Alomar being sued by Ex-Girlfriend, alleges AIDS

From the story in today's New York Post Kati Cornell wrote:

Former Met star Roberto Alomar had unprotected sex with his ex-girlfriend while he had full blown AIDS, a sensational lawsuit charges. In the $15 million action filed in Brooklyn Federal court, Ilya Dall, of Queens, said the ballplayer tested positive for HIV in 2006 and a doctor later told him he had AIDS.

Dall said she tested negative for the disease - but is claiming punitive damages for emotional distress. She also claims her children were exposed to the virus.

Alomar, 41, a 12-time All Star, who retired from baseball in 2005, began dating Dall in 2002, and began having unprotected sex with her a short time later, according to the suit.

Her suit does not claim that he knew he had AIDS when they were having unprotected sex - but he had reason to think he might because his doctors kept advising him to be tested. He procrastinated and told her he was disease free, the suit says. In 2004, she said, she noticed he had cold sores. The following year he was diagnosed with a blood disorder that's linked to AIDS, the suit says.

Also in 2005, Alomar told Dall that when he once was raped by two Mexican men after playing a Ballgame in New Mexico, according to the suit.

Other symptoms began to develop, she says, including erectile dysfunction , a chronic cough, and fatigue.

A doctor insisted that the longtime second baseman take an HIV test, but Alomar continually refused, the suit charges.

In January 2006, the suit alleges, he finally got tested and it was positive. Nine days later, doctors discovered a mass in his chest, and a spinal tap revealed that he had full blown AIDS.

Alomar's two seasons with the Mets were considered disappointing , but he is considered a possible Hall of Fame candidate and may be elected when he becomes eligible next year.

But he will forever be remembered for an ugly incident in 1996 when, as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, he spat in the face of umpire John Hirschback during an argument over a called third strike.

He was suspended for five games. At the time there were allegation that the ump used a slur against Alomar, but that was never proven. Alomar's father, Sandy, is the Mets bench coach. His brother, Sandy Jr., is a Met instructor.

[My take: And we thought A-Rod had it bad. This is just plain bizarre. ]

Reinstate Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle

(Shoeless Joe Jackson, Pete Rose)

Baseball needs damage control. Just when you thought the whole Arod frenzy was bad enough today we are greeted with Miguel Tejada being charged with lying to Congress about steriod use in baseball. Not only that, if convicted he faces up to a year in prison. Can commissioner Bud Selig do anything to make the media and fans forget all this? Absolutely not.

He can provide a nice little distraction though to make the nearly 3 months to opening day a little less stressful on Major League Baseball. What is it, you ask? Simple reinstate Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson. Think about it Bud. Hold a press conference announcing that in light of the recent steriod problem in the game, you’ve made the decision to reinstate two of the best players in the history of the game. The decision on Shoeloess Joe should be an easy one. It should have been a decision made long ago. Banned from baseball for allegedly taking part in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, when members of the team participated in throwing the World Series, his performance clearly indicates his innocence. In the World Series his .375 batting average and 12 hits were the most from either team.

Pete Rose, on the other hand, is no angel. Banned for life for gambling on the game, Rose has admitted his mistake and after years of denial finally come clean. Yes, he says he did bet on his own team but he never once threw a game because he never once bet on his team to lose. Rose was a fiercely competitive player and he showed it on the field everyday. He played the game hard and he played the game to win. Evident by his three World Series Rings. In this steriod era that we are now in Rose’s statistical achievements are his greatest support for reinstatement. He remains the all time leader in hits with 4,256 and games played with 3,562. Also included in his resume are a Rookie of the Year award, 3 Batting Titles, 2 Gold Gloves, one MVP award, and 17 All-Star appearances.

We are in a time of the game where every player is guilty by association. Some writers are proclaiming to never vote a player from this era into the Hall of Fame. I think its time for Mr. Selig to reinstate Rose and Jackson and announce both of their names will appear on the next Hall of Fame ballot. Baseball can no longer keep two of its all time greats out of the Hall, when the greats of today have already confessed or been accused of cheating on the field. Nothing will make the fans forget the steriods and the lies but opening baseballs doors to Rose and Jackson , while long overdue, certainly will be a nice distraction.

-Robb Lennahan