Rodriguez Reflects on His Career Decisions
Alex Rodriguez shared his thoughts on what he might have done differently in his career, admitting that he would likely “just retire” following the Yankees’ triumph in the 2009 World Series. “Many nightmares could have been avoided,” he mentioned in the new HBO documentary titled “Alex vs. ARod,” which kicks off its first episode this Thursday night.
He seems to wonder—was it his own actions that kept him from doing so?
Rodriguez’s journey took a turn when he became entangled in the Biogenesis controversy, involving allegations of using performance-enhancing substances. Ultimately, he found himself in a legal battle against Major League Baseball over a hefty 162-game suspension for the entire 2014 season.
The essence of the documentary revolves around his complicated path and the therapeutic work he’s undergone to move forward. However, he’s aware that not everyone might acknowledge or accept the changes he claims to have made.
“I get that critics are out there saying, ‘Oh, come on, really?'” Rodriguez stated toward the end of the final episode. “For some viewers, what do they call it? Hatewatch? They’ll twist anything I say to justify their dislike for me. They’re probably going to find something in this documentary that confirms their negative views. They just don’t trust me or like me.”
“But that’s okay; I’m through with apologizing. It’s a new day, a fresh start. I feel good,” he continued. “I’m moving on and letting the haters do their thing. God bless them.”
The documentary features notable interviews with figures like Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., and Katie Couric, among others. There’s even a segment where the crew visits Rodriguez’s past treatment environment in Evergreen, Colorado. Here, he received help from the late Dr. David Schnarch, who Rodriguez credited with “saving my life.” Their collaboration began several years prior to his suspension.
“He was so straightforward, and I wasn’t used to that,” Rodriguez reflected. “He’d look me in the eye and say, ‘You sound insincere, because you are.’ Looking back, I can see how evasive I was; it’s humbling. I thought I could outsmart him, but he never let me off the hook.”
The series dives deep into Rodriguez’s early life, especially the struggles stemming from his father’s abandonment when he was just a child. Years later, thanks to his then-wife Cynthia, Rodriguez found a moment of closure during a game in Minnesota in 2000. While playing for the Mariners, he vividly recalls seeing his father in the dugout after having a strong performance.
“This is what you walked away with,” he thought at that moment. “Stop and take this in.”
He also recounted the initial doubts regarding Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch and performance-enhancing drugs. Initially, he passed on Bosch’s offer to use HGH but changed his mind weeks later due to a lingering back injury. Rodriguez grappled with the risks but ultimately weighed the potential benefits: “If it makes me feel better and doesn’t hurt, why not take the chance?”
Eric LeDrew, who co-produced the documentary with director Gotham Chopra, described Rodriguez as being an “open book” throughout the process.
In the end, Rodriguez expressed a certain peace regarding his career, emphasizing that while he has learned valuable lessons, he holds no regrets. “Considering my upbringing—my single mom on food stamps at age twelve—I think I’ve done pretty well for myself,” he noted at the premiere. “At 50, it’s easy to reflect, but looking back, I’d say therapy cost me potential Hall of Fame recognition, yet I found a beautiful life afterwards.”
