We have not heard a whole lot from the ongoing legal proceedings involving New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his 211-game suspension, but that does not mean the arbitration process has lacked fireworks. According to the NY Daily News, Alex Rodriguez’s defense attorney Joe Tacopina nearly got into a brawl with one of Anthony Bosch’s lawyers, Julio Ayala, two weeks ago.
The Daily News cited “several sources with knowledge of the altercation” who claim Tacopina was the instigator. The sources claim Tacopina had been aggressively attacking Bosch’s character during the first week of the arbitration process after the Biogenesis founder verified the authenticity of several documents and conversations that allegedly prove Rodriguez acquired banned substances. During a break from one of the sessions where Tacopina was calling Bosch’s character into question, he and Ayala reportedly had to be physically separated.
Tacopina was said to be frustrated that Bosch’s testimony had dragged out throughout the first three days of the hearing. When Tacopina asked another attorney how long Bosch’s testimony was going to take, he was told it could spill over into the next day.
“Well, I guess we have all of October, and by then Mr. Bosch will be in jail,” Tacopina reportedly quipped.
Tacopina, one of New York’s top criminal defense attorneys, was referencing the ongoing investigation by Florida authorities who are looking into Bosch’s clinic. In response, Ayala reportedly said that Bosch is “not going alone” if he does go to prison, implying that A-Rod would be going with him. Tacopina then allegedly said something about Ayala’s “lying wife,” who is also part of Bosch’s legal team. Oh no he didn’t.
According to the Daily News’ sources, Tacopina then “bull-rushed” Ayala and the two stood toe-to-toe. Attorneys supposedly had to restrain Tacopina before both men calmed down. Tacopina reportedly apologized to Ayala the next day and both agreed to move forward.
Conveniently enough, the court reporter was taking a break at the time of the action so it is not going to be part of the record. Rodriguez and Bosch also reportedly missed the confrontation, as they were taking a bathroom break. As we have already learned from some of his public statements since A-Rod hired him, that Tacopina is quite the bulldog. Thank goodness no one had their teeth punched out.
