Not even Chad Kreuter can hide from TMZ

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chan Ho Park reacts after walking Houston Astros’ Michael Bourn with the bases loaded during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 in Houston. The Astros’ Hunter Pence advanced from third to score the go-ahead run. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

AP

Athletes have already received advance notice that TMZ plans to start a site devoted solely to sports.

If today’s story is any indication, the new site will neither step lightly nor stick to chasing only names in Tiger Woods’ area code. Case in point: Chan Ho Park is suing Chad Kreuter, claiming his former Dodgers battery mate still owes him $226,358.76 (including interest) of a $460,000 loan he floated him back in 2005.

In the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Park says he made the loan because Kreuter “had been a highly compensated Major League Baseball player” and he assured Park that he “would have no difficulty paying [Park] back.”

This is interesting, because according to baseball-reference.com, the “highly compensated” Kreuter made $750,000 in 2003, his final season in the majors, and just more than $8 million over the course of his 16-year career. Park, on the other hand,

made $15 million in 2005 alone.

But while Park may come across as a little naive and perhaps cheap, that doesn’t excuse the welching schemes of Kreuter. As Teddy KGB would say, “pay dat man hees money.”

Thankfully, TMZ is on the clock to keep an eye on such dirty dealings. From Tiger Woods to Chad Kreuter, you’re all on watch now.

Follow me on Twitter at @bharks.