Time takes care of putting everything in its place. It is that old sage that gives rise to reflection, self-criticism and forgiveness. Alex Rodriguez, the former MLB star and now co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA, looks back to confess that he wanted to throw in the towel out of shame at the best moment of his career.
Fame and success weigh heavily, just as they weighed heavily on him. His mind was on the verge of collapsing from the psychological and emotional battles he faced with himself over the circumstances and accusations against him as an active baseball player.While playing for the Yankees, he was widely criticized for being “greedy” due to his multi-million dollar contracts. He was also involved in two steroid-related scandals that cost him a 211-game suspension, even though he denied taking them. He was stigmatized and this caused him severe pressure that led him to consider early retirement.
In the HBO documentary series Alex vs A-Rod, which premiered on November 6, he shares his story in full. There he talks about the shadow of failure behind his successful image, the mistakes he made to learn from them and the importance of being resilient in times of crisis.
I thought it was important to tell my story. The good, the bad, the ugly, because nobody really knew me. I think the most shocking part is that I’ve fallen down in public. I hope it gives hope to others
He admits that his personal failings arose from an obsession with excellence, with being the best. He confused passion with his obsessive drive to compete. This caused him to lose touch with reality for a moment.
Signing a record $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers and being traded to the Yankees in 2004 in one of the biggest MLB deals led to a social outcry that identified him as “greedy.” There were fans who branded him a “mercenary.”
The narrative about me was so negative
This narrative included accusations of doping. Rodriguez claimed he was innocent and had not taken any banned substances. Either way, MLB assumed he was guilty and decided to punish him with a 211-game suspension. This is how the black legend grew around his figure, which remained for some years with a tarnished image of him.
No regrets
Today he works as a sports commentator for Fox Sports and is co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx teams. He claims to be at peace with himself. He has forgiven himself, forgiven others and does not regret anything from his past. He accepts that things were as they should be and that for some reason they were part of his path to be where he is today.
I’m one of the luckiest human beings in the world. If I can help others learn from my mistakes by admitting them, then it’s a job well done
Read the full article here
