The New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez holds the distinction of being one of the most talented, yet most controversial players in baseball.  Rodriguez would boast epic regular season numbers, but be practically non-existent in the postseason.  He would yearn to be loved by the masses, yet garner disdain from fans because he tried way too hard to be revered. He wanted to be like teammate Derek Jeter, instead his narcissistic tendencies placed him more in the vein of Barry Bonds.    

Alex Rodriguez’s career, like this posting, was a walking contradiction. Amazingly, Rodriguez’s approach to the game appears to have changed for the better, after an event that would normally ruin a player’s career and reputation. 

Last spring training, the three-time MVP admitted that he once used performance enhancing drugs. Rodriguez’s mea culpa seemed to take the weight of the world off his shoulders.

Last season, Rodriguez played the game with a sense of relaxation, not seen throughout his entire career.  He was instrumental in the Yankees capturing of a 27^th world championship.  Rodriguez even ended his postseason futility by slugging huge hits throughout October.

The two pieces of video show the egotistic, aloof Rodriquez of 2006 and the relaxed Rodriguez of 2009.  The ’06 incident took place in Toronto and the ’09 situation occurred in Tampa, Florida during his early season rehabilitation from injury.   

Photograph Source: Buzznewsroom.com