Yankees Alex Rodriguez Investigated for Illegal Gambling

Allegations arose recently that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was involved in several illegal, underground poker games. One of these games supposedly turned violent after a player refused to pay over a half million dollar debt.

The MLB is conducting an investigation into the allegations and is taking the matter "very seriously" at the commissioner's office. One of the game supposedly featured open cocaine usage at a record executive's house. After violence erupted Rodriguez tried to distance himself from the game, paid what he owed and left.

Rodriguez has been warned about gambling before in 2005 when commissioner Selig warned him that involvement with gamblers who are betting on baseball games could leave Rodriguez with a lifetime ban from baseball, similar to the ban Pete Rose is currently serving. Rodriguez is not believed to have bet on baseball games, but the commissioner is upset that he ignored his warning.

The MLB has not yet confirmed Rodriguez's involvement in the games that were also reportedly attended by Hollywood actors Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Rodriguez is no stranger to controversy. He is connected to Dr. Anthony Galea who is currently under federal investigation for smuggling human growth hormone into the United States. He also still employs his cousin, Yuri Sucart, after admitting that he was the person who brought performance enhancing drugs to him in 2003.