While his on-field accolades speak for themselves, baseball icon Alex Rodriguez also takes pride in his behind-the-scenes efforts to shift attitudes about athletes’ mental health..
“Just like most humans out there, everyone has certain obstacles in their life, right?” Rodriguez, 50, exclusively told Us Weekly at the New York premiere of Alex vs ARod on Monday, November 3. “Some bigger than others, some more public than others, but I just encourage everyone out there that there’s a need for help. A lot of people can’t afford a therapist, but maybe there’s a good friend, maybe there’s a family member that you can unload on sometimes because you need a place to vent.”
During an appearance on the “Throwbacks” podcast with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara last month, Rodriguez confessed “therapy saved my life.”
Rodriguez’s candidness about going to therapy is a far cry from the buttoned-up baseball culture that the 14-time All–Star experienced when he made his 1994 Major League debut with the Seattle Mariners.
“When I first started my career, [therapy] was a big no no in the locker room,” he explained. “But I think today, what I’m so proud of is that it’s actually celebrated. I hope young kids, the next generation watching this documentary, can not only avoid some of the mistakes that I made, but if they need help that is celebrated. You should go get help.”
Alex vs Arod, which premieres Thursday, November 6, on HBO, details the complicated career of Rodriguez through two lenses: Alex Rodriguez, the man, and ARod, the legendary baseball talent who was suspended for 211 games in 2013 after he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.
“ARod is a persona and Alex is a human being,” director and executive producer Gotham Chopra told Us. “Especially now, as I’ve gotten to know him, Alex is a father, Alex is thoughtful. It’s because of ARod he became one of the greatest players of any generation. It’s also because of ARod that he sort of got into the trouble that he did. But I think Alex has a lot of perspective now. I think he got trapped by his fame.”
Chopra continued, “I mean, he talks about it openly and so I think Alex is somebody who’s grown up a lot and who’s also become really honest and accountable. Hopefully, that’s the part that people get to see through the film.”
Erik LeDrew, who directed and produced the docuseries alongside Chopra, said that he views Alex and ARod as “the same person.”
“It’s like a false distinction, right?” LeDrew argued. “We all wear masks with different people whether it’s in public or private, with family, friends. I think most of us don’t have to do it on the largest stage and so those differences become exaggerated under scrutiny and intense pressure. That’s kind of my perspective. He’s the same guy.”
However, LeDrew did note one distinction between the two personas.
“If you want the short answer, I think Alex is a great listener and ARod barks orders,” he said.
The first episode of Alex vs ARod premieres Thursday, November 6, on HBO and HBO Max, with episodes two and three premiering on November 13 and November 20, respectively.
Reporting by Fortune Benatar
