Rodriguez refusing to go down without a fight

Embattled New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez is raging against his team, Major League Baseball and medical professionals as he appeals his 211-game suspension for drug use.

New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez is suing Major League Baseball and others as he tries desperately to salvage what remains of his reputation and career. Dominick Reuter / Reuters
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In the comment section, at the bottom of one website story about Alex Rodriguez’s latest legal move to fight his suspension, one reader wrote: “A-Rod just go away, you …”

Fill in your own obscenity-laced description. These days, it is pretty much Rodriguez against the world.

Although it is the players union that is appealing Rodriguez’ 211-game, drug-related suspension from the game, the embattled New York Yankees player has his own legal team fighting MLB in the ongoing hearing.

Separately last week, Rodriguez also filed a suit in federal court against MLB – hedging his options in the legal system in case his appeal fails, it would appear.

The same day, his lawyers sued a Yankees team doctor and a hospital, alleging that they bungled the diagnosis of his hip injury.

What is next? A suit against his glove and bat manufacturers, for causing his diminished fielding and hitting skills?

We all knew A-Rod would not go away quietly in August, when he stood alone, the only player in the Biogenesis drug lab scandal to appeal his suspension.

But we are a long way from seeing the last of him. Even if the suspension costs him all of the 2014 season and part of 2015, his 10-year, US$275 million (Dh1 billion) contract runs through 2017.

With about $114 million still on the table, he will endure the invectives. No, he isn’t going away.

sports@thenational.ae