Yankees' Alex Rodriguez Facing Possible Suspension For Illegal Poker Games

Aug 3, 2011 - The New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, still on the disabled list following surgery for a slightly torn meniscus in his left knee -- he is scheduled to resume baseball activities Thursday -- may have bigger problems than a knee injury.
ESPN New York reports that MLB is investigating A-Rod for participating in illegal poker games:

Major League Baseball is taking "very seriously" the allegations that Alex Rodriguez took part in some illegal, underground poker games, one of which reportedly turned violent, and he could face suspension if his participation in the games is confirmed.

"We're talking to people involved in the investigation and we're taking this very seriously," said an MLB executive who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com on condition of anonymity. "Because he had been warned about this before, I would say a possible suspension would be very much in play."

The ESPN article goes on to say that cocaine may have been used at one of these poker games; that one took place at a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, and a fight broke out after someone -- not A-Rod -- lost half a million dollars and refused to pay. A-Rod, according to the article, tried to distance himself from the action, but that could be the least of his problems:

In 2005, Rodriguez had been warned about gambling in underground poker clubs by the Yankees and by baseball commissioner Bud Selig, both of whom were concerned that possible involvement with gamblers who might be betting on baseball games could result in a Pete Rose-type lifetime ban from baseball.

Now, although baseball's investigation centers upon Rodriguez's card-playing and he is not thought to have gambled on the outcome of any baseball games, the fact that he may have disregarded Selig's warning is said to have angered the commissioner.

"Bud's totally fed up with him," said a baseball insider. "It's like there's something new with him every day and it's impossible to keep up with it."

MLB is also investigating A-Rod's continued employment of his cousin Yuri Sucart, who may have been involved in Rodriguez's admitted steroid use, and his possible connections with the ongoing federal investigation of Dr. Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who has been charged with smuggling illegal substances into the United States.