Angels slugger Albert Pujols recently ensured he will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. There are now only four MLB players in history with more home runs than the Angels star, who recently recorded his 660th to tie with Willie Mays.
The Perfect Moment
Not only had Pujols recorded such an amazing home run record, but it was also the key moment in the Angels game against the Rockies. Pujols’ 660th home run came at a pivotal moment in the eighth inning, earning the Angels a two-run score to put them up by one. That swung the game in their favor after being spurred on by Pujols’ amazing achievement.
A Long Wait
The record-tying homer must have felt like a long time coming for the slugger. Pujols had been stuck on 659 home runs since May, with the Angels veteran going 22 games without one. The long-standing MLB veteran now has Alex Rodriguez’s home run record of 696 in his sights.
However, Pujols’ chances of reaching that milestone are hurt by the shortened season. The other players ahead of Pujols on the all-time homers list are Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762). He is contracted to play next year, though, so anything is possible if he finds his groove over the next 18 months.
Holding More Records
Tying Willie Mays for fifth on the all-time home run list isn’t the only achievement recently won by Pujols. The Angels slugger also enters the top five all-time for doubles with 669, surpassing Craig Baggio. His hitting record means Pujols is the only player to surpass 650 homers and 650 doubles.
Albert Pujols will go down as one of the greatest home run artists of all time. With some gas left in the tank, he might even break more records before the veteran calls time on a 19-year career.
Former NFL Star Clinton Portis Has Pleaded Guilty to Fraud Charges
Former Broncos and Washington Football Team running back Clinton Portis has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was a part of a nationwide scheme that involved over a dozen former NFL players.
Clinton Portis Has Admitted to Filing Unlawful Reimbursement Claims
According to Clinton Portis, he was filing unlawful reimbursement claims — taking advantage of the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. This particular program allows former players to get funds for out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance. It allows former football players, their spouses, and their dependents to collect funds for expenses up to a maximum of $350,000.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Clinton Portis was responsible for the filing of false claims on his behalf by other people during a two-month period. This way, he obtained $99,264 in benefits for medical equipment that was paid for with funds of the NFL’s plan.
Clinton Portis and Tamarick Vanover Never Purchased the Medical Equipment They Requested Funds For
Both Clinton Portis and Tamarick Vanover pleaded guilty just two days after their trial ended with a hung jury. The former NFL stars agreed to pay back all the funds they took from the league’s plan. Portis is now scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, and Vanover will get his sentence later on January 22. The penalty both of them are looking at can reach up to ten years in prison.
Robert McCune, another former NFL star, pleaded guilty to charges of wire and health care fraud earlier this year. He organized a nationwide scheme that resulted in almost $2.9 million in fraudulent and false claims, with the league’s plan paying $2.5 million of those claims from June 2017 to April 2018. Portis, Vanover, McCune, and seven other defendants were initially charged for their roles in the scheme back in December 2019, and that number has since gone up to twelve. All of them have since pleaded guilty to a conspiracy of health care fraud.