While LeBron James is the most famous basketball player in the world and currently on the big screen alongside every Warner Brothers film and TV character ever created in Space Jam: A New Legacy, it’s increasingly hard to remember his humble beginnings as just “a kid from Akron.” Before becoming arguably the most famous actor of our generation, Leonardo DiCaprio grew up poor on drug-infested streets in Hollywood.
He may now be part of the Minnesota Timberwolves ownership group and dated Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, but he wasn’t always bathed in luxury.
1 pick in 1993, made his first All-Star team at the age of 20, signed a record 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2001, signed another 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees in 2007, won three MVPs and a World Series title, kissed himself in a mirror, and was suspended for all of 2014 for taking PEDs.
Since he retired from baseball in 2016, A-Rod has successfully transitioned into business, but the most important asset he brings to the table is his experience as a superstar.
He grew up in Georgia, tragically losing his mother and grandmother to cancer eight months apart when he was in middle school.
The boss can take his 25-plus years of self-marketing and immediately apply it to Edwards, who is already one of the most likable players in the league.
Kevin Love didn’t get his due until he teamed up with LeBron in Cleveland, Andrew Wiggins was too reticent to be a star, and Towns has yet to make a huge impact on the culture even though he’s dating one of the world’s most famous influencers, Jordyn Woods.
He knows how to leverage his talents and star power on the field to transcend his small-market beginnings on his way to becoming one of the icons of his sport.
The best way for A-Rod to mentor Ant is to adopt a “do as I say, not as I do” relationship.
When he was finally outed as a cheater and suspended for a year, A-Rod did the unthinkable and shut the hell up to reflect on how he got there, eventually becoming a somewhat redeemed media personality after his playing days were over.
As much as we all love Ant now, he will have his ups and downs in the league, whether it be failing to win, turning on his fans with burner Twitter accounts, or taking his talents to another team.
A-Rod may not know what he’s getting into by becoming an owner of one of the sorriest and most mismanaged franchises in all of sports, but he knows he’s getting a potential superstar pupil in Edwards.