Arrival of Belle gives ‘Sin City’ another professional bad boy
■ SIGNING: Dennis Rodman,
Bryan Cox and Bob Probert
all are known for being
trouble and being disliked
By Mike Nadel
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Dennis Rodman,
an infamous head-butter, says he’ll
strip to his birthday suit during his
final game. Bryan Cox, a habitual
spitter, raises his middle finger
more often than most Americans
raise the flag. Bob Probert, a recov
ering drug addict, brawls for fun.
And now, pro sports’ Sin City
r
welcomes bat-corking, elbow
throwing, fan-abusing Albert
Belle. He figures to be Chicago’s
baddest bad boy yet.
Rodman, Cox and Probert have
had their run-ins with players, of
ficials, management and fans. But
they haven’t tried to run down
Halloween pranksters with their
cars. They haven’t been caught
cheating. And they haven’t gone
out of their way to antagonize peo
ple at every turn.
“I’m not going to change my
personality because someone
wants me to,” said Belle, who
signed a five-year, $55 million
contract Tuesday with the White
Sox. “I found early on that you
can’t try to please everyone.”
Belle, however, rarely tries to
please anyone.
“It was always an adventure
with Albert,” Cleveland catcher
Sandy Alomar said. “Sometimes
you got a little bit scared when
things were flying around the
clubhouse, but what can you say?
Albert’s a great hitter.”
Since 1991, the year after he
spent 58 days getting treated for al
cohol abuse, Belle has 234 homers
and 711 RBIs. During the last two
seasons, the numbers were even
more staggering: 98 home runs,
274 RBIs.
Production. That’s what the
White Sox hope they’ve bought.
They certainly didn’t get Belle
for his popularity. Like Rodman
and Probert, he used to be de
spised in Chicago.
Not only did Belle lead Cleve
land past the White Sox in the
standings, but it was at Comiskey
Park in 1994 that Belle was caught
using a corked bat.
The tattooed, cross-dressing
Rodman, he of the ever-changing
hair colors, has become a local folk
hero for helping the Bulls win a
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record 72 games and the NBA title
last season.
Probert, the former Detroit Red
Wings enforcer who signed with
the Blackhawks two years ago but
missed his first season here be
cause of drug problems, has been
received warmly by Chicago hock
ey fans.
The city’s football followers had
no beef with Cox, but they might
have if they had known him when
he was with the Miami Dolphins.
The linebacker was detested in
many NFL towns, especially Buf
falo, for repeated incidents of spit
ting, swearing and showboating.
MLB: Smoltz
feels he is
just entering
his prime
■ Continued from Page 9
“We’re absolutely delighted to
have John Smoltz back as a mem
ber of our organization.”
Smoltz worried that the Braves,
knowing his desire to stay in At
lanta, would offer a deal at less
than-market value. But his agent,
Lonnie Cooper, said Schuerholz
made clear from the start of the
negotiations that he was willing
to spend to keep his pitching staff
together.
Pitching has been the domi
nant factor in Atlanta’s success
this decade: five division titles,
four NL pennants and one World
Series title.
Atlanta now can turn its atten
tion toward long-term deals for
Greg Maddux, who won the Cy
Young Award from 1992-95, and
1991 winner Tom Glavine; the
other key members of the rotation
are under contract through 1997.
The Braves also have Denny Nea
gle, acquired in a midseason trade
with Pittsburgh.
“I think we have needs before
doing long-term contracts for any
one in particular,” Braves presi
dent Stan Kasten said. “Whatev
er needs arise, we’ll take care of,
and along the way we’ll also con
tinue to make decisions. You
can’t pay 25 guys at these levels,
but we’ll do the best we can.”
The previous high contract for
a pitcher was $6.5 million in
David Cone’s $19.5 million,
three-year deal with the Yankees.
In total dollars, the previous high
was the $28 million, five-year
contract signed by Maddux in
1993.
In addition to his base salary,
Smoltz would get a $250,000
bonus if he wins two Cy Young
Awards during the deal.
Baltimore, Toronto and the
New York Yankees also had seri
ous discussions with Smoltz’s
agents, but Cleveland showed the
most interest after losing Belle to
the White Sox.
“It was very rewarding that
they thought that highly of me,”
Smoltz said. “At the same, I think
Atlanta showed the ultimate con
cern.”
Although he is coming off the
best year of his career, Smoltz
said he believes he’s just entering
his prime.
“My career is ahead of me,” he
said. “I’m going to be a better
pitcher than I’ve been so far here
and keep progressing. I’m only
29.”
Smoltz was accompanied to
the news conference by his wife,
Dyan, and their two children, 5
year-old Andrew and 3-year-old
Rachel.