A-Rod Gets Tips Refrosted In Autumn Hues For Playoffs

Saying it was the best way he could think of to get fired up for his team's playoff run, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez visited his beautician at Salon de Man in Manhattan and had the tips of his hair refrosted Wednesday. However, as an extra motivational tool, Rodriguez decided to forgo his usual exclusively blond frosting and mix in some shades of orange and light brown to reflect the seasons changing.

"To be specific, the shades are goldenrod, pumpkin and auburn," Rodriguez said. "Personally, I think it looks great and I have at least eight different suit and necktie combos I can match up with these highlights. I'm going to wear this one after game one, and this one after game two, and...oh, look at me going on and on. I'm just super excited to dress up, you know? And not only is this a reminder that nature's seasons are changing, but so too is our baseball season. It's a neat little metaphor in my hair."

Rodriguez, the subject of many New York fans' hostility during the '06 playoffs, is sure the cold reception was due to his shabby appearance, a mistake he has vowed not to repeat. He said dying his hair is a way of making amends for his past perceived playoff failures in a Yankee uniform as well as making himself look "fierce" for '07.

"I'm going to come up big this year, just you watch," Rodriguez said. "I didn't go to the salon once all last October and it showed. People were not happy with my appearance, and rightfully so. The more I look back on it the more embarrassed I am. I mean, hello, look at those eyebrows! Is it any wonder I couldn't hit a ball out of the infield? It looks like I've got two fuzzy caterpillars crawling on my forehead. Well, this year's going to be different. I'm making sure Dane Cook is not the only effeminate male that nobody likes fans will see while watching the 2007 playoffs."