BOSTON -- Alex Rodriguez is receiving a quick -- though far from quiet -- farewell this week, while David Ortiz is being celebrated with a season-long goodbye tour. New York Yankees beat writer Andrew Marchand and Boston Red Sox beat writer Scott Lauber discuss why the ends of their respective careers are finishing so differently and whether thats fair.Marchand: Well, for A-Rod, it starts with the fact that he has not been a very good player this year. If he were hitting, he would not be going anywhere. He would have another year to repair his image and perhaps couldve been treated more like Ortiz if he had lasted with the Yankees until 2017.Lauber: OK, but Derek Jeter was honored wherever he went in 2014 despite playing at a sub-Jeterian level. And chances are Ortiz would receive the same treatment if he wasnt having the best season ever by a 40-year-old. To me, its about likability. Outside of New York (and even within the five boroughs), A-Rod is too polarizing for the farewell-tour treatment, even if he hadnt sprung this news on us Sunday and left little time for a proper goodbye. Can you imagine the reaction in Seattle, in Texas, certainly here in Boston, if A-Rod were showered with gifts all year long?Marchand: No doubt Ortiz is more popular and has an engaging personality. A-Rod has had issues throughout his career. He has not been great guy a lot of the time. But who was the greater player? A-Rod, by far. Ortiz did use performance-enhancing drugs, too, according to The New York Times. So while one has seemed more likable, they arent that different.Lauber: Its true that Ortiz wears the stain of PEDs. Everyones still waiting, by the way, for the explanation that he promised in 2009 at Yankee Stadium for what happened to trigger the positive survey test six years earlier. But A-Rod also tested positive after MLB instituted testing. Ortiz hasnt. And thats as big a distinction between them as anything else, including their personalities.Marchand: A fair point, for sure. Im not sure I would vote Ortiz for the Hall of Fame, but I definitely wouldnt put A-Rod in. He took a yearlong suspension when testing was in place. Before that, there is a slightly bigger gray area in terms of how to judge PED users. Still, Im not saying A-Rod deserves a big farewell. I think the whole practice is a bit overblown. But I do think the Red Sox should have some fun with A-Rod on Thursday. You agree?Lauber: Oh, absolutely. Look, the Sox tastelessly roasted Mariano Rivera in 2013 by replaying Dave Roberts famous ALCS stolen base, complete with commentary from Roberts. If there was ever a player worth roasting, isnt it A-Rod? They could dig up video of Jason Variteks mitt in his face -- maybe even in super slo-mo? And judging by his comments Tuesday about Sox fans having a great chance to give me one great loud boo, A-Rod might actually like it. At the very least, it would raise the stakes for a creative Yankee Stadium farewell to Ortiz next month. Speaking of which, any suggestions?Marchand: Hmm, I think the Yankees should maybe give Ortiz home plate at Yankee Stadium because he always owned it and they never knocked him off it. The Red Sox Mo tribute was poorly done. They could have said he is the greatest and then said, but we got you a few times. I think the Yankees should respectfully have some fun with their Ortiz tribute and tell Big Papi they wont miss him.Lauber: Id co-sign the home-plate tribute for Big Papi. Seems appropriate. Clever, too. One of the things that becomes evident when you watch these tributes to Ortiz is how genuinely popular he is with players across the league, whether its Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in Anaheim or Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez in Seattle or the outpouring of affection at the All-Star Game. There are still a lot of hard feelings for A-Rod among the rank and file. Its kind of fitting that he gave everyone five days notice before his career fades to black. Without a doubt, hes among the greatest baseball players of our generation, but hes also probably the most complex. A warm and fuzzy farewell tour next season wouldve seemed, well, forced, to say the least. Im sure few folks in MLBs offices were shedding any tears Sunday knowing that there will be no need to go through the charade of a long goodbye for A-Rod.Marchand: Well, that is the one amazing thing about A-Rods comeback from his suspension. He has been able to mend so many fences. Look at how Hal Steinbrenner is treating him. Not too shabby for a guy the manager and front office think is washed up. Even the commissioner is happy with A-Rod these days. They did a charity event earlier in the year. But, yeah, a farewell tour would be awkward.Lauber: Its terrific if A-Rod is able to retire having made peace with the Yankees and with MLB. He shouldnt be a baseball pariah. Hopefully hell be cheered in the Bronx on Friday night and whenever he returns for Old-Timers Day. But being celebrated across the majors just wouldnt have seemed right for someone who has sparked so many conflicting feelings over the years. Joe Namath Womens Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Cory Littleton Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/cory-littleton-jersey/ . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Orlando Pace Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Cooper Kupp Rams Jersey . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. TORONTO -- Team Europe started fast and strong against Canada, getting three shots on Carey Price and drawing a penalty in the first 21 seconds of Game 1 in the World Cup of Hockey finals.They skated right by us on the first shift, Canadian coach Mike Babcock said.The eight-nation team seemed to be the better squad on the ice for long stretches before losing to Canada 3-1 on Tuesday night.Instead of skating off discouraged, Europe appears to have boosted its confidence with the relatively competitive game.There was quite a bit of time during the game that we were dictating the pace and dictating the game, Slovenian forward Anze Kopitar said. It certainly showed that we can play with them.Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Thursday night.We have a feeling in there that this is far from over, said forward Fran Nielsen, who is from Denmark. We know we can go out there and take a game. Take the next one and make this a one-game series.To win, Europe will likely have to figure out how to score on the power play.Europe didnt take advantage of its power play early in Game 1 and failed to make the most its second and last power play in the second period.In five games, the Europeans are 0 for 15 with an extra skater.Definitely need to get our power play firing, coach Ralph Krueger said.Kruegers team will also have to find a way to slow down Sidney Crosbys line.No one has been able to do it yet in the best-on-best tournament.Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each scored on goals set up by Crosby in Game 1 and the trio has combined for 22 points in the World Cup. Crosby, Marchand and Bergeron rank among the top three scorers in the tournament.Those guys are very good finding the little area in the open sllot, Europe defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said.dddddddddddd Youve just got to try to keep them to the outside, try to stay inside of them and try your best.Europe, meanwhile, has been getting a scoring boost from Slovakias Tomas Tatar.The Detroit Red Wings forward scored Tuesday night and has a team-high three goals, one more than the injured Marian Gaborik and Leon Draisaitl. Tatar scored twice in the semifinals, including the winner in overtime against Sweden on Sunday.In addition to solving its problems on the power play and stopping Crosby and Co., Europe must cut down on mistakes in even-strength situations.Shortly after failing to score on a power play, the Europeans turned the puck over and Bergeron carried it up the middle of the ice. He faded to the right and passed across the crease to set up Marchands fourth goal of the tournament 2:33 into the game.Slovakias Zdeno Chara was careless with the puck later in the opening period and it was costly. Ryan Getzlaf snatched the puck from the 6-foot-9, 39-year-old defenseman near center ice along the boards and faked a shot at the top of the left circle, leading to a tap-in goal for Stamkos on the right side of the net.Its so tough playing against them because you just cant make any turnovers, Nielsen said. When you look at their team, its all All-Stars offensively. If they have one weakness on the forwards, except for Bergeron and (Jonathan) Toews maybe, its playing defense. Weve got to make them play defense.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '