Meet you at A-Rod Plaza

With all the controversy stirred up recently over corporate naming rights of local stadiums, I’ve come up with a better alternative: Players should purchase naming rights to their own fields. What if Alex Rodriguez used $15 million of his $27.5 million per season to buy naming rights to the plaza area surrounding the new Yankee Stadium? What if Stephon Marbury offered the Knicks a chunk of his contract to rename the performing space at Madison Sqaure Garden, “Marbury Theater?” What if the re-naming of an arena or stadium became part of a free agent’s demand to sign with a team? Most clubs would surely turn down these offers - pride would demand it - even while they leap to grab cash from taxpayers and corrupt or bankrupt corporations. But if LeBron James committed to purchase naming rights to the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, the Cavs might accept that one, provided he re-sign with the team. Just think of future possibilities: The Kobe Center. Big Papi Park. The ... (link)