Hi All,

Here's another news article about our boy. As I've said before, I
don't like all the rumors that go around but I'll post still post them.

Bye,

Lynne

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Manny Ramirez, who received permission from
the Red Sox to report late to spring training for family reasons, was
scheduled to attend a car auction in New Jersey on Saturday, according
to the promoter of the auction.

It wasn't immediately clear if the team was aware of Ramirez's
scheduled appearance at the Atlantic City Classic Cars Auction.
Boston's first full-squad workout is Thursday. Under the collective
bargaining agreement, the deadline for players to report to camp is
next Tuesday.

Earlier Wednesday, Boston general manager Theo Epstein said Ramirez
has an excused absence and will report on March 1 for the second
straight year. On Monday, pitcher Julian Tavarez, Ramirez's close
friend, said the slugger's mother recently had surgery and Ramirez was
with her in Florida.

But later Wednesday, Ramirez's plans to appear at the car show
surfaced in a report posted on The Boston Globe's Web site. It said
Ramirez's mother's condition might prevent him from attending -- and
it wasn't known when the appearance was initially scheduled.

But Louise Cunningham, who works for G. Potter King, the Berlin, N.J.,
car dealer promoting the auction, told The Associated Press that
Ramirez was still expected at the event.

"All we know, he's coming at noon on Saturday, nothing else," she said.

Ramirez is a collector of classic cars. His 1967 four-door Lincoln
Continental Sedan convertible is listed in Saturday's auction as
number 1747A. In parentheses on the auction list is a note: Owned by
Manny Ramirez.

Earlier Wednesday, after Boston's other position players underwent
physicals and did conditioning runs, Epstein said he had spoken
Tuesday with Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske. Epstein also said manager
Terry Francona had talked with Genske and Ramirez.

"The communication was actually pretty good," Epstein said. "I think
the most important thing is just accountability starting March 1 from
then on out."

Epstein made no mention of the car show. Neither Epstein nor Genske
returned e-mails seeking comment.

"He's got a family situation," Epstein said. "I think the important
thing from our perspective at this point is when he does show up on
March 1 that he's ready to go, accountable to his teammates,
accountable to the organization."

Francona said Wednesday, "it's a family issue."

Ramirez asked to be traded after the last two seasons and was the
subject of trade talks at the July 31 deadline in 2005. He also missed
most of the final six weeks last season with what the team called
right knee tendinitis. There was speculation he was physically able to
play.

The car auction is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at the
Atlantic City Convention Center. It includes a 1,200-car auction, a
swap meet, a "muscle car" showcase and an antique sale with cars
starting at $50,000 minimum bid.

Ramirez is scheduled to make $18 million this season, the seventh of
his eight-year, $160 million contract.

"It's a two-way street," Epstein said. "There's a certain amount of
accountability that's expected. That's the way it's going to be going
forward."

Ramirez has performed well on the field in his six seasons with the
Red Sox, with at least 33 homers and 102 RBIs each year.

"Manny's still crazy," teammate David Ortiz said Wednesday with a big
smile. "I'm still baby-sitting him.

"Things happen, man. It's not something that you can really control.
His mom had surgery a while back. I'd be doing the same thing if I
still had my mom alive and she got sick. I'd be trying to be with her."

Source: HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer. Associated Press Writer Jesse
Harlan Alderman in Boston contributed to this report.