Does Aaron get the nod over A-Rod?
The most money that Aaron ever made during a season was $240,000, and that was at the close of his 23-year career that ended with the Milwaukee Brewers after the 1976 season.
How much would Aaron make now?
"Uh, let's put it this way -- Who's the highest-paid player?" Aaron said, before I replied Alex Rodriguez, who will pocket $31 million this year for playing third base for the New York Yankees.
Aaron responded quickly, saying, "I would make at least that much, no question about it. "I don't think there is anything that he does that I couldn't do, and that I couldn't do better."
"Overall, if you just put our careers together -- he's had some gigantic numbers when you look at specific years," said Aaron, who made his debut in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and stayed with the franchise when it moved to Atlanta in 1966. "But if you smooth it out, and if you start looking at things, I'd come out better."
If Aaron were in his prime today, could he remain the famously shy person he was back then? As a player, he could drift into the background since he mostly dealt with newspaper reporters, and television folks on occasion.
Now, you have bloggers on the Internet, talk radio and the non-stop analysis on the 24-hour cable outlets. As a result, those of fame must deal with gossip and hearsay that the old media used to ignore. "You know, that would give me more problems than somebody's fastball," Aaron said. "I even try to stay out of the spotlight now when I'm around the Braves. I just want to watch the game and then go home. I never was one to look for publicity, and the way they do [the media] today, it would be a serious problem for me."
How much would Aaron make now?
"Uh, let's put it this way -- Who's the highest-paid player?" Aaron said, before I replied Alex Rodriguez, who will pocket $31 million this year for playing third base for the New York Yankees.
Aaron responded quickly, saying, "I would make at least that much, no question about it. "I don't think there is anything that he does that I couldn't do, and that I couldn't do better."
"Overall, if you just put our careers together -- he's had some gigantic numbers when you look at specific years," said Aaron, who made his debut in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and stayed with the franchise when it moved to Atlanta in 1966. "But if you smooth it out, and if you start looking at things, I'd come out better."
If Aaron were in his prime today, could he remain the famously shy person he was back then? As a player, he could drift into the background since he mostly dealt with newspaper reporters, and television folks on occasion.
Now, you have bloggers on the Internet, talk radio and the non-stop analysis on the 24-hour cable outlets. As a result, those of fame must deal with gossip and hearsay that the old media used to ignore. "You know, that would give me more problems than somebody's fastball," Aaron said. "I even try to stay out of the spotlight now when I'm around the Braves. I just want to watch the game and then go home. I never was one to look for publicity, and the way they do [the media] today, it would be a serious problem for me."
What is Aaron's issue with A-Rod? Sounds as if he is jealous, which is unfortunate. Maybe it is old age. In any event, this is the second time in a month he has said negative things about A-Rod. Aaron does not sound very shy to me. Nor is he hiding from the media, is he?
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