It’s often forgotten that, had then-Rangers owner Tom Hicks not lost leave of his senses, Alex Rodriguez would’ve probably been a Brave.

JS was prepared to offer A-Fraud a contract in the neighborhood of 8 years and $160 million, and early indications were that the Mariners SS was itching to play for Atlanta, his favorite team growing up. In fact, A-Rod chose #3 in honor of his boyhood idol.

Murph should sue for defamation.

Rodriguez, who is seeking a long-term deal averaging $20-$25 million a year, said last week he won’t necessarily go to the highest bidder. The Braves are thought to be willing to offer him a deal averaging $20 million per season, $5 million more than Chipper Jones’ salary, but won’t go any higher.

“What I’m focusing on is a team with a good chance to win, the players, the city, things like that,” Rodriguez told ESPN’s Peter Gammons. “I’m not a selfish player. I want to be one player on a good team that has a chance to win a ring.

“When I sign, people will see that there are no big side deals, and they may find out that I took a little less to play for the team I want to play with.”

“Uh oh,” a baseball executive said to Gammons when informed of Rodriguez’s comment. “That sounds a lot like Atlanta.”

Nope, that sounds a lot like a huge phony.

Rodriguez officially reached rock bottom today, announcing, through his lawyer, his intention to have “no discipline,” not just a reduction in any suspension. And thus ends Ryan Braun’s tenure as baseball’s most loathsome superstar.

All I can say is thank God for Tom Hicks. The Braves have largely avoided players who embarrass the organization, save for one major exception.

Come to think of it, A-Rod and John Rocker would’ve probably gotten along famously had they been teammates — two unlikable cheaters who blame everyone but themselves for self-inflicted wounds.