Welcome back Pioneers! So it appears the NBA will have a 66-game season starting Christmas day.  Owners and players are going to basically share revenue 50-50.  I cannot bring myself to understand or care why millionaires and billionaires have to argue and complain about whether or not to work or perform over money.

Anyway, let’s get on track.  So over the last couple of weeks, numerous media outlets have received anonymous packets of information containing allegations of MLB agent Dan Lozano.  What makes this so important is that Dan Lozano happens to represent top-tier athlete first baseman Albert Pujols.

The information in question contains allegations of Lozano’s lying about his education, money troubles, pictures and stories of how he landed contracts for baseball superstars by using drugs, dirty money and prostitutes.

I had the chance to read through a lot of the information and it was certainly interesting, especially since Pujols was perceived to be underpaid as the best player in his position while Lozano allegedly was having money troubles and needed a quick contract to pay his debts.
I also think it very interesting that Lozano has even gone as far as “lawyering up” to tell the media that these allegations and incidents are falsified and incorrect.

I’m not going to hold my breath on whether or not these are true.  Honestly, I could care less.  It just makes for a good story and the media is going to eat it up in the wake of Pujols possibly making the most important career decision of his life.

His next contract, according to several media sources, are projecting to be more than eight years for more than $275 million, making him the highest paid player in baseball, trumping Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.  The problem isn’t that he has earned it — he has up to this point.  However, major league managers know better than to pay a guy for what he has done rather than what he will do.  He may also have to settle for second highest paid player in MLB history due to a small market for first basemen.

There’s one thing we should always be and that is objective.  First, there are no quoted sources or names or phone numbers to call here.  There are no clear facts just circumstantial evidence pointing out that a sports agent is questionable in his occupational ethics.  More important is how Pujols perceives this.  He has told media outlets countless times that he trusts Lozano and his judgment to represent him and his family’s best interests.  My question at this point stands: Does Pujols go on trusting this man even if the allegations aren’t true?
Pujols has a reputation of a Christian, a family man and a team player.  This could really affect negotiations with potential suitors, including World Series Champion St. Louis.  If the allegations are true, it may be a distraction and teams may stray away shrinking the market — as if teams were lining up for his services anyway.  So far, as reported by Miami, they are the only team besides the Cardinals entertaining the gold glover.  There is much to be said if these allegations prove true.  If he gets signed as a Cardinal it will fulfill the prophecy that he wants to be a Cardinal for life.  If he leaves, Pujols may be perceived a liar and will be hated by Cardinals fans.

Thanks for reading.
-Todd