Editor’s Note: Watch “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” on CNN TV Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.New episodes with full interviews are available at HBO Max Every Friday.
CNN
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Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez opens up about mistakes in his personal and professional life and how they shaped his growing business empire.
In an interview with CNN and HBO Max’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” Rodriguez said the performance-enhancing drug scandal that damaged his legacy was “the most embarrassing moment of my career.” “.
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life was confront my daughters Natasha and Ella and tell them it was a dad’s mistake,” he told host Chris Wallace.
Rodriguez said his otherwise storied baseball career was stripped of a happy ending because of the strict culture of professional baseball.
“I understand my mistake and I have taken full responsibility for it,” he added.
The 14-time Major League Baseball All-Star said he’s “bullish” about the future of baseball, despite signs that spectators are less motivated to watch the game.
Rodriguez, who was passed by Albert Pujols on MLB’s home run list just last week, said if he were MLB’s commissioner, he would “open the floodgates” to allow Fans are more exposed to American pastimes.
“We have to be proactive, which means I’ll put cameras on men,” he told Wallace. “Players who drive to the park, I want to see them at home.”
Rodriguez wants to expand coverage so fans can gain insight into the clubhouse, batting cage and bullpen.
The World Series champion also advocated for Major League Baseball to raise the flag on Independence Day, as the NFL did on Thanksgiving.
“If you look at July 4th, it’s an open day. No football, no basketball, no football,” he said, noting that MLB should make July 4 “everything about baseball.” .
“Every game, we’d call these guys (turn on the mic), we’d do interviews, and everyone would be at home with their families watching baseball at the BBQ.”
Another change Rodriguez wants to make to baseball includes increasing financial literacy education for players — such as teaching them the importance of capital markets, investing and balancing a checkbook.
“I read an article where more than 50 percent of athletes go broke after a game,” Rodriguez said. “That was a tragedy.”
During his retirement, Rodriguez turned his focus to business. He told Wallace that his investment firm, A-Rod Corp, was a “mini Berkshire Hathaway” — a reference to the multinational conglomerate owned by billionaire Warren Buffett, whom Rodriguez sees as a “mini Berkshire Hathaway”. his mentor.
A-Rod Corp is an investment firm that owns his real estate holdings as well as private equity and venture capital investments.
“If you’re going to value our business, it’s probably somewhere between $1 billion and $2 billion,” Rodriguez told Chris Wallace.
The former shortstop also discussed his split from pop icon Jennifer Lopez. Lopez and Rodriguez married actor Ben Affleck in July 2022 after ending a multi-year relationship the previous year.
“Being with Jennifer, look, it’s been a great experience. I wish her and the kids — they’re smart, beautiful, wonderful — and I wish them all the best,” Rodriguez said.
He told CNN’s Chris Wallace that despite his multiple high-profile relationships, he now feels his previous relationships and the impact of his 2014 suspension from MLB make him “husband material” in the future.
Wallace asked A-Rod if he considered himself “good husband material.”see his reply
“I think I’ll be a great partner or husband and father after my suspension because I’ve learned from my biggest mistakes.”