Watchdog

A-Rod on his mother’s influence as a youngster:
My mother has been my number one mentor, my life. I mean, she has been a great example. She has given me the opportunity to chase my American Dream. And my mother, I can vividly recall her having two jobs and being a secretary in the morning, and then coming home rushing, putting on her waitress outfit and going to “Latin America” - it is a local restaurant here (in Miami) -- and being a waitress. And you know, a couple of nights a week I would go eat over there. And the other nights, I would be right down the street at the Boys and Girls Club, just kind of waiting my turn playing basketball, doing my homework, whatever, just making sure she picks me up.

On learning math while helping his mother count her waitress tips:
It was a big thrill for me. I always thought I was real good at mathematics, because I would always count her tip money. And I always remember, Monday through Wednesday, it was a little dry, it was a little short. And it would probably be 18 to 24 dollars (worth of tips). But then Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I can remember counting that money, and it would be, you know, 38, 39, 42 (dollars). If we ever got to 45 dollars, I knew it was one heck of a day.

A-Rod’s brother and sister Joe Dunand and Sussy Dunand-Silva talk about A-Rod as a youngster:

Joe: Well, I remember once he was born, it seemed that everything in our house turned plastic, because all he wanted to do was throw a baseball or swing a bat. So we couldn’t have any china.

Joe: We used to live in the Dominican Republic, and I used to have a basketball court directly in front of our front yard. And he would make me go out there before the guys would gather around to play basketball, and I used to have to pitch to him every day for a couple of hours, until I see the guys (Joe’s friends) gathering. And then, well, finally I realized, “You know what? I gotta go play.” But I couldn’t get rid of him. It was like, “Joe…” “Well, you know, Alex, what are we gonna do?” So I used to say, “Alex, it’s my turn to hit.” So I hit it as far as I can. And once he goes chase the ball, I used to run out of the front yard and go to a basketball court and… And I turn to see him screaming, “Joe, where you going?” (and then sister Suzy would take over)

Suzy: And I am like, “OK, for another two hours,” (will play baseball with him) in the middle of the sun.

Guillermo Socarras, dear childhood friend, on A-Rod’s work ethic as a youngster:
One thing he (A-Rod) always had, which was unbelievable, was a work ethic. Even as a kid, he was starving, he was hungry, he always talked about what that work was gonna pay off to do. We were about 10, 11 years old, we used to take the bus and meet at an intersection, we lived on different sides of the city (Miami). And then, I would show up there just, you know, in my basketball shorts and shoes and ready to go. He would show up with this huge bag that was twice the size of him, on his shoulder We get to the park and he would have a schedule, like laying down, he’d go, “This is how we’re gonna do this today. We’re gonna start off with football. I need to work on my arm, we’re gonna take 20 ‘post’ routes.” So I would be like, “All right,” and right when you start getting into the football, (we’d) go to the baseball glove. “I need you to catch for me.” I’d catch for him for a while. In this bag he had baseballs, gloves, basketballs, footballs, jump rope, hand muscle things, everything, all the old basketball calf shoes to get your calves going. Everything. This is at 11 years old. We get to the basketball court. There would be 15 kids there playing basketball kids like to play. “Hey, guys, you wanna play?” (they’d ask us) “Yeah, yeah—no, hold on, hold on, 15 minutes, we got 15-minute drills.” So we’d go to the other court, and all these kids are looking at us like, “Look at these nerds.” And we’re sitting there doing …you gotta make five lay-ups on your right side, you gotta make five lay-ups on your left side.

A-Rod’s wife Cynthia recalls how he met and wooed her:
We met in Miami, 1996. And I was on a treadmill in a gym. And he came up to me. He scouted out my plan in the gym. He said, “I know you are gonna go over there and stretch. Uh, do you mind if I wait for you over there?” So this kinda went on for a few days. And then eventually we ended up going to dinner. And really, we became good friends for a while. And then eventually started dating.

A-Rod: I scouted her out for a month, you know? And I wanted to see her routine. And I wanted to see what time she came in. See how consistent she was. And sure enough, she was like a machine. She would come in right after work, and get on the treadmill and do her abs. And finally, I build enough courage after about three-and-a-half weeks… And I said, “I know you are gonna go do some abs after. And do you mind if I join you?” And she was very short. And she may not have said “yes” or “no,” I don’t know what she said - but I waited for her anyways.

Cynthia: I know he played baseball, because everybody in the gym said, “Do you know who that is? And he plays baseball!” or whatever. I didn’t grow up - and maybe I was ignorant at the time - but I didn’t grow up in a sports-oriented family. So, I wasn’t aware that you could have an entire livelihood off of a sport. So when they would say, “Oh, he plays baseball,” I always think, “Oh, I wonder what else he does.” Like, “that’s a nice hobby…but what does he really do?”

Cynthia: And he would come up to me at very in�opportune times. I would be after work (or) I would have plans with girlfriends or whatever. And it was never a planned outing. It was, “Do you want to go grab a bite to eat?” And then one day, I am leaving the gym. And there he is in the parking lot. And he says, “Listen, you have got to help me. I have run out of gas.” And I am going, “Oh yeah, right. This guy ran out of gas.” And he is, “No really, I ran out of gas. Can you just take me around the corner to get some gas?” And so he gets in my car, we go to the gas station, we get a little tank of gas, we come back and we are about to leave. He says, “Wait, aren’t you worried? Aren’t you gonna wait and see if I am OK? If I can drive away?” And so, I am sitting there and I am waiting and everything. And this has been about a month now, of this back and forth kind of stuff in the gym. So he puts the gas in the car and he starts the engine. And he says, “Listen, you know, I have asked you out, I don’t know how many times.” I said, “Well, why don’t you take my number, and this way you can call me and it can be planned.” And he said, “I don’t want your number. I have already asked you out a dozen times, and you say no every time.” He said, “I am very busy. I am leaving for Japan soon. If you want to see me, here is my number.” And he handed me his number. And I ended up calling him.

Cynthia on A-Rod’s passing out during the birth of their first daughter:
As tough and big as he seems, he is real wimpy around doctors or any type of medical situation. I don’t know why I thought the birth of our child would be different. In the middle of the night, I realized that I needed to go to the hospital. I wake him up. The first thing that comes out of his mouth, “Can we call your mother?” And I started, “No. Let’s wait and make sure that I am in labor, and make sure that, you know, it’s the middle of the night.” And go to the hospital and everything. And finally, a few hours later, I said, “I think you can call my mom now.” Uh, and the color came back to his face when I told him he could call my mom. And then forget it. I was like not even having a baby; he was the one. The one nurse had a cold cloth on his head. The other nurse had the blood pressure on his arm. And my mother was like rubbing his back. And he is passed out on a couch. And I am there, in the middle of labor. And really, I am not being paid much attention to besides the doctor and a couple of nurses. And he is there moaning. In between pushing, I am going, “Honey, are you OK?” And are you breathing? Are you OK?”

A-Rod’s surprising pick for best pound-for-pound baseball player:
I have always said - obviously you have the Griffeys and the Edgar Martinezes and all the great players I have played with, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera; I think pound�for�pound the best baseball player I have ever played with is John Olerud. I just think he influences the game in so many different ways - defensively, offensively. First base, for some reason, is very underrated defensively. There is such great value that you bring to a game, to a winning team, when you are able to field a bunt, cut off and relays, turn the 3�6�1, 3�6�3 double play. And again, one of the greatest human beings you ever want to meet. If you want to talk about a role model, John Olerud is that person.

A-Rod on pleading with Brian Cashman to acquire Olerud in 2004:
I walked up to Brian Cashman sometime in June (2004). And here I am - I really don’t like ever doing this - but I said, “Brian, listen to me. If you get this guy, John Olerud, I guarantee you we’ll be world champs this year. I guarantee it. You know, you can take that to the grave with you.” And he goes, “John Olerud? He just got released! I mean, he can’t even play in Seattle!” I said, “Brian, trust me. Whatever you want me to do. Just give him a chance. Let him come to Triple A, you know?” And then he said, “We have, you know, two or three first basemen ahead of him.” And I said, “Trust me. And maybe talk to Torre, see what he thinks. Just get this guy up here and we will win.” Sure enough, he had an incredible season for us. (Then) he got hurt and the rest is history.