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NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguezs tempestuous relationship with New York Yankees fans comes to an end Friday when he plays his last game in pinstripes and he is making his exit without much of the adulation lavished on some hometown stars.Despite 351 home runs for the Bombers, and just four short of 700 for a career, his big-money contracts and off-field antics made him a less-than-beloved character for some, even before his suspension for drug use.I cant say I feel bad for him, said John Wilmore of Huntington Station, New York. Hes made millions and millions of dollars, Hes going to be very rich for the rest of his life, but theres something compelling there. You know, why did you mess up so much? Why did you do the things you did? You probably didnt need to do it to be great.A 14-time All-Star, A-Rod trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) on the career home run list, and his tenure with the Yankees was as substantial and productive as some of the teams most beloved players. He led the team to a World Series championship. He batted in more runs as a Yankee than Jorge Posada, Paul ONeill, Tino Martinez or Roger Maris, all of whom have plaques in Yankee Stadiums Monument Park.But this superstar will equally be remembered by New Yorkers for his denials-admissions-denials and a season-long suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, as well as frequent appearances in the tabloids involving late-night poker games, his divorce, and reputed interludes with Madonna, movie stars and a stripper.He did this to himself, said New York City firefighter Jonathan Bush. 100 percent. He could have probably avoided this if he played the right way, or even semi-the right way; everybody knows athletes do certain things. It is what it is.Steve Rosenstock of Springfield, New Jersey, said Yankees fans always viewed A-Rod as the opposite of beloved shortstop Derek Jeter, who was treated to a season-long victory tour when he retired after the 2014 season.Most people see right through him. Hes fake, disingenuous, Rosenstock said. When A-Rods talking, you cant trust anything he says. Hes a `me guy, but he pretends to be otherwise.David Chauvin, vice president and partner in the Zimmerman/Edelson public relations agency in Great Neck, New York, said it appears Rodriguez made genuine attempts since he returned from his suspension last year to make amends with fans, but said he never completely connected with them.People as a whole want to forgive, theyre willing to forgive, but they have to have an appreciation theres true contrition, he said. I dont think people ultimately have gotten that from A-Rod.He said A-Rods highly publicized big money contracts never sat well with fans, even in an era where many stars sign multi-million-dollar deals.New Yorkers have always had a blue-collar sensibility about their stars, he said. Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, even back to Lou Gehrig, they all had an affinity from the working class, blue collar New Yorkers. A-Rod comes in and starts hanging around with Madonna. He was never able to make that connection.Rodriguez is still admired in Manhattans Washington Heights neighborhood, where he was born.The walls of the El Nuevo Carnidad Restaurant are decorated with photos of Rodriguez from the two times he visited to provide food for kids in the neighborhood.The restaurants manager, Johnny Crus, said Rodriguez should have been permitted to finish out the season, rather than being released by the Yankees this week.It was disrespectful, he said. The PEDs dont change his impact. He is a grand athlete independent of the mistakes he made. People expected more of him because of how much he got paid.Owner Miguel Montas said a player like Rodriguez comes around every 100 years.He is one of the best players and that creates controversy because he is so focused on the game that he falls short in the social relations. In the game of baseball he has never been a loser, he was always a winner.Wilson Tavaras of the Dominican Republic was wearing a No. 13 jersey while waiting in line at a Yankee Stadium concession stand Sunday after it was announced that Friday would be Rodriguezs last game.What can I say about him? he said. Hes done a lot for us. But its time for him to go.---Eltman reported from Garden City, New York. AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker contributed to this report.Follow Eltman on Twitter at (at)feltman41 Cheap Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . 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Cheap Mike Piazza Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. NEW YORK -- Kristaps Porzingis heard the roar of the fans and looked up at the scoreboard to see why they were cheering.The board showed that Porzingis had his first 30-point game in the NBA, and the New York Knicks think it could be the first of many.Hes figuring everything out, point guard Derrick Rose said. Like, hes going out here scoring 30 and he really dont know the NBA yet.Porzingis scored a career-high 35 points and the Knicks held on for a 105-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.The 7-foot-3 forward from Latvia hit three 3-pointers and converted a dazzling three-point play in the first half after dunking a lob pass on the fast break.You see the whole package tonight, coach Jeff Hornacek said. He was inside, he was outside. I thought he was great.Carmelo Anthony added 22 points to help the Knicks win their second straight. Joakim Noah bounced back nicely with seven points and 15 rebounds after he was benched in the second half of the Knicks victory over Dallas on Monday night while Porzingis moved to center in a smaller lineup.Porzingis played some more center Wednesday and everywhere else on the floor, drawing MVP! MVP! chants while also grabbing seven rebounds.It was just happening, and a lot of stuff that I worked on during the summer came out, he said.It almost wasnt enough, as Detroit pulled within two in the final minute and had a chance to tie but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed a 3-pointer on the last possession.He finished with 21 points and Tobias Harris added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who had won two straight.Porzingis was 4 for 5 for nine points in the first quarter, then had 16 more in the second quarter, highlighted by his slam that broke a 33-all tie. Kyle OQuinn had blocked a shot to trigger a fast break, with Porzingis running ahead to catch Brandon Jennings lob and slam it down while being fouled by Jon Leuer, landing awkwardly but getting up quickly as Knicks players from the nearby bench spilled onto the floor in celebration.Thhe guy had a great night and some of what he did is unstoppable, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said.dddddddddddd But when he outruns you down the floor for a dunk off a missed shot, not a turnover, thats inexcusable.TIP-INSPistons: Andre Drummond had 15 points and nine rebounds after missing a game with a sprained right ankle. ... Detroit is 5-0 at home but 1-6 on the road.Knicks: Jennings averaged 14.1 points and 6.6 assists in 144 games with Detroit from 2013-16. ... New York has won three straight and 12 of the last 14 meetings at Madison Square Garden.STAN SPEAKSA day after LeBron James criticized Knicks President Phil Jackson for using the word posse in an interview to describe James friends and business partners, Van Gundy was reflective Wednesday when thinking about his own words, calling on people to be aware of their language and attitudes.Im going to be perfectly honest here, Ive used that word before, OK, Van Gundy said , and when that all came out I had to ask myself, have I ever used that word before with a white player, and the answer is no. So, I think, look, you have to be aware of the language and you have to be aware a little bit of your own biases if youre going to overcome them and so I took that seriously.GOOD GUYHarris was honored with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for October for his leadership and dedication to mentoring at-risk youth throughout the community. Hell be presented with the award Saturday at home against Boston, and Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on his behalf to Feeding Children Everywhere.FOOTBALL FANSNFL stars Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants were at the game.UP NEXTPistons: Visit Cleveland on Friday. The Cavaliers swept the Pistons in the first round of last seasons playoffs.Knicks: Visit Washington on Thursday. The Wizards have won the last two meetings. ' ' '