A-Rod says existence of Minotaur paintings of himself is a myth

Alex Rodriguez has been showing off his growing collection of artwork in his $38 million mansion during Miami's Art Basel festival over the past week.

Guests invited to his Miami home got to see his selection of valuable classic and contemporary paintings before the international gathering of artists and dealers ended on Sunday.

But missing among the Warhols and Basquiats were the two mythical paintings of A-Rod as a "Minotaur" which were rumored to be hanging over his bed.

Rodriguez has been trying to put the longstanding story to rest, ever since a former girlfriend told US Weekly in 2009 that the egotistical A-Rod had a pair of the tacky paintings hanging in his love den.

"No, I do not have a painting of my upper body on a Minotaur," the millionaire third baseman told The New York Daily News.  "I don't know where they get that stuff."

A-Rod's current girlfriend, former-pro wrestler Torrie Wilson, claims she has never seen any such paintings of Rodriguez's body and face with a horse's butt anywhere in his home.  Well it is a pretty big house.

Any art enthusiasts hoping to view the fabled "centaur" works had to be disappointed but A-Rod sounded happy to share his impressive collection with the art world.

"I am fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with a lot of young artists and hang their work on my walls," he said.

As for the existence of the Minotaur works, only his decorator knows for sure.