A-Rod excellent choice for national recognition
by Rawly Bransom, Sports Editor

   We all like to be recognized for what we do.
   Awarding people with trophies or even just a piece of paper gets people to perform greater than they naturally would.
   That is why I, and probably every other sports writer in the country, would like to congratulate Alex Rodriguez for winning his first American League MVP award last week.
   This, however, is not A-Rod’s first award this fall. He has already won his second consecutive Golden Glove, awarded to the best fielding player at his position. He also won his seventh Silver Slugger for being the best batter in his position, the Hank Aaron award for the best offensive player in the league, the Josh Gibson Legacy Award and the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award.
    A-Rod has been close to winning the MVP award several times, most notably last season. Then, many analysts said only the    Rangers lousy record kept him from winning, and in 1996 Juan Gonzales beat him out of the award by only three points.
   This year Rodriguez beat out his nearest opponent by 21 points, including an extra first-place vote.
   A-Rod is also only the seventh person to win the MVP award while a part of a team with a losing record, and only the second to come from a team who was in last place.
   “This has been a blessing for me, and I’m overwhelmed,” A-Rod said of the award. “There is nothing like this. To me, I could not be happier.”
   A-Rod’s performance could not have been better this season; still, a cloud hangs over his future with Texas.
   Rumors about a trade being in the works for the MVP, and more importantly about his huge salary, are running wild in Arlington.
   According to Rodriguez, he has been approached by the Rangers organization regarding a trade because of his huge salary and the Rangers lack of consistent pitching.
   “The trade talk has not been a distraction,” he said.
   Still, the award is a benefit for a Rangers organization that has not had many bright spots over the last few seasons. A player like A-Rod who can bring in crowds even when the team is not contending is something the Rangers need. They need a lot in other areas, but if you are building a franchise from the bottom up, having any bright spots is better than having none.