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It's been quality A-Rod time

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2009

Updated: 05/07/2009 12:12 am

OK, it's not the IKEA opening, but we still have HIM for at least another day.

Alex Rodriguez, the man, not the book, is down to a precious few days rehabilitating his hip, if not his life, around town.

Wednesday, it was an extended spring training game at the Blue Jays' minor-league complex in Dunedin, where A-Rod SLID INTO SECOND BASE. Tuesday, at the Yankees complex on Himes Avenue, he hit two home runs. Monday, I caught his extended spring game against Phillies minor-leaguers in Clearwater. He hit one out there, too.

It's the quiet before the latest storm. A-Rod might rejoin the Yankees as early as Friday, with Selena Roberts' "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez," in stores.

So this week might be our man's last piece of peace. He has taken his cuts and signed autographs and been polite, if not forthcoming, with media. "Felt good," was all he had for us Monday in Clearwater, that and two thumbs up.

Strange as it sounds, there are still A-Rod fans, and not all of them are memorabilia vultures, though some of that species gathered at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater for Monday's game. But there were also people who simply love baseball and collecting and, well, still like A-Rod. For instance, meet Nick, one of the nicest people you can meet.

"I can't explain it, but I like the guy," Nick Kazanas said.

He had been standing there for more than an hour, no shade. Nick is 73. He's Greek. We mention he's Greek because Nick mentions it right off the bat, as A-Rod steps to the plate. Nick splits his years between New York and Dunedin. He's a retired postal worker. The most he made in a year was $36,000; A-Rod's Manhattan apartment rent is $30,000 a month.

"I know we don't have anything in common," Nick said. As if to underscore that point, A-Rod was driven to the game in his Maybach, a German luxury sedan listed at $397,500 (I'm sure you could talk the Maybach showroom guy down to 397 even) and is described by one publication as, "Not for the publicity shy." A-Rod was dropped off next to the Yankees dugout.

Nick is a Yankees guy. He was born in the Bronx, not far from Yankee Stadium. He has collected 60,000 autographs. His prized possession is a Lou Gehrig signature. Bea, his wife of 50 years, thought he was crazy for coming out to see A-Rod.

"She hates Alex because of what he did," Nick said. Yeah, there were the steroids, but more than that, "Alex's wife was Greek and he left her and the kids. I didn't like that much. Bea just hates him. She even turned into a Red Sox fan because of Alex."

Not too much bothers Nick, not after 10 years ago, when he dropped dead of a heart attack while cutting a rug at a dinner dance. "I was dead for three minutes on the floor until they brought me back," he said. So he can't get too worked up over A-Rod's misdeeds or vanity. "He admitted what he did. We'll see what else comes out. Life goes on."

Before the game in Clearwater ended, A-Rod was done, having played seven innings against Phillies minor-leaguers. He signed balls for his Yankees teammates and posed for pictures with Phillies players. Then he stepped up to the yellow police tape that surrounded the dugout and, with a Clearwater officer standing guard, signed for about 50 fans who'd waited. Nick the Greek got his autograph.

Then A-Rod left on a golf cart. Only his Maybach pulled up right after. The car sat, luxurious, but lonely, until the driver pulled away, in search of A-Rod. He'll be gone soon, to the majors and major chaos. We'll miss our quiet time together.

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