Alex Rodriguez Opens Up on Derek Jeter Rivalry, Reveals Media Impact on Intense Feud

Alex Rodriguez is a legend in baseball history. Through his stellar play, the New York Yankees icon has left an unmistakable mark on the game. But his story comes with its fair share of issues and drama to match. One prominent aspect was his relationship and feud with Derek Jeter, which lasted for nearly 3 decades. 

A-Rod and Jeter started out as close friends. But Rodriguez created a rift with his controversial comments. Now, the legendary Yankees third baseman has spoken out about how the media portrayed that relationship with Jeter and his thoughts on it. 

Alex Rodriguez says the media amplified the Derek Jeter feud

Since retiring, Alex Rodriguez has been extremely candid about the controversial aspects of his career. This includes his  relationship with former teammate Derek Jeter. In a recent interview with Dan Le Batard on South Beach Sessions. He admitted that his rivalry and feud with Jeter was a “meaty” story and was splashed across the headlines due to its negative nature. Rodriguez also hinted that the media may have amplified the feud, making it seem bigger than it actually was. 

During the interview, Rodriguez said, “In that 30-plus-year history, we’ve had some ups and we’ve had some downs. The media was obsessed with our relationship in New York. It was a very meaty story, and negativity sells, and big names sell.” Furthermore, while mentioning New York, he seems to say that the feud would have been less covered if they played for another team and not the Yankees.

This is an interesting aspect of the rivalry that neither side has really spoken about, with more people picking sides instead. A-Rod considers the rivalry with Jeter one of his biggest regrets. But the two icons have seemingly renewed their friendship as well, even becoming somewhat closer while working together for FOX. 

A-Rod and Jeter have buried the hatchet 

In recent years, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have seemed to bury the hatchet in their rivalry. This was especially evident during the MLB season, when the two worked together on FOX Sports. They worked side by side as analysts during the All-Star Break, MLB’s London Games and the postseason as well. This was a massive move, ending a long-running feud. 

Read More: 2 Years Before Fox Sports Role Alongside Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez Ended Longstanding Feud With Iconic Message: “One of the Greatest…”

Both Yankees legends have matured over the years and moved past the hate that separated them. Do you think the media played a significant role in amplifying the Alex Rodriguez feud with Derek Jeter? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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