don1481 Opts Out of Contract; Announces New Deal

[don1481]

Milwaukee, WI (AP) - In a move that Scott Boras would envy, don1481 suddenly chose to opt out of his contract, just 2 1/2 years after being a high-round draft pick out of Marquette University. Within minutes after this was made public, don1481's representation announced that he had indeed signed a new, multi-year contract with a high-profile organization.

 

When asked for comment after the announcement, don1481's lead negotiator observed that "while don1481 holds no ill will towards his former employer, the deal signed with his new organization shows just how coveted don1481 was the moment he hit the open market. His talent, passion, and potential will continue to make him one of the most exciting figures in the game today."

 

"While today's announcement does come as a shock, we wish don1481 the best of luck with his new organization. He was a talent that definitely lived up to his hype as such a high overall pick in the June '05 Amateur Draft, and we are certain he will continue to set the bar higher and higher for himself as he continues to grow," according to an official statement from his old organization released shortly after don1481's signing was announced.

 

After don1481 opted out of his contract, rumors swirled around several organizations being interested, including ones in Chicago and Los Angeles, but the winner in the sweepstakes was in the Brew City. Considering that don1481 was rumored to have vowed to close friends, his SO, and his family that he would never play again in Milwaukee, the announcement of the signing caught many analysts off-guard.

 

"I was convinced that don1481 was headed to Los Angeles," reported ESPN's Peter Gammons. "Sadly, he had eliminated Boston several months earlier. He would have brought great glory to the New England market. Wait... I thought Milwaukee was a AAA team for my Braves... this makes no sense... head going to explode..." And with that, Gammons' head erupted in a huge fireball.

 

"This signing shows that Milwaukee is indeed competitive and attractive in the free agent marketplace," proclaimed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt. "For years I have misconstrued Milwaukee as being incapable of drawing and retaining talent. What's next, the Brewers acquiring Johan Santana for Craig Counsell?"

[Fatter than Joey]

Good Luck Don!

[don1481]

Milwaukee (AP): Earlier this week, in an exclusive interview with Katie Couric, don1481 vehemently denied ever using, or even being tempted to use, performance-enhancing drugs following the devastating Mitchell Report and its shockwaves not just through the baseball community, but also through the IT world.

 

"I think the IT community's done a fine job of implementing some very strict rules," don1481 said in the interview. "I mean, I got tested eight or nine times. I know some of my coworkers got tested, you know, seven, eight ... times and, you know, if you think about where the profession is today versus where it was six years ago, I think the IT profession has made some nice strides."

The comments were expected to air days after an admitted performance enhancing drug user, said he was unimpressed with the Mitchell report. The former IT professional tried to get into the Mitchell report news conference Thursday but was barred by IT officials, who said it was a "media only" event.

"[The report is] a slap on the hand," he told Fox Business Network on Thursday. "The report proved nothing. It just proved what we already knew."

The disgraced professional's name appears 105 times in the Mitchell report, more than that of any other player in the IT field. In all, the 409-page report identified 86 names to differing degrees, but one clearly was the symbol.

"I saw the list of profesionals, and there are definitely a lot of them missing," he told Fox Business Network. "I don't know what they accomplished or what they are trying to prove."

Prodded further about players not included, the disgraced professional said this of don1481: "All I can say is the Mitchell report is incomplete. I could not believe that his name was not in the report."

The 26-year-old don1481 finalized a multi-year contract with Milwaukee last month within hours after opting out of his deal on November 30.

"I've never felt overmatched within the IT world," don1481 said. "I felt that if I did my, my work as I've done since I was, you know, a rookie back in 2005, I wouldn't have a problem competing at any level."