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g a City fan. The next two hours up t
CHICAGO -- Cuban slugger Jose Abreu couldnt pass up the chance to play alongside his countrymen on the Chicago White Sox. Abreu officially finalized a six-year, $68-million deal with the White Sox on Tuesday, about a week-and-a-half after the sides reached an agreement on the largest contract in franchise history. He is the organizations 17th Cuban player and the third currently on the roster, joining shortstop Alexei Ramirez and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. "I know there were other teams interested but the support that I would have from Cuban players like Alexei and Dayan and from the beginning, they were interested and showed their interest," Abreu said through a translator. "When it came down to where it will be, it was pretty simple to pick the White Sox." Abreus agent Barry Praver said as many as eight teams were seriously involved before the list was narrowed to five finalists. All five final offers were at least $60 million. The 26-year-old Abreu will receive a signing bonus of $10 million, with $6 million payable upon approval by Major League Baseball and $4 million due Nov. 14, 2014. He will get salaries of $7 million in each of the next two seasons, $10 million in 2016, $10.5 million in 2017, $11.5 million in 2018 and $12 million in 2019. Praver said Abreu also has the right to opt out of the contract when he becomes arbitration eligible, though he would still be under White Sox control through arbitration. Praver described the negotiations as lengthy and competitive, which lasted two weeks from when teams were asked to submit their initial offers. "Hes A-plus in terms as far as dealing with a person," Praver said. "Very humble, very professional." Abreu, who defected last summer, batted .360 (9 for 25) with three home runs and nine RBIs at the World Baseball Classic last March. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Abreu is expected to play either first base or fill the designated hitter role. "Hes solid on balls in the dirt which is obviously important at first base," general manager Rick Hahn said. "We think he can he can be a solid everyday defensive contributor. Again, the plus-plus tools are the power and the hit tool. But we do view the defence and the throwing as solid/average." Abreu can help bolster a White Sox offence that scored the fewest runs in the American League and hit only 148 home runs, tied for third fewest in the AL, en route to a 63-99 record one year after finishing second in the AL Central. The White Sox envision Abreu hitting in the middle of the lineup, though Hahn didnt give any statistical expectations for Abreus first season, citing an adjustment period to a new country and league. "I just want to see him have the ability to maintain physically where he needs to be and mentally where he needs to be and then let the talent take over," Hahn said. During his 2013 season with Cienfuegos in the top-level league in Cuba, Abreu hit .316 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs in 83 games. White Sox manager Robin Ventura envisions Abreu experiencing similar success to that of fellow Cubans, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. "So much has been said about my power and the home runs Ive hit, but more than hitting home runs, my mindset at the plate is whatever my team needs, thats my strategy," Abreu said. The addition of Abreu potentially makes first baseman Paul Konerko the odd-man out with slugger Adam Dunn set to return and owed $15 million in the final year of his contract. Konerko, who is a free agent, is taking time to consider whether he wants to retire or continue playing. Despite coming off a season in which he hit .244 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs, Ventura said the 37-year-old Konerko deserves some time to think about his future. "I cant sit here and say how exactly itd work," Ventura said. "But if theyre on the roster you figure out a way to keep them sharp and playing." Hahn said he spoke to Konerko to inform him the White Sox were interested in Abreu and again to notify him of the signing. Hahn would not rule out Konerko returning but would not comment on specifics. "Hes going through his process and I think hes currently on vacation with his family," Hahn said. "When he gets back well set up a time to get together." Hahn didnt rule out more off-season moves but acknowledged it will be costly to add through free agency. "Its probably more likely that trades are next, but at the same time we havent even hit true domestic free agency yet so its not anything were ruling out until we do our similar due diligence on some of the players that are available there," Hahn said. 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Raonic, the mens No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., needed more than three hours to overcome Frenchman Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and become the first Canadian man into the fourth round at Roland Garros. Vans Shoes Clearance .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45."After a ticket are ya mate? Geezer, youve got no chance bruv. Big money." Despite being the youngest member of the tout gang it was clear that this was the lad I would have to deal with. If the kid who played Malcolm in the Middle moved to England, spent the last 10 years in Manchester, bought an entire wardrobe collection of Nike shell suits and New York Yankee caps, with the peak bent upwards, this would be him. I didnt even bother explaining to him the purpose of my visit to Old Trafford. That had already happened a couple of minutes earlier when I chatted with one of his lieutenants, a man who I swore lived inside a caravan with Brad Pitt in the movie Snatch. "Hello mate, I came from Canada and I want to do a story on how hard it is for a fan to just show up to one of the biggest games of the season and get a ticket. Would you do a quick interview?" I thought it was a pretty polite request but Malcolms bouncer - well call him “Lee” - stared down at me and didnt say a word. I had gotten his message. Loud and clear. Malcolm was now nervously shifting his eyes everywhere, yet with me still in his presence, knew I was a serious customer here. I tried my luck with Lee again to see he if he hadnt actually lost his tongue in an illegal fight auditioning for Snatch. "Is it actually against the law then around here to sell tickets to the public?" "Sorta," he replied. I was relieved. Not only had Lee found his tongue but I now had an explanation for Malcolms out-of-control jitters. Then they got the better of him. "Weve been shopped lets move now... Stay there mate. Well be back," he shouted on the run. I was pretty sure he was talking to me although his barbarian of a mate had been chatting up a couple of potential clients from Europe wearing skinny Ronaldo shirts with Rafael Nadal pants on… you know, the ones the Euros love. My new mate Malcolm had bolted after seeing two gentlemen in Manchester United official blazers scope the area, but in reality they cared more about who was being let in to the posh car park they were minding. I found that out pretty quickly as I waited and wandered, albeit not too far from the area I was instructed to stand. And so there I was, stuck on a corner of a road staring at the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, four hours before kick-off, relying on Malcolm in the middle of a freaking super dodgy ticket ring. Before I had bumped into these two geezers I had already scoped half of the ground and found little activity. One guy was muttering any spare tickets? under his breath but when I asked him if he had any he told me he was strictly a fan looking for one himself. He cared little for my story but at least had the decency to shake my hand in my pursuit of getting a ticket for less than 200 quid. It was clear he had been lying about looking to sell tickets, by the way, because I later saw him doing some deal himself. I hadnt visited Old Trafford as a fan for 15 years and I will admit that this side of ticket touting, as it is called in England, surprised me. This was a more seedy underworld than I imagined, however. Weighing up the evidence on show - such as it being the first game of the season, under new manager David Moyes, against Chelsea, and the return of Jose Mourinho, - all certainly pointed towards it being quite possibly Malcs cup final. At this moment, though, it seemed he was bottling his big game, like many of his countrymen have done once a ball has been placed on a penalty spot. I know some people who have got no time for touts (or scalpers as they are known in North America) but I have never felt that way. As a mad sports fan I have paid my own way into big events such as finals at Wembley, Indy 500s, a Game 7 of a Stanley Cup final and a Super Bowl, but usually these accomplishments are achieved by planning in advance and knowing when tickets go on sale. If people do that for a living then good luck to them, thats my thought. Usually, however, I am prepared enough to not have to deal with them but this time I had a project to do, so just where had Malcolm gone? It felt like half-an-hour but it was probably more like 15 minutes when Lee led his reappearance like a prize fighter walking into the ring. Mighty Malc was back, shell suit jacket and cap missing, wearing a red Man United golf polo shirt with a dozen match day programmes in his hand. Confidence restored... Impressive. The bottler had reinvented himself to try and close some deals masquerading as a worker for the club. His next move was to get on his phone and pretend to be talking to his girlfriend shouting pretend directions to her while walking past me.ddddddddddddI got the hint and figured I needed to follow him. I had obviously gained his trust as the bouncer stayed put but I was soon to realize they were not just a double act. Walking towards us was now an older man in a large brown coat puffing on what looked to be cigarette number 31 of the day. Malc took control: "Right show it him." Smokey opened up his wallet and showed me a card with a random name on it. It was the last thing I wanted. I wanted a ticket not some season card, which may or may not be legit, belonging to some lad in Ibiza for the week. "150 quid and you have to meet us back here after the match ‘cos its my cousins pass," he ordered, in between coughs. The money was within the budget but it didnt feel right. To be honest I think I had made my mind up, not to deal with this group, the moment he turned into a programme seller. I wasnt buying what they were selling and Lee moved in to find out what the problem was. Malc the Manc was fuming. "Hes all nervous and stuff," he told the big man. Takes one to know one, I thought. "You are not getting in, then, mate. Thats it … Programmes! Who wants programmes?!" his voice getting louder as he walked away. I sensed their desperation in our final minutes together and knew his chances of moving a single season pass were slimmer than me finding another ticket. It was 5pm and still three hours to kick-off. I walked down Matt Busby Way, where a lot of street vendors stood. It looked like a busy place where tickets would be available. I was right. I saw the Ronaldo-Nadal boys looking at their new found tickets. I asked them who sold them and, after finding out they got the pair for 250 pounds, hunted down a much friendlier fella than Malc and his mates. My new mate for the minute was Wayne, who even found time to ask about Canada when he found out where I had come from. "Follow me down here mate." We were now in an alleyway at the back of houses, shielded by the clean laundry being hung out to dry in the locals back gardens. I asked once again about the legality of his work. "Its ridiculous, mate. If we are seen selling tickets, its a thousand pound fine. You are technically allowed to sell tickets but just not for a profit. Honestly, its stupid. People sell drugs up the road and yet we have to do it like this." I didnt feel much better but Waynes World was certainly friendlier than the Snatch gang… although a bit pricier. "I have a single seat. Its 200 quid." Thirty seconds later I had talked him down, he left with three 50 pound notes and I had a ticket that looked legitimate. I couldnt wait for 6pm to make sure it was legal, but I had to. Time spent in the club megastore was like being in an airport; different nationalities and accents everywhere and lines bigger than the check-in gate for a five quid Easyjet flight to Paris. Thousands of people were now outside Old Trafford, with many clearly being there for the first time in a while, identified quite easily by wearing those bizarre match day scarves, half Chelsea, half Man United, that are never bought by regular fans for obvious, common sense reasons. At 5:54pm the turnstiles unexpectedly opened early. Sixth in line to enter my section in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand I scanned my ticket, the light flashed from red to green, and I had done it. I had mingled with the ticket gangs and got a seat 11 rows from the pitch. I was in the ground so early I witnessed a stewards meeting where one of the new men in a green vest was getting destroyed for being a City fan. The next two hours up to kick off proved to be almost as interesting as the two hours following it. Watching a 75,000+ stadium wake up from nothing to full capacity is exhilarating. I cannot recommend it enough. The rest of the night was very enjoyable. Sure, the game was grim in parts, but hearing both sets of fans chant Rooney Rooney was entertaining as were the topics being discussed at half-time amongst the home supporters as they chomped on their Holland Pies and sipped their Singha beer. The man on the lips of the entire stadium probably was the games best player but it was equally enjoyable to watch Chelseas front four try to execute moves I had watched them do so closely in the warm-up. The game ended 0-0 but there were very few groans. I certainly left with a smile on my face. After all, I didnt have to go and meet Smokey and his mate Malc. Who knows what he would have been dressed like by then? ' ' '