Tony Bosch was in Las Vegas for a medical conference late in 2007 with his father, a licensed doctor, brushing up on the finer points of Botox injections. A ringing cellphone interrupted their lunch at RA Sushi, a restaurant and bar on the Strip near the Bellagio. On the other end, Bosch said, was Eugene Mato, a sports agent and friend from Miami. Bosch told him to call back at another time -- he had interrupted a meal with his parents and his girlfriend. Mato insisted they talk; he had a client who needed his help.
Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez got on the line, speaking Spanish.