Alex Rodriguez's Publicist Refutes Illegal Gambling Report (VIDEO)

Alex Rodriguez was nowhere to be seen at U.S. Cellular Field last night as the New York Yankees bludgeoned their way to an 18-7 win over the Chicago White Sox, yet he remained the inescapable story of the night.

Although the Yankees' injured 36-year-old third baseman can't get on the field these days due to recent knee surgery, he also can't seem to stay out of the headlines. Major League Baseball is currently investigating A-Rod for involvement in illegal high-stakes gambling.

Richard Rubenstein, Rodriguez's publicist, said on Thursday that the accusation "contains numerous factual inaccuracies." Rubenstein went on to add that "Alex looks forward to cooperating with Major League Baseball's investigation."

This latest scandal was ignited by an exclusive report in Star Magazine that claims A-Rod played in at least two illegal poker games at a Hollywood mansion. According to Star, the Texas Hold 'Em games allegedly featured an A-list cast of celebrities and even cocaine use. Star reported that Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are among the Tinseltown all stars that have splashed the pot in such games. The details of the story surfaced after violence erupted after a player refused to settle up on hefty losses.

The league issued a statement on Wednesday.

"We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation. As part of the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez."

Having previously warned Rodriguez about illegal poker in 2005, MLB quickly stated its intentions to investigate.

With so much disposable income and spare time, gambling has long been a hobby among for professional athletes. Although all-time hits king Pete Rose went from legend to pariah for betting on baseball, high-stakes card games between players have largely been ignored until recently. Earlier this year, the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies banned gambling on team flights after a fight allegedly broke out between players.

Comments

[bingohq]

02:27 PM on 08/17/2011

It's legal to gamble at Las Vegas but not anywhere else? How does this work? Is it a morality issue or a lack of structure for the authorities to collect taxes on winning. I don't see anything wrong with gambling online or landbase. I thought America was land of the free? It doesn't seem that's the case these days with the US banning online gambling and going after casino and poker sites. Many reputable countries such as the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland and many other european countries have legalised online gambling. Hope the US does this soon too. Not fair for gamers alike.

[valeskas]

11:05 AM on 08/05/2011

He should stop playing if he wants to gamble and I do not believe a word his publicist said.

[Angel R1240]

11:03 AM on 08/05/2011

Well I'm a Yankee fan and I'm sick and tired of all of this A-Rod drama that seems to follow him all of the time. Well I think that MLB is wasting their time with this.

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:02 PM on 08/04/2011

If the person in question cannot simply respond, "No, I didn't do that," to a straightforward question, then odds are quite favorable that "he did it."

[VivaldiPickpocket]

08:52 AM on 08/05/2011

I'll see your statement, and I'll raise you 10 words.

Cards?

[hottingers]

09:31 PM on 08/04/2011

It's not gambling the way Alex plays, it's like giving money away.

[Jeremy Ailes]

10:06 AM on 08/05/2011

So he's doing charity work...I see...that's a horse of a different color then!

[benhawkins]

08:51 PM on 08/04/2011

They need to keep the coke at a separate table.

[snooker59]

07:26 PM on 08/04/2011

his camp also denied steroid ussage lol

[bigdawg1980]

07:22 PM on 08/04/2011

So, this is what baseball is wasting its time on!!! How many owners go to high-stakes poker games, or have mistresses in various cities/countries. Bud Selig is a shill for the owners and has never had the interests of the Grand Old Game at heart!

Does this mean it's illegal for a professional athlete to buy a lottery ticket? Play the slots? Play craps?

[HarukoHaruhara]

09:17 PM on 08/04/2011

hang out around people snorting coke...?

[hrgreenbergmd]

06:52 PM on 08/04/2011

Strictu sensu, in most if not all states, ANYBODY who sits down anywhere but a legal cardroom is playing poker illegally. Even if pennies are the stake. Interesting case was made a number of years ago in relationship to the closing of NY card clubs such as the MAYFAIR, DIAMOND, and the short lived CLOVER clubs. Essentially, those who ran the club claimed that they were not doing anything illegal, because they were only charging a small fee per half hour for others to play. That argument hasn't gone anywhere so far. As an occasional writer about the game, from a variety of sources, I have to wonder if the recent Friday night slaughter when internet poker was banned in the US was rigged by casino interests in the USA, who while boo-hooing about the money they were losing really sought by one suspect means or another to eventually take over the amazingly lucrative American poker internet market, previously dominated by PokerStars, FullTilt, et cetera. (Granted there may have been real hankypank at FullTilt).
On another level, I'm amazed by the bias so many folks seem to have about the game, which a huge number of Americans have played at one time or another -- and of course greatly enjoyed, profit not usually the motive for the majority of players. There is absolutely no evidence than poker, internet or otherwise, is a springboard for pathological gambling.. .
Havey Roy Greenberg, MD
[e-mail]
www.doctorgreenberg.net

[Spartan112]

07:59 PM on 08/04/2011

Spam.

[sensimilla]

08:17 PM on 08/04/2011

why was that spam? Intelligent, informative, thoughtful. Not spam.

[midwestkel]

06:16 PM on 08/04/2011

Spam, flag this!