Alex Rodriguez was recently slapped with a 211-game suspension by Major League Baseball for PED use and as he continues to play for the New York Yankees during his appeal, the 38-year-old third baseman is putting the final touches on his legal team.
According to Yahoo Sports, the highly-scrutinized All-Star has hired criminal defense attorney Joe Tacopina, commonly referred to as "the most hated lawyer in New York."
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Among the people Tacopina has defended over the years, Rodriguez is the only high-profile athlete, with Tacopina representing accused cop killer Lillo Brancato, Joran van der Sloot and accused rapist Kenneth Moreno among others.
"Joe is a fighter, and that is what Alex needs right now," a source close to Rodriguez said recently. "He has been brought on to reinforce the trial team, there's a possibility this could go all the way to federal court. Joe is known for putting the hammer down, he's going to take on the Yankees and take on MLB."
The New York Post also reports that Alex Rodriguez believes the Yankees are looking for ways to void themselves of his steep contact and that attempts taken toward the nullification of A-Rod's deal were meant to stifle Rodriguez's recent comeback from injury problems.
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Tacopina declined to comment last night, sources tell us A-Rod's camp believes the Yankees want out of his contract.
Their delivery of a letter fining him $150,000 just before his comeback last Friday was seen as an attempt to break his spirit.
Charging $750 per hour according to the NY Post, Joe Tacopina is not the type of attorney that will be polite in the ring. As someone who doesn't back down from anything thrown his way, Tacopina seems like the perfect fit for a baseball player once brought up in conversations as the best player in the history of the game.
To his critics, Tacopina is the devil's advocate, an Italian-American version of Johnnie Cochran, down to the flashy style.
He wears window-pane suits and a $6,500 Panerai watch. He's on TV more than Jeff Probst. He loves Italian soccer. He drives a Maserati. He sails his own 49-foot yacht. And why not? To the victor go the spoils.
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Rodriguez has been very open about his decision to appeal the 211-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig, noting recently that the penalty was a major disappointment to the 2009 World Series champion.
"I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight this through the process," Rodriguez said shortly after receiving the suspension. "I am eager to get back on the field and be with my teammates in Chicago tonight. I want to thank my family, friends and fans who have stood by me through all this."
With Joe Tacopina on his side, it certainly appears that Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez is ready for a serious battle with the MLB.
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