NLN EXCLUSIVE

A source in attendance at the reading of the late John Rodriguez, Sr.’s will gave his account of the proceedings exclusively to Northern Lights News.  The source did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, but he painted a very vivid picture of the events of last Friday evening.

You may recall that Friday was the last time that Christopher Rodriguez – whom many expected would be named the next owner of the Borealis – made a public appearance.  That appearance was to announce the new Borealis play-by-play radio tandem of George Crocker and Mark Gunter, as well as the team’s newly-signed broadcast deal with Denver-based 850 KOA.

Immediately following the public announcement, Christopher joined brother John, Jr. and other Rodriguez family members and legal representatives at a private reading of the family patriarch’s will.  It was anticipated that plans for the transference of control of the Borealis would be revealed during the proceedings.  The result of the revelation, however, was anything but expected.

Prevailing opinion had been that Christopher would emerge as the new owner of the Borealis.  He had, after all, served his father as Vice President of Baseball Operations since the club’s inception.  When his father took ill in late 2009, it was Christopher who took over the day-to-day management of the team (Aurora remains one of a handful of PEBA teams featuring an owner who doubles as the club’s General Manager, a policy adopted to provide a “sanity check” on contracts and avoid the crass overspending that contributed to the downfall of Major League Baseball).

Despite working directly with the elder Rodriguez for the last four years, Christopher and his father were often at loggerheads over their competing management styles.  While Rodriguez, Sr. prided himself on his “strict-but-fair” demeanor and treating his business associates like family – a practice that started with the top-level executives and extended down to the ushers and peanut vendors – Christopher earned a reputation for haughtiness, bombast and self-promotion.

His top “competitor” for the job, brother John, Jr., brought excellent leadership and managerial credentials to the table.  He also enjoyed the advantage of sharing a closer relationship with his father than Christopher, a fact that has not endeared Christopher to his sibling.  After Rodriguez’s first stroke, while Christopher tended to the team, it was John, Jr. who sold his North Carolina home and moved to Colorado to take care of his father.  But while some theorized that family ties could determine which son took control of the Borealis, the fact remained that John, Jr. had little hands-on baseball experience.  Rodriguez, Sr. was known to be fiercely competitive and loved his team dearly.  The expectation was that he would place it in the hands of the son best equipped to continue the club’s amazing string of success.

Our source tells us that Christopher, last to arrive at the meeting, entered the room “with aplomb”, greeting brother John, Jr. coolly before taking his seat.  The reading of the will began with greetings and bestowals from Rodriguez, Sr. to various friends and members of the immediate and extended family.  While those in attendance reacted positively to the warm sentiments and conversed and congratulated one another over their awards, Christopher was described as “seeming distracted and impatient, often sighing loudly and theatrically”.

Finally the time came to address the ownership of the Borealis, and at this point Christopher is said to have perked up and focused in the first time in the evening’s events.  Our source was able to provide us with this quote from the reading:

“To my youngest son Christopher: You have always been a good boy, a hard worker.  My lads [referring to the Borealis] are the best team in the world, and you’ve played a role in that.  I still owe you for convincing me to make that trade… who would have guessed a Jap could hit big leaguers like that? [Ed. Note: This is a reference to Aurora’s Kuemon Kiyomizu.  Rodriguez, Sr. led soldiers during World War II and, despite the PEBA’s investment in the League of the Rising Sun, that experience colored his perception of Japanese nationals for the remainder of his life.]

“You’re also too full of yourself.  I’ve tried to teach you that you earn respect by showing respect, and that it takes respect to be a leader.  And I don’t think you’ve learned to be a leader yet, son.

“Leading a baseball team is like leading a platoon.  Those men should be ready to go to battle with you.  They should have your back, knowing you have theirs.  If they’re snickering and sneering when you’re not looking – as I know they do to you in the team offices – then you’ve lost the war before you’ve taken the field.

“But I believe in you, son.  I know you’ve got the makings of a fine leader of men.  You just need a little more time to come into yourself.

“That’s why I’m authorizing the sale of the Borealis to my good buddy Hatt’s.son, Mikey [referring to the late Hamilton Topham and his son, Golden Entertainment CEO Michael Topham].  Ol’ “Mad Hatter” was one hell of an officer, and a fine gentleman to boot.  I remember you boys playing with Mikey at the old house… remember how you always made him cry by hiding his Giants cap, Chris?  I always whupped you good but, Lord forgive me, I was always laughing inside.  Mikey’s a good kid and he’s learned discipline and respect from Hatter.  Ticked though I am over not being around to lead the lads, I know I’m leaving them in good hands with that young man.

“The terms of the sale have been given to my attorney.  Mikey has already been notified and signed off on the deal.  The proceeds will be split up amongst the family.  Chris, since you spent the most time with the team, you’ll get the largest share [our source claims this amounts to 9% of the proceeds].  But my bigger gift to you is that I’ve spoken to Mikey and he’s agreed to keep you in the office working with the team.  You’ll get to watch and learn as he handling the troops, so that when your time comes you’re ready for the job.  We’ll make a leader out of you yet, son!”

Our source claims that Christopher’s face “went through about thirty shades of reddish-purple as it contorted with undisguised rage” during the reading.  Apparently sensing the pending outburst, and not wanting to be interrupted, the attorney quickly moved to the final portion of the will:

“To my eldest son John, Jr.: Boy-o, you know how proud I am of you.  Thirty-three years in the service, and a damn fine officer you made.  You’ve been a spitting image of the kind of man I worked to turn you boys into.  I just wish you would have joined us here in the Rockies instead of pursuing that flim-flam real estate thingie.  I could have taught you the business, and Chris would have benefited from your example [our source claims Christopher shot John, Jr. a look at this point that would have frozen the blood of a polar bear].  Investments are fine for parking your money, but it’s no way to earn a living, son.  I’ve told you over and over: It’s a waste of your talents!

“Now I’m not accepting, ‘Aw, c’mon dad,’ for an answer anymore, John.  You’re mostly grown up now [Ed. Note: John, Jr. is sixty-seven years old].  It’s high time you drop this silliness and focus in on a career with a future.  You showed what a hard worker you are in the army; I’m not about to let you go soft as a civvie.

“It just so happens I’ve got the perfect job in mind for you.  Son, I want you to take my place as Commissioner of the PEBA.  Don’t worry; you’ll catch on in no time.  There’s nothing to it, really.  It’s just like leading military troops, except the men you’ll be responsible for here smell better, dress worse and have longer hair.  But the principle remains the same: Treat them with respect, show them you’re in charge, let them know you’ll go to bat for them, and they’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth.  I know you’ve got it in you, son.  Now go out there and make me proud!”

At this point, Christopher is said to have exploded.  Not everything shouted was articulated clearly enough to understand – and a fair percentage of what was is unprintable – but amongst the things spoken that our source could make out were statements including, “He’s never let me live it down that I wasn’t an obedient soldier!” and, “I’m sixty-five, for [expletive] sake.  ‘My time’ is right [expletive] now!” and, “Work for that brat Mikey?  I’ll eat that damn Giants cap of his before that happens!”  Attempts by John, Jr. to console his brother only served to fuel the inferno.  Ultimately, security had to be called in to forcibly escort Christopher from the premises.

Again, it’s important to remember that this is an unconfirmed source relaying this story.  NLN does not confirm or deny this account; we leave it to you, the reader, to come to your own conclusions.