong, pigskin ball featuring two heavily armored teams battling on the gridiron for the ultimate supremacy in either the NFL or NCAA.

Continue reading JockStocks: Real Madrid spends real money

JockStocks: Real Madrid spends real money originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As of last Sunday, Major League Baseball's regular-season attendance is down nearly 4.5% this year -- including both New York clubs, according to Reuters.

Why is the inclusion of the New York Yankees and Mets important? Because the two teams opened brand new palaces this year, both of which are smaller than the parks they played in a year ago.

Before the season, baseball officials predicted that attendance could drop as much as 10% from last year's 78.6 million -- with league revenue coming in flat compared to last year's record $6.5 billion.

Continue reading JockStocks: Saving money at a baseball game

JockStocks: Saving money at a baseball game originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Yankees cut ticket prices from outrageous to 'merely' absurd

Yankees cut ticket prices from outrageous to 'merely' absurd originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Part shrine, part palace -- New Yankee Stadium opens Thursday

Part shrine, part palace -- New Yankee Stadium opens Thursday originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Bank of America extends deal with Yankees

Bank of America extends deal with Yankees originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) has said that it generates $10 in revenue for every $1 it invests in sports marketing, and nets $3 of that amount in income. In theory, taxpayers as shareholders should support these deals if they will enhance the company's ability to generate income.

But still: The company has broken off its talks for a long-term endorsement deal with the New York Yankees amid fallout from the market collapse and the government's bailout of the firm. Many Americans and politicians feel that it's hypocritical for companies like Bank of America and Citigroup (NYSE: C) to take billions in taxpayer cash and then spend hundreds of millions on naming rights for stadiums.

Continue reading Bank of America's talks with Yankees fall apart

Bank of America's talks with Yankees fall apart originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading A salary cap in baseball?

A salary cap in baseball? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Scott Boras on why Major League Baseball is better without a Salary Cap originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Rupert Murdoch is in a pickle with the World Series

Rupert Murdoch is in a pickle with the World Series originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are your stocks and other investments underperforming? Well, consider buying a piece of Yankee Stadium as an investment.

Yankee Stadium, the cathedral of baseball, and "The House That Ruth Built," closes today.

In 2009, the City of New York will auction-off seats, signs, lockers, and other valuable parts of Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, both of which are owned by the city and which will be replaced in April 2009 by two new stadiums, a new Yankee Stadium in The Bronx for the New York Yankees, and CitiField in Queens for the New York Mets.

Artifacts from both ballparks will have value, but Yankee Stadium's will far exceed most items from Shea Stadium, collectors say.

That's because, among sports venues, in human history Yankee Stadium ranks second only to the Roman Coliseum in cultural and social significance.

We know what occurred in the Coliseum: its activities symbolized life during humanity's descent. We also know what has taken place in Yankee Stadium, and the games played and events held there help tell the story of humanity's ascent.

Continue reading Investments slumping? Consider buying a piece of 'The House That Ruth Built'

Investments slumping? Consider buying a piece of 'The House That Ruth Built' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Lessons for investors in the woes of the New York Yankees and Mets

Lessons for investors in the woes of the New York Yankees and Mets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In 2001, Alex Rodriguez, perhaps the finest slugger to ever play the game, inked an unprecendented 10-year, $252 million contract to jump from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers. Three years later, when the Texas management regained its sanity and realized the ruinous terms of the deal, they dealt A-Rod to the only team with the money to support such a contract, the New York Yankees.

With A-Rod and another future Hall-of-Famer at shortstop, Derek Jeter, the Yankees had the foundation to return to its status as perennial World Series champion. Unfortunately for the club, it hasn't turned out that way. For A-Rod, however, things continue to improve.

His 2007 season was a monster; 54 home runs, 156 RBIs, slugging percentage of .645, American League MVP. Unfortunately, he continued what has become a maddening tendency to disappear in the playoffs, hitting like a bantamweight in the team's loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Such a wipeout might diminish most people's bargaining value, but A-Rod took an early-out option in his contract and went back out on the free agent market. After much bluster and posturing, the Yankees awarded him a new 10-year, $275 million contract. At 32, he should be set for the rest of his career, one in which he will almost certainly eclipse the home run record of Barry "better hitting through chemistry" Bonds.

When it comes to baseball contracts, in 2007 A-Rod hit one out of the park.

Be sure to check out more Money Winners of 2007.

Money Winners of 2007: Alex Rodriguez hits it out of the park originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Seeking advice on his contract negotiation with the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez went to the number one source for business wisdom, Warren Buffett, and a pair of Goldman Sachs executives.

After opting out of his contract at the urging of super-agent Scott Boras, Rodriguez found limited interest in his services at the price he was seeking. Now, he's back negotiating with the Yankees, after alienating the team badly by refusing to meet with them.

Buffett's advice to Rodriguez was this: If you want to stay in New York, go talk to the Yankees yourself and leave Boras out of it -- there's too much bad blood between him and the Yankees.

There are lot of athletes who could use Buffett's wisdom: Mike Lowell has professed his desire to stay in Boston, but may leave the team if he can secure a four-year deal from another team -- Boston is only offering him three. Buffett would probably tell him that it's silly to leave a great situation for more money when you're already rich. Mr. Lowell: Please stay in Boston. You had the best year of your career and the fans love you.

Buffett would probably tell Barry Bonds ... Well, Buffett would actually probably beat the crap out of Barry Bonds, because Warren Buffett is a person of integrity -- he doesn't like people who cheat and lie.

Full Disclosure: Zac Bissonnette is long the Boston Red Sox and has a large naked short position in the New York Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez seeks Warren Buffett's advice -- Who else needs wisdom from the Oracle of Omaha? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alex Rodriguez to the Cubs for a share of the franchise? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yesterday, during the Boston Red Sox' sweep of the upstart and exciting Colorado Rockies, crybaby extraordinaire Alex Rodriguez decided it was "the time" to announce he was opting out of his contract with the New York Yankees and filing for free agency. He had to make a decision within 10 days after the World Series ended, not within 10 minutes of the start of Game 4.

What a selfish, self-centered you-know-what. This guy is a total and complete goofball. Sure his stats are fearsome, but he has never won at any level a championship. He had great numbers on flailing Seattle Mariner and Texas Ranger teams, but both rarely played .500 ball. After four seasons with the Yankees, Mr. No-October has taken the chicken's way out. The attempt to upstage the Red Sox and Rockies should not be forgiven nor forgotten by the baseball brethren.

This guy comes to New York and played next to Derek Jeter -- a real ball player. Jeter will never hit the home runs that A-Rod does -- Jeter has 195 career home runs in 12 seasons, compared to Rodriguez's 500 and some. But Jeter has won more games than A-Rod ever will. Derek Jeter may be one of the most clutch players and hitters to ever play the game. Jeter may go 0-4 in a game but make a diving stop at shortstop to kill an opponent's rally. Jeter may get the stolen base at the right time to start a rally: Jeter will sacrifice himself and hit the ball to the right side to move a teammate. Bottom line, Jeter is the complete player. With him, it's all about team.

With A-Rod -- it's all about him. In the playoffs, Rodriguez has been a total and miserable failure. Jeter is clutch. In the playoffs, year-in and year-out, Derek Jeter is the toughest out. Rodriguez is 0-18 in the playoffs with runners in scoring position: the ultimate barometer.

Continue reading Yankees can do without gutless A-Rod

Yankees can do without gutless A-Rod originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading A-Rod ditches Yankees' $252 million contract: Where to now?

A-Rod ditches Yankees' $252 million contract: Where to now? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Joe Torre rejects Yanks' offer

Joe Torre rejects Yanks' offer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch is probably too busy plotting world domination to spend much time worrying about something trivial like baseball -- until now.

America's pastime is about to start post-season play, most of which will be televised on the company's Fox television network. Already, there was one huge surprise as the Philadelphia Phillies overtook the New York Mets to win the National League East. But this isn't the type of surprise that the media mogul probably likes because a team from a smaller media market beat one from a larger one.

Remember that last year's series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers had record-low television ratings. Advertisers pay a premium price for television spots on the World Series because of the huge audience it attracts. Fox probably has guaranteed that the commercials will be seen by a set amount of viewers and must refund money to advertisers if these targets aren't hit.

Continue reading Will the World Series be a home run for Rupert Murdoch?

Will the World Series be a home run for Rupert Murdoch? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Money Face-Offs feature. Let us know who you think comes out ahead in this head-to-head match-up, and check out our other Money Face-Off posts.

Celebrities -- they're more than superior human beings, they're money-making machines. If these celebrities were stocks, which would be the shrewd buy?

The shrewd, cantankerous veteran vs. the trash-talking but talented kid -- who would you put your money on?

The veteran would be George Steinbrenner, head of the New York Yankees since 1973. Steinbrenner made his nut in the family shipbuilding business when he bought out the American Ship Building Co. He was always an avid sports fan, even serving as a football coach at Northwestern and Purdue before returning to the business world. His first acquisition, however, the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball Association, left him broke. But his taste for the big leagues remained.

Continue reading Money Face-Off: Mark Cuban vs. George Steinbrenner

Money Face-Off: Mark Cuban vs. George Steinbrenner originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.