Recently, facts came to light that Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder owed the IRS $400,000.  Wishing to set the record straight, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel baseball beat writer Tom Haudricourt tried to coax a comment out of Fielder.  Fielder declined comment, which under the circumstances, is understandable.

In an effort to leave no stone unturned, Haudricourt contacted Fielders' agent, the great and powerful Scott Boras.  Boras ripped Haudricourt a new one for even bothering him for an issue which he considered to be a personal matter.  Then, Boras threatened him.

According to Haudricourt: "he made it clear it could compromise my working relationship with Fielder if I pursued the matter."

So, basically, Boras just told a reporter that if he didn't drop the matter, he could forget about ever getting anything useful out of Prince Fielder again.  Huh?  Who the hell does this little weasel think he is? Tony Soprano?

Tom Haudricourt didn't start the snowball, a paper in Michigan did.  But, he has an obligation to his readers, now that the ship has left the dock, to report the story.  Being treated like a street punk by a mafia don isn't really necessary is it? 

I don't have a problem with Boras not commenting.  I don't have a problem with Boras saying that he doesn't discuss the private financial dealings of his clients.  I think that is the correct comment.  But to wash it down with an implied threat of non-access is ridiculous.  It's too bad that Boras and his ilk don't come under the control of Major League Baseball.  All Tom Haudricourt is trying to do is his job.  He should be able to do it.