Sizemore's $2 million a surprise - Seattle Times June 7, 2000

Blaine Newnham - Times staff columnist

They sat around the kitchen table trying to come up with a number.

How much money would it take for their son to put a college education on hold, lose forever a chance to play football at Washington, and gamble on a career in professional baseball?

The number they came up with was $2 million.

"It wasn't a joke," said Joe Urbon, adviser/agent for Grady Sizemore.

Obviously, it wasn't, as the Montreal Expos agreed to pay that amount before they took Sizemore, an outfielder from Cascade High School in Everett, in the third round of Monday's major-league baseball draft.

It was speculated he would get $500,000 with Montreal, because no third-round draft choice had ever gotten close to $2 million. Ken Griffey Jr. signed as the No. 1 pick in 1987 for $170,000. Even this year, 74 selections ahead of Sizemore, the No. 1 pick, infielder Adrian Gonzalez, agreed to sign for "only" $3 million with the Florida Marlins.

Two million dollars. It was the amount the Sizemores believed would take care of their son for the rest of his life if he never made money in sports again.

"If a team could come up with that amount, not a penny more or less, he'd agree to sign," Urbon said yesterday. "If none did, then he was going to go to college and play football at Washington. There was to be no bargaining."

Grady Sizemore, a running back, defensive back, wonder-if-he-could-be-a-quarterback, thought he'd be playing for the Huskies in the fall. So did Urbon.

UW Coach Rick Neuheisel had touted Sizemore after signing him as a great, undiscovered athlete who just might have the same stuff that has made Marques Tuiasosopo so successful.

The Huskies signed no other quarterback.

The $2 million ploy worked for Sizemore because of his potential - he runs a 4.5-second 40, hit .475 and has power - and because he had the leverage of football. He meant what he said about going to college, and the baseball teams knew it.

Montreal called back. The Expos would pay him a $2 million signing bonus plus the tuition to complete his schooling at Washington, but he wouldn't be allowed to play football.

For $2 million, there would be no late-night call that he was homesick and really, down deep, wanted to play football instead of baseball. No, this was big business.

"Grady's first love is baseball," said his mother, Donna. "He's always dreamed of playing baseball. We just thought it would be later. We thought the only decision he'd have to make this year was where he wanted to go to college."

Sizemore graduates early next week. Later that same week, he will go to Jupiter, Fla., where the Expos train. He is 17 years old.

"I'm still trying to get over the fact he's graduating from high school," his mother said.

The Expos took Sizemore because they knew they could sign him. A deal had already been agreed upon.

Waiting for a chance to draft him were the Mariners, who in the fourth round took another so-called "tough sign," pitcher John Hays from Waco, Texas, who had pledged to play college baseball at Baylor.

The Sizemores were looking forward to tailgating at Husky Stadium and watching their son play.

"Now we're excited about watching him play major-league baseball," Donna said. "Grady promised me he would get that education, and I believe him."

The frenzy in major-league baseball to find talent, and the lack of salary restrictions made the contract huge and the decision easy. This wasn't a $10,000 signing bonus and a future of bus rides across the minors.

The Expos, with new ownership that could well end up having a new home, want Sizemore to make it to the majors. They'll give him every chance.

Urbon, the agent, works for Octagon Athlete Representation in McLean, Va. He has former UW shortstop Kevin Stocker as a client, as well as Orel Hershiser. Octagon also represents Davis Love III, Sergei Fedorov, Anna Kournikova, David Robinson and Sheryl Swoopes.

Urbon, who went to high school at Kentridge and played baseball at WSU, explained that Sizemore will receive the $2 million this calendar year.

After taxes, Urbon speculated, it will be about $1.3 million. The intent is for Sizemore to invest $1 million.

The money seems ridiculous for a 17-year-old who has proved nothing except that he has talent and options, which, in the end, was all he needed.

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