Pretty Boy

     It's no secret athletes usually give each other lavish gifts with their big-time contracts.  Athletes have been known to give cars, expensive dinners, jewelry, and more as presents.  A highly noted event of this is when Brian McRae leased pitcher Frank Castillo a convertible Mercedes-Benz after he knocked one out of the park during batting practice at Wrigley Field.  However, this gift might be the first of it's kind.
    Jonathon Niese admitted upon arriving to spring training that he received a nose job over the offseason.  Wait... it gets even better.  The whole thing started off as a joke once former teammate Carlos Beltran said he would pay for Niese to get a new nose.  The original motivation was aesthetics, however, Niese got the best of this fun.  Beltran promised to pay for the surgery before he was traded last July to the San Francisco Giants.  According to Niese, Beltran has not covered the tab, but he doesn't care if he pays for it.  The new nose has made it easier for Niese to breathe during workouts, but he is not sure how it will effect him on the mound.
    Beltran signed a two year deal this offseason witht he St. Louis Cardinals and will be making approximately $13 million this year.  Niese is one year from arbitration and earned $452,000 last year.  It would look bad upon Beltran not to carry out his promise, but at least Niese will be a more handsome stud on the mound.  Maybe we'll see more fashion-esque fun in sport.  Any ideas about the Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall?

Jon Niese (AD/Adam Rubin)

Taylor "Frankenstein" Hall