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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 AirHogs have fun with A-Rod and Madonna Associated Press GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- On-field skits with Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez look-a-likes and Madonna's hits playing between innings were just a couple of ways a minor league team near A-Rod's former baseball home tried to cash in on tabloid fodder. The Grand Prairie AirHogs, an independent team west of Dallas and a few miles from the home of the Texas Rangers, offered dollar tickets to fans wearing A-Rod jerseys or dressed as Madonna on Wednesday night. Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce last week after more than five years of marriage to the New York Yankee star, citing her husband's alleged infidelity. Alex Rodriguez has been linked in various tabloid reports to Madonna, though both have denied a romantic relationship. "We're not trying throw insults at anybody," assistant general manager Tim Savona said. "Our play on it was both sides (Rodriguez and Madonna) have built up wealth. Most of us can't connect with that kind of money. We're trying to have fun with superpower figures who are in the tabloids with a lot of money." The A-Rod and Cynthia Rodriguez look-a-likes participated in a fake divorce trial to see who would win possession of the house, car and luxury items. There also was a dance contest to the Material Girl's songs. "You're brought up in the business to be the most original," Savona said. "The challenge is finding something people will talk about and keep the fans coming out." Wednesday's promotion gave Rangers fans with long memories a chance to be entertained at the expense of the Yankees slugger who accelerated a trade out of Texas and to New York in 2004. "This is pretty funny," said Jock Luckett of Fort Worth, a longtime Rangers fan who attended his first AirHogs game. "(Rodriguez) didn't want to play with young players. He didn't want to go through rebuilding. Because he used to play here, this is a way to have a little fun." This isn't the first time the first-year club played around with what could be seen as a sensitive subject. The AirHogs gave away a funeral -- complete with headstone, plot and casket -- during a game in which fans were encouraged to wear black and there were pallbearer races between innings. Before Rodriguez's private life became tabloid fodder in New York, Rodriguez signed a then-record $252 million contract with Texas in 2000. While Rodriguez put up big stats, the Rangers finished last all three seasons he was with the team. Rodriguez said in a magazine article that he never would have signed with Texas had he known he was going to be part of a rebuilding process with the Rangers.

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