How Robert Kraft Helped A-Rod Through Suspension

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was one of the very few people who helped MLB Superstar Alex Rodriguez when he was going through problems.

Latest reports from The Athletic confirm that Kraft helped Rodriguez to go through his suspension in 2014. If you ask the former New York Yankee, he will say that Kraft changed his life with five simple words. “Build bridges. Don’t burn them. You’re a very special messenger, and people will pay attention to what you say,” the Patriots owner told Rodriguez.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was one of the very few people who helped MLB Superstar Alex Rodrigues when he was going through problems.

Latest reports from The Athletic confirm that Kraft helped Rodrigues to go through his suspension in 2014. If you ask the former New York Yankee, he will say that Kraft changed his life with five simple words. “Build bridges. Don’t burn them. You’re a very special messenger, and people will pay attention to what you say,” the Patriots owner told Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season when he was caught up in the middle of the Biogenesis scandal. The whole thing started in 2013, and several MLB stars were caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Banned, of course. The worst part comes when you realize that some of the players are actually baseball stars.

“The lesson was really that the messenger is often as powerful as the message. It wasn’t just that he told me to stop burning bridges; it was the fact that it was Robert Kraft, someone who I knew would never sugarcoat the honest truth. I knew it came from a place of truly wanting to help me. That was absolutely one of the most important moments of my path back, and really, my entire life,” Rodriguez said.

“During my darkest days, he pulled me aside and gave me the tough love I needed to take responsibility for my suspension, my choices and my life going forward. He is someone I look to for advice across the board, and for daily inspiration.”

Rodriguez keeps those words written on a napkin, and carries it with him.

“I try to build bridges in my life every day. I like to hang out with people I like. I’m very direct and honest with people, for good and bad, and we try to be diplomatic. He is someone who was adored and then went into a little bit of a rough period, and I think he’s shown the mental toughness. I’m just proud of him,” Kraft said.

, and people will pay attention to what you say,” the Patriots owner told Rodriguez.

Rodriguez was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season when he was caught up in the middle of the Biogenesis scandal. The whole thing started in 2013, and several MLB stars were caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Banned, of course. The worst part comes when you realize that some of the players are actually baseball stars.

“The lesson was really that the messenger is often as powerful as the message. It wasn’t just that he told me to stop burning bridges; it was the fact that it was Robert Kraft, someone who I knew would never sugarcoat the honest truth. I knew it came from a place of truly wanting to help me. That was absolutely one of the most important moments of my path back, and really, my entire life,” Rodriguez said.

“During my darkest days, he pulled me aside and gave me the tough love I needed to take responsibility for my suspension, my choices and my life going forward. He is someone I look to for advice across the board, and for daily inspiration.”

Rodriguez keeps those words written on a napkin, and carries it with him.

“I try to build bridges in my life every day. I like to hang out with people I like. I’m very direct and honest with people, for good and bad, and we try to be diplomatic. He is someone who was adored and then went into a little bit of a rough period, and I think he’s shown the mental toughness. I’m just proud of him,” Kraft said.