NoPepperGames: Buck O'Neil for HoF

Normally, Jeff Passan's Yahoo Sports column is an interesting read. Today, the article "Biking for Buck" is an essential read. I'll let Jeff's words regarding the four individuals biking from Seattle to Kansas City speak for themselves.

Actually, I'll go a bit further. I just donated a small $10 donation to their cause. It seems the four are running out of money, and have just 10 more days to get to Kansas City. Their website, www.ThanksBuck.com, accepts PayPal donations. Any extra funds will be directed to the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center, a most worthy cause.

So I challenge my incredibly small (but loyal!) readership to match my commitment, and forward this on to the rest of your fantasy leagues. Having had met Buck O'Neil in person is an honor I will always remember - he's an incredible man, whose omission from last year's Hall of Fame inductions will forever be a mar on the game of baseball, at least until rectified.

NoPepperGames: What A-Rod Needs to Do

Yankees fans have continued to show what utter jerks they are and always have been. They boo Alex Rodriguez when he gets his Player of the Month award. They boo him when he hits homeruns. You know what, Alex? Screw them. You don't need to put up with fan behavior like that. But what to do? You have a $252 million contract, and the odds of any team not named "Yankees" or "Red Sox" will be able to take it on are slim to none. But I have a solution for you:

1. Take a page out of the Bill Gates/Warren Buffett notebook - establish a large foundation in your name to promote the cause of your choice. (Yes, I realize there is an Alex Rodriguez Foundation started by A-Rod in 1998 - but its based and operated solely in Miami, doesn't have a website, and has little to no media exposure (as per Google hits).) Make that cause anything - helping Hispanics graduate high school, saving the whales, curing AIDS, building affordable housing, whatever.

2. Make a short list of baseball markets that are most in need of what your newfound foundational mission focuses on. Take cities off the list that maybe don't need a shortstop or thirdbaseman all that much.

3. Tell those teams that the portion of your salary they can't pay, they can defer to your foundation with new philanthropic dollars (instead of just reshuffling already dedicated donational dollars). You'll receive your full $252 million (like you can spend that much all on yourself), the team will get a tax break on their donation, and you'll get to play shortstop again!