Dein erstes Forum » remiership was extra special given the torr

After 12 tumultuous years in the Bronx, Alex Emmanuel Rodriguez played his final game in pinstripes on Friday, having helped slug the New York Yankees to one World Series title -- and helped whiff them out of eight other Octobers.Along the way, A-Rod won two American League MVP Awards and was handed a historic 211-game ban from baseball for his role in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug scandal. In an appeals process that ultimately reduced his suspension to 162 games -- the entirety of the 2014 season -- his battle with Major League Baseball and the Yankees turned bitter.Since then, he has worked to repair the damage with his team -- which now employs him as a special adviser after serving him with his unconditional release -- and with his teams fans, who seem to root for and revile him in equal measure.With one final chance to say goodbye, ESPN.com spoke to fans on the night of A-Rods Yankee Stadium farewell. Their words painted a picture of a love-hate relationship between the tainted but talented slugger and those who followed him, both on and off the field.I came here tonight because Ive been an Alex Rodriguez fan since 1997, and I could not miss his final major league baseball game. -- Nicole Baade, SeattleA-Rod, hes just another player that will soon be forgotten. I think in a few years, hell be forgotten. Wont even be talked about. -- Junior Pagan, New YorkA lot of the hate he gets he brought upon himself, but as a fan, I root for players that face adversity. -- Louis DiLullo, Providence, Rhode IslandThe way hes retiring is just ... its sad because the guy had such a great career, and so many MVPs, and so many playoff appearances, I dont understand. Bringing in a new era is good, but you only have a little bit left of the season to finish out. -- Anthony Criscione, New YorkI was never really an A-Rod fan, to be honest. Hes been with the team for 12 years, hes given us one championship for $300 million -- I figured hed do a little bit more ... without all the drama. -- Brian Schaeffer, New YorkHes still a Yankee. A-Rod is A-Rod, Theres only one like him, whether they say its because of steroids, whatever the case may be, he still did his thing for the Bronx and the Yankees. I support him no matter what. Hes a Bronx Bomber. -- Bee, New YorkI mean, hands down, hes one of our favorite players, and its crazy that hes retiring tonight. -- Aidan Sheehan, also pictured Liam Sheehan, Middletown, New JerseyI hope he retires! He cant come back -- everybody would hate him if he came back. He needs to be done. Hes made enough money. -- Nicole Santilli, OrlandoI think its really, like, for a Yankee fan, its a typical love-hate relationship. He catapulted the Yankees into winning the World Series, and also hes been a Yankee for [12] years. How do you not accept what hes been to us? -- David Rodriguez, New YorkI think A-Rods great, I have nothing against the man; I think hes been unfairly singled out. I think hes fantastic. -- James Jimmy Cunniff, New YorkIts very heartbreaking seeing him retire now. I felt like hes still got more left in him. It almost feels like hes being forced to retire, but Im one of his No. 1 fans and its just really tough to see. -- Joel Carrasco, New YorkHonestly, his last game is something that Ive looked forward to for a long time. -- David and Katie Finale, Carlstadt, New JerseyI feel like he shouldve played third baseman tonight. His last game ever, youre really not gonna let him play the field? It hurts, it hurts. -- Brian Anderson, New YorkIm an A-Rod fan because hes part of the Yankees. But as an individual, I think hes a talented player, but Im not an A-Rod fan, per se. Since hes gotten to the Yankees, the one ring in 2009 -- I had higher hopes for him. -- Alexis Pacheo, also pictured Daniel Pacheo and Felix Torres, New YorkHe has, over the last two years, grown on me. And my guess is hell end up in the Marlins organization at one point as a coach or part-owner or whatever, I kind of see him down there. -- Ellen Katz, Greenburgh, New YorkI dont know any Yankee fan whos ever come in here, over 16 years old, who said A-Rod was their favorite player. -- Michael Rendino, New YorkYou get a lot of hate for being an A-Rod fan, I think, from just the last few years. But when youre a true A-Rod fan, you stick with him. -- Jordan Baade, Wahoo, NebraskaIm very old-fashioned. I liked when Babe Ruth was doing everything on hot dogs and beer. -- Jason Polito, New YorkPaul Kariya Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Peter Forsberg Avalanche Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic-joe-sakic-avalanche-jersey/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Erik Johnson Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Patrick Roy Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams.Melbourne have outgunned Cronulla 26-6 to win the NRL minor premiership and set up a qualifying final against defending premiers North Queensland.With the two top teams battling for the JJ Giltinan Shield on Saturday night at AAMI Park, the clinical Storm steamrolled the Sharks to win the trophy for the first time since 2011.On the back of the loss, the Sharks could fall to third, with Canberra a chance to leapfrog them with a win on Sunday over the Wests Tigers. Regardless of the outcome of the Leichhardt Oval clash, the teams will meet next weekend in the second qualifying final.The Cowboys earlier cemented fourth spot and a meeting with the Storm at AAMI Park with a 32-16 win over Gold Coast.While centre Cheyse Blair scored a try in each half, Melbournes stoic defence was key to their victory, repelling the Sharks attacking threats to keep them tryless until the 69th minute.Rugby-bound winger Marika Koroibete showed what a loss he would be to the NRL with some scintillating runs and bone-crunching defence.Centre Will Chambers, who missed three months with a fractured foot, also looked back to his best, while the Storm pack gave the Sharks no room to move.Cronulla, aiming for their first minor premiership since 1999, threw everything at Melbourne but never really looked like they were in the hunt.They suffered a setback in the first half losing two forwards in Chris Heighington (concussion) and Jooseph Paulo (knee) as the Storm went up 10-2 at the break.ddddddddddddThe Sharks could have further worries with a late hit by hooker Michael Ennis taking out Storm five-eighth Blake Green as he put Blair through for his first try.Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said winning the minor premiership was extra special given the torrid injury run his team had gone through during the season.It means a fair bit for us, Bellamy said.Its a symbol that youve been the best team in this competition for seven months.It doesnt mean youre going to be the best for the next month but to finish at the top of the heap of this competition isnt easy to do.Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said his team created plenty of opportunities but couldnt finish them off to put pressure on the Storm.In the second half, the line breaks were five-three to us so we broke their line a couple of times but balls didnt go to hand and there was an intercept there, Flanagan said.We had our opportunities and, if wed have taken them in the first half, it could have been a different story but typical Storm - they held in there.We werent at our best and they deserved the win.Flanagan said he believed Heighington would be fit to face the Raiders, while Paulo would be sidelined for a few weeks with medial ligament damage. 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