NLN EXCLUSIVE

Northern Lights News has received substantiated reports that Aurora Borealis owner John Rodriguez, Sr., was rushed to the University of Colorado Hospital this morning with an unknown ailment.

According to eyewitnesses, Rodriguez, Sr., 87, collapsed in the Borealis training facility at Northern Lights Park while working out with a few of the players.  He was quickly attended to by team trainers and then whisked away to UCH.  Both his sons – John, Jr. and Aurora Vice President of Operations Christopher Rodriguez – are believed to be with their father at the hospital.

The severity of his condition is not known at this time, and there has been no statement issued by the Borealis.  A report on KOA 850 AM quoted an unidentified hospital employee as saying that Rodriguez may have suffered a stroke, but Northern Lights News has not confirmed this information.  The team is set to play the Reno Tenpinners in their season finale at 2:05 PM this afternoon.

Rodriguez, Sr. was in the news earlier this week when it was announced that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform would not hear arguments relating to H.R. 845, dubbed the “National Pastime Protection Act of 2009” by the bill’s sponsor, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA).  H.R. 845 would have prohibited the Commissioner of baseball from owning a PEBA team.  The announcement was seen as vindication for Rodriguez, Sr., who holds a dual role as both owner of the Borealis and Commissioner of the PEBA.

In addition to his duties here in the states, Rodriguez, Sr. was set to preside over Japan’s League of the Rising Sun.  The PEBA recently purchased the LRS in an effort to extend their exposure into the Far East.  The winners of the bidding process for LRS teams were announced this past Sunday.

We will be following this story closely and will have more information for you as it becomes available.