Hoping for return of the 'Cooler'

October 28, 10:18 AMSeattle Sports ExaminerBob Sherwin

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For all these years, there was one thing we could hold over Alex Rodriguez's head - he didn't have a world championship ring. Now that may be changing.

A-Rod is the hottest player for the best team, one favored to win the World Series, which begins tonight in New York. I can't remember a player the opposing team has to pitch around more than Rodriguez right now. He's got unbelievable plate coverage combined with a wise batting eye. He's virtually unstoppable on a Yankee team that is clearly the best, offensively, in the game.

It wasn't like that before this season. He had been 0-for-20 average with runners in scoring position in post-season play. His teammates in Texas used to cool him the 'Cooler,' a Vegas term referring to a guy who suddenly sits down at a gaming table and everyone instantly loses.

I don't particularly dislike A-Rod, I just don't want him to win it all. He's probably the most disingenuous athlete I've ever covered. He's all about himself, his needs, his view of the world, his phoniness, a reflection of his agent Scott Boras.

I loved the fact that after he left Seattle in 2000 and went to Texas - supposedly to play for a winner but actually to sign the biggest deal in history at $252 million - the Mariners had one of the best seasons in Major League history, winning a record 116 games. In the meantime, Texas dropped like a rock. No playoffs in his three years there.

Then through a series of incidents, that included a fateful leg injury to Yankee third baseman Aaron Boone, A-Rod ended up in New York. Fortunately, he brought his Cooler with him for the past six seasons. No World Series titles for the Yankees. He was choke in the playoffs as the Yankees were embarrassed by rival Boston a couple times. And last year they didn't even reach the post-season. Poetic justice.

This time I think his stretch of misfortune likely will end. It's hard to imagine them not winning, despite playing the defending World Series champion Phillies.

But there's always hope than the Cooler will return. He has a history of failing at the most inappropriate times. It's just taking a little longer this year.

He may get his ring but that doesn't change who he is.