games. "We just wanted to show them weve got some hitters

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez benched himself at his own grievance hearing. The New York Yankees star walked out in the middle of a session Wednesday, furious that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz refused to order baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to testify. The move, followed by angry statements accusing Selig of bias and the entire arbitration process of flaws, appeared to be a prelude to a lawsuit challenging whatever ruling Horowitz makes on A-Rods 211-game suspension. Horowitz was in the midst of the 11th day of hearings on the grievance filed by the players association to overturn the penalty given to the three-time AL MVP by Major League Baseball in August for alleged violations of the sports drug agreement and labour contract. "I lost my mind. I banged a table and kicked a briefcase and slammed out of the room," Rodriguez said during a 40-minute interview on WFAN radio. "I probably overreacted, but it came from the heart." Rodriguez has not testified in the grievance and said he had been warned that repeating his denials of wrongdoing on the stand could result in attempts at additional discipline by MLB. MLB argued that it could decide what witnesses it wanted to present to justify the discipline, since the penalty must meet a "just cause" standard. The league said Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred spoke to reasoning behind the discipline during his six hours of testimony. Rodriguez and the union asked Horowitz to compel Selig to testify. After the arbitrator refused, Rodriguez uttered a profanity at Manfred just before leaving the hearing room at MLBs office, two people familiar with the proceedings said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because what takes place at the hearing is supposed to be confidential. "In the entire history of the Joint Drug Agreement, the commissioner has not testified in a single case," the commissioners office said in a statement. "Major League Baseball has the burden of proof in this matter. MLB selected Rob Manfred as its witness to explain the penalty imposed in this case. Mr. Rodriguez and the players Association have no right to dictate how baseballs case is to proceed any more than baseball has the right to dictate how their case proceeds. Todays antics are an obvious attempt to justify Mr. Rodriguezs continuing refusal to testify under oath." The hearing continued for about two hours after Rodriguez left the room, one of the people said, and is scheduled to resume Thursday morning. "We have put on evidence. We have more evidence to put on. We are evaluating our options," said James McCarroll, a lawyer for Rodriguez who also spoke during the WFAN interview. "We havent said the case isnt being completed. We havent said that the case isnt complete." Horowitz, chosen by management and the union as their independent arbitrator last year, has the discretion to eliminate the suspension or alter it. The statements by Rodriguez and McCarroll made it appear the 14-time All-Star intends to sue MLB and the union unless the penalty is eliminated. Rodriguez already has filed one suit against MLB and Selig, accusing them of a "witch hunt," and another against the Yankees team physician and his hospital, alleging malpractice in the diagnosis and treatment of a hip injury. Manfred is technically part of a three-person arbitration panel that also includes union General Counsel David Prouty and is chaired by Horowitz "Im done. I dont have a chance," Rodriguez said during the WFAN interview. He issued a statement earlier in the day attacking the procedures established in the agreements between MLB and the union. "I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," Rodriguez said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. "This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce." The players association was disappointed with Horowitzs decision but was less confrontational than Rodriguez. "The MLBPA believes that every player has the right under our arbitration process to directly confront his accuser," the union said in a statement. "We argued strenuously to the arbitrator in Alexs case that the commissioner should be required to appear and testify. While we respectfully disagree with the arbitrators ruling, we will abide by it as we continue to vigorously challenge Alexs suspension within the context of this hearing." McCarroll blamed Horowitz for precluding evidence Rodriguez wanted to introduce and hinted of a court fight. "Whether the case is finally decided in this forum, created by Major League Baseball, Bud Seligs forum, or another forum, nobody is throwing the case out," he said. Joseph Tacopina, another Rodriguez lawyer, spoke on CNN and accused Selig of "cowardice and hypocrisy." He said Manfred testified the decision on discipline was Seligs. Rodriguez denied using performance-enhancing drugs or obstructing MLBs investigation into the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. Rodriguez was the only one of the 14 players disciplined this summer to challenge his suspension. "Over time, the arbitration process in baseball has been amazingly pro player," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said. "It was that process which created free agency. It allowed Steve Howe to remain on the field despite numerous drug violations and resulted in the shortening of suspensions like John Rockers. The notion that this same process is not fair enough or good enough for Alex Rodriguez is ridiculous." Rodriguez said he had hoped to testify Friday. MLB had insisted Rodriguez submit to an "investigatory interview" prior to his testimony, but he cancelled his scheduled appearance last week, claiming illness. MLB agreed to waive its right to penalize him for testimony during an interview it might deem untruthful, one of the people said. "The system is wrong, and whether youre in federal court or state court or in kangaroo court that we are today, players need protection," Rodriguez said on WFAN. "The union has already told me that if I go on on Friday and they think I lied, they can give me say another 100 games, so now youre to 311. So now well appeal that. In the appeal process, I would say I didnt do it, so now youre up to 411, and this can go on for the next seven or eight years." He repeatedly disparaged Selig, who has been in charge of baseball since 1992 and said in September he plans to retire in January 2015. Rodriguez said Selig wants him as "a trophy" to put "in his big mantel on his way out." "My only message to the commissioner is, I know you dont like New York, but come to New York and face the music. He hates my guts, theres no question about it," Rodriguez said. "One hundred per cent its personal, and I think this is about his legacy, and its about my legacy, and hes trying to destroy me." Rodriguez said four years ago he used PEDs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. He has denied using them since. He briefly discussed his relationship with Biogenesis head Anthony Bosch, who is co-operating with MLBs investigation. "It was nutrition and it was weight loss," Rodriguez said. "And Bosch wasnt the only guy. I travelled the world to see doctors, cutting-edge stuff, but always between the parameters of Major League Baseball. And I have hundreds of emails that will be part of evidence which I cant get into that backs me up 100 per cent." Josh McRoberts Jersey . The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign. Luka Doncic Jersey . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed. http://www.officialmavericksfanstore.com/kids-steve-nash-mavericks-jersey/ . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands. Dallas Mavericks Jersey .3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. Dirk Nowitzki Jersey .C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- From the on-deck circle, Justin Smoak couldnt blame the Angels for walking Robinson Cano to load the bases in the third inning. When Smoak cleared those bases with a powerful double, he demonstrated why the new-look Seattle Mariners are a whole lot more than their new $240 million man. Brad Miller hit two homers, Erasmo Ramirez pitched seven innings of six-hit ball, and the Mariners beat Los Angeles 8-3 Tuesday night for their second win of the season. Abraham Almonte and Dustin Ackley also had RBI doubles as the Mariners followed up their 10-3 win on opening day with another surprising offensive barrage. They only needed a supporting role from Cano, who went 1 for 3 with two walks. "No doubt. Why wouldnt you?" Smoak said of the Angels strategy in pitching around Cano. "Theres a reason why you do it, but were all going to have to get big hits with guys on base this season." So far, its happening all the time: The Mariners scored 16 runs in their first 15 innings of the year while beating Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson, their AL West rivals two best starters. Miller provided an unexpected power burst with a solo homer in the fifth and a two-run shot in the ninth, while Smoak has six RBIs in the Mariners first two games. "We just wanted to show them weve got some hitters," said Miller, who has four multihomer games -- but just 10 total homers -- in his career. "Weve got some depth. Starting on the road against two pretty good pitchers and a good lineup, getting two wins like that is a pretty great way to start a season." Ramirez (1-0) backed up his solid spring training with impressive work against the Angels star-studded lineup, striking out six without walking a batter. He retired 11 straight after squelching the Angels rally in the fourth inning. Wilson (0-1) laboured into the sixth inning for the Angels, who are off to their first 0-2 start since 2001. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer and Josh Hamilton had two hits for the Angels, who spent the entire spring determined to avoid yet another slow start, a prime reason for Los Angeles four-year post-season absence. "Theres a llot of things we need to do better," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.dddddddddddd "Were a better team than showed up the last couple of games. Were getting some guys on base, and our situational hitting was great all spring. We just have to do a little bit better job of it." Los Angeles went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 1 for 13 in the young season. Wilson, who had a career-best 17 wins last season for the Angels, needed 95 pitches to get through the first five innings against Seattle. He gave up eight hits and had eight strikeouts, including the 1,000th of his career. "Ive got a lot of confidence in our offence," Wilson said. "Thats the mentality you have to have with the guys we have. If you dont score and you give up a run early, everybody seems to press a little bit. If youre not winning, youre not having a good time." Ibanez has struck out five times already this season, but he trimmed his former teams lead with his first homer for the Angels in the fourth. Ackley chased Wilson on his 114th pitch, drilling a double off the right-field wall in the sixth. Albert Pujols doubled in the eighth and scored on Canos two-out throwing error, but Joe Beimel relieved Tom Wilhelmsen and picked David Freese off first base, ending the inning before throwing a pitch. Freese got his first hit for the Angels in the second inning, but is off to a 1-for-8 start. Mike Trout went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch on his bobblehead night. Seattle closer Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth in the former Angels relievers first appearance for his new team. NOTES: Seattle OF Stefen Romero went 0 for 4 in his major league debut. ... Angels relievers Dane De La Rosa and Sean Burnett will throw a simulated game in Anaheim on Wednesday before deciding the next step in their recovery from injuries. ... In just his fifth season as a starting pitcher, Wilson fanned Kyle Seager for his 1,000th career strikeout. The former Texas reliever is the 41st active player to reach the milestone. ... Mariners DH Corey Hart got his first hit for his new club, an infield single in the sixth. 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