Extortion Or "Ex-Sport-Ion"? MLB's Top 10 List

There is nothing funny about the actions of Rick Pitino being accused of rape by a woman he had sex with in a restaurant in an after hours encounter.

There is also nothing funny about a person with money or stature being extorted by a person who is looking for big pay day.

The ethical and moral implications of this situation are unfathomable.

That being said, there is extortion in sports at every turn. I call it "ex-sport-ion", because athletes, General Managers, and owners are exempt from any recourse.

Extortion is defined as:

• The crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.
• Oppressive or illegal exaction, as of excessive price or interest.

Here is a Top 10 List of 2009's Major League Baseball "ex-sport-ion" cases:

10) John Smoltz, P, Red Sox: 8.33 ERA in eight starts and only 40 IP; Bad-mouthed the Brave organization because they wouldn't anty-up, then extorts $5.5 million from Boston. He cleared waivers and will be retired or with another team soon.

9) Bill Hall, 3B, Brewers: Hall could've been on this list for the last couple years; $6.9 million for 6 HR, .201 avg, and 24 RBI. Apparently, Milwaukee is done with his bribery attempt and have designated him for assignment.

8) Eric Byrnes, OF, D-Backs: Another yearly visitor to this list; 5 HR, 24 RBI, .220 avg.; Injuries have been the main issue, but he had just one year before extorting a huge contract ($11.6 million) by becoming a fan favorite. He also cost the D-Backs the opportunity to keep Carlos Quentin who was traded to the White Sox.

7) Chris Young (choose either the Padres' Pitcher or the D-Backs' OF): Both have been extremely dissapointing; The OF is still very young, but was expected to be a 30-30 player this year (7 HR, 28 RBI, .194 avg); The Pitcher has had injury issues, so maybe there can be a little repreive for him.

6) Kerry Wood, RP, Indians: 15 saves isn't bad for such a bad team, but his 4.73 ERA doesn't warrant his gigantic $10 million price tag. CBS sports has Wood ranked as the 100th best (can you be labelled as "best" at #100?) reliever in baseball!

5) Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies: 7 HR, .222 avg., 35 RBI; Despite hitting in Colorado, his numbers have fallen off the charts; He was supposed to be unsignable in this free agent year. Instead, he's become untradeable!

4) J.J Putz, RP, Mets: 5.22 ERA, 29 IP; He's currently on the 60-day DL. The Mets gave up seven players in the three-team trade with the M's and Indians. Putz was the key peice in the deal. He's really living up to his name (Puttz), but not his $6 million "set-up-guy" contract.

3) Omar Minaya, GM, Mets: The only non-player to make the list. Accusing a reporter of positioning for a job in order to get his friend fired? The mess that is the NY Mets. The aforementioned Putz trade.

Not dealing with an aging and injury prone lineup in the offseason? Doing nothing prior to the trade deadline (I guess he thought they were still in the race)? Omar should offer fans free tickets for the rest of this season and join the grounds crew as punishment for his actions and lack of insight.

2) David Ortiz, 1B/DH, Red Sox: 15 HR, .220 avg.; Being named to the list of 103 users of PED's and then, of course, denying any steriod use. I'm sure it was that ham sandwich you ate that caused the positive test. Must've been animal steriods fed to the pig, huh? We're all tired of excuses. If you used, admit it...You still get to keep your $13 million!

1) Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers: 13 HR? Suspended for a third of the season? I'm sure that's what the Dodgers had in mind when shelling out $23.8 million. MannyWood fans (season tickets/merchandise), the Dodger's organization, and Juan Pierre should all feel extorted!

Baseball fans and team owners have become victims of Ex-Sport-ion on a regular basis and there is no legal recourse.