Sign of the times; New player pacts prohibit many activities.(SPORTS)

Byline: Jon Fogg, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Hang gliding?

Nope.

Lawn darts?

No way.

A nice game of croquet?

Not a chance if you're a major league baseball player.

Clauses in the standard MLB guaranteed contract prohibit players from partaking in these activities and many others, ranging from bungee jumping to gardening.

Also off limits for most players is basketball, as the Aaron Boone saga has revealed. Boone, who entered the offseason as the New York Yankees' regular third baseman, was released by the team Thursday after suffering a possible season-ending ACL injury while playing in a pick-up game with friends Jan.16.

A clause in Boone's one-year, $5.75million contract listed playing basketball as a "prohibitive act," a label written into contracts to discourage players from participating in specified activities.

A common misconception regarding clauses is the use of the word "prohibited," said Adam Katz, Boone's agent. Athletes with such clauses are free to do what they wish, but they could be putting their livelihood at risk.

"It's a little bit misunderstood that they're …