Meeting A-Rod

This isn't the first time I've thought about meeting New York Yankees Infielder, Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod). In fact, I even wrote him into my first novel. It's easy to see that he's the athlete I'd most like to meet.

I like to think I wouldn't get starstruck, but if I see anyone even remotely famous, I get chills. Although now I see them as regular Joes, Mel White and Kevin Roose did this to me at first. But A-Rod? I would probably have to resist the urge to jump up and down and scream like a fan girl on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Those of you who are Beatles fans or know your history, know what I mean.

As for why I'd like to meet A-Rod... It's not simply because he's just another celebrity to mark on my list of celebrities I've met. To me, he's one of the symbols of my favorite baseball team. No matter how much he's picked on about his past steroid abuse, how he supposedly treats women, or how much he's paid to be that symbol for the Yankees, I still love him. In my opinion, he's not just paid to be there. He's genuinely good. If he weren't (along with all the other hard-working Yankees), then why do the Yankees have twenty-seven championships under their belt?

Why not Jeter or someone else who once made the Yankees great? I can't really explain why not Jeter. While I'd love to meet him, I just feel like meeting A-Rod would have more "oomph." Plus, I think like A-Rod looks like a guy who could have some fun and with whom I could joke around. I'd even like to play a fun party game with him, like Loaded Questions. I'd also, of course, have to do an interview with him. While he's been immortalized in numerous books, I'd like to think up some deeper, more meaningful questions that no one has yet asked.

I would love to meet him and genuinely thank him for being one of the many reasons why I love baseball. Now, if he ever pulled any drama like, say, Michael Vick did, I would have to part ways with my love for him--with substantial evidence, of course. And honestly? If he ever did anything that earned the nickname "A-Roid" back, I think I'd still have to love him. There are worse things in the world going on, and unfortunately, I don't think steroids help your hand-eye coordination.

For now, though, he's definitely the athlete I'd most like to meet. And if I happened to meet a couple more Yankees while I'm at it (perhaps Teixeira), then that's okay, too!