The Redemption of ARod

Finally the Yankee season is over. I say "finally" because now life can return to normal for Yankee fans. Thankfully it ended the way that all fans wish their favorite team's season would end. And what a fun season it had been!

There have been many great stories this season revolving around this Yankee team: the change in the clubhouse attitude, going from a stressed group of players who were anxious about losing to a loose, relaxed group that finally had some fun and personality. There were all the new players signed through free agency that were the missing pieces of the proverbial puzzle. There were the phenomenal individual seasons and highlights put together by Derek Jeter and Mark Teixiera.

One story that received much attention, but I believe was never really fully developed was the "conversion and redemption" of Alex Rodriguez.

Firstly, this is not an attempt to canonize ARod. We are all far too familiar with his private life and many of the issues that became public. May God bless him. At the same time, I believe there has been a remarkable change in the man. He went from a player who seemingly needed to be the lead story, the highest paid, the center attraction, the one who enjoyed the controversy, to the humble player who recognized that the team and the game are bigger than himself. Finally, it seemed that Alex simply enjoyed being part of the team and did not need to be the team. It was OK if others played better of got the big hit or had the attention, as long as the team was successful. What a wonderfully Christian attitude! And what a wonderful change (or one might say, "conversion").

I am not certain of ARod's religious affiliation, although I suspect he is Christian and probably a Catholic-Christian at that. His selfless, team-first mentality is certainly a refreshing change for him, but nice to see in the world of professional sports. While perhaps that change in the star player occurred because of maturity, it way have happened as he realized that we can achieve greatness by being sacrificial. This is a more Christian mentality: working as a team, filling in for what is lacking in the team, not being afraid to suffer for the good of others, recognizing that defeat is sometimes part of life and that when we grow from it, we become even more successful. It was great to see him taking delight in the success of others. These are the lessons that Jesus taught to the disciples and were followed by the early Church especially.

I am not quite willing to use Alex Rodriguez as an example of a Christ-figure playing for the Yankees. I am, however, glad to see how his humility and change in attitude and simplicity were wonderful lessons for those who watched the Yankees this year. At the very least, it was a refreshing change to see a selfless attitude in a major sports figure. And that change brought about great success. I hope that he continues to display these virtues as both a Yankee and, more importantly, as a Christian man.


--Fr. Marc A. Vicari