There is virtually no opinion about Alex Rodriguez that’s wrong. Or unfair. Even all those tough talkers who hide behind anonymity, who have polluted otherwise good-natured sports banter. Even their musings are mostly in bounds. And that’s because Rodriguez parlays the unfortunate trifecta of good-looking, rich and fraudulent.

A-Rod, rarely out of the news, has been front and center lately, for two reasons: 1) his surprising production at the beginning of the season, despite missing more than a year on suspension; and 2) he sits one home run behind Willie Mays, a fact the Yankees have decided to ignore.

The two-minute drill version: The Yankees and Rodriguez agreed to a 10-year, $275 million contract in 2007, including a separate $30 million marketing clause that would give A-Rod $6 million each time he tied one of the top-four career home-run hitters and another $6 million when he breaks the record.

The Yankees sure look as though they’ll refuse to pay, given Rodriguez’s sordid past with performance enhancing drugs. There’s another layer, however: The New York Times reported recently that because the Yankees are over the luxury tax threshold, every time the Yanks give Rodriguez $6 million, $6 million more go to baseball’s competitive balance tax. Essentially, it adds to the payroll.

Note to the Yankees: too bad.

You decided to extend his contract in 2007.

Now you live with the consequences.

Note to A-Rod: If you have even a snippet of decency, you’ll give the money to charity. Hard to concoct a rational argument that you’ve earned any of it.

Wouldn’t that be fair to all parties?

The Times reported that contract says the Yankees "have the right but not the obligation" to market the home runs.

I believe they owe him. Here’s why:

If an organization fails to do its homework – or ignores what it finds – it shouldn’t get to hide behind semantics to avoid the consequences. Given what we’ve all learned about Rodriguez’s past, I can’t believe the Yankees didn’t know about A-Rod’s potential dalliance(s) with performance enhancing drugs. And they surely had to suspect by 2007.

They gambled.

They lost.

Now they do what gamblers do when they lose: They pay.

The same concept applies to the Patriots. Many teams passed on Aaron Hernandez. They didn’t. Now Hernandez is a stain on the organization that never goes away, much like Hester Prynne’s “A.” (Aaron also begins with “A,” by the way).

The Patriots signed Hernandez for the same reason the Yankees signed Rodriguez. They were/are marvelous talents. Talent wins games, which is only the entire point.

At least A-Rod is a free man and still hitting home runs. That’s also relevant to the current story. The Yankees need him. This has been a very good April for him and the team. Alienating one of your most productive players – even if he is a creep – is counterproductive, no?

I get that the Yankees perceive themselves as a buttoned up organization. They point to the quiet elegance of Jeter, Rivera, Bernie and Joe D. All true. But they’ve also dabbled with A-Rod, Jason Giambi and Roger Clemens. I can’t say I was against those signings. So now that the Yankees get criticized for them, know what I can say about it? Nothing.

Besides, blind spots are all the rage in baseball. San Francisco still loves Barry Bonds. St. Louis still loves Mark McGwire. Boston still loves David Ortiz. And Manny Ramirez. It’s normal. It’s called rooting for your team. Or in this case, laundry.

Wouldn’t it be a hoot, though, if A-Rod really did give the money to charity? It might rescue at least a part of his image. He also might get the last laugh on his employer, which is threatening not to pay a dime of what they owe.

It’s very likely much of the sports-watching community has concluded the Yankees and A-Rod deserve each other. That’s because they do. The Yankees took a shot in 2004 by signing a player they thought would produce home runs, records and championships. The Yanks have been right many times. That’s how you win 40 pennants and 27 titles. But they’re wrong here. So hold your nose and sign the check. You owe him.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius