Alex Rodriguez' Booming TV Career Due In Large Part To Rehabbed Image, Work Ethic

Despite once being a "scandal-plagued Yankees pariah," Alex Rodriguez is now consistently on ABC, CNBC and Fox Sports, "rebooting himself as more than a jock turned broadcaster," according to a cover story profile by Marisa Guthrie of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Rodriguez is aware of his "dramatic rehabilitation." He said, "It starts with being accountable. When people can see that you're genuine, that's when they pay attention. You have to own your shit." Guthrie writes in two years, Rodriguez has "managed to recast himself as a trusty TV presence and MLB ambassador." It is a "rebirth that few -- least of all Rodriguez, 42 -- would have thought possible." Now he is "not out of place in the congenial confines of daytime and late night" and will soon make his "debut as an ABC News contributor." He also will "display his CEO persona" as a guest on ABC's "Shark Tank" and recently filmed a pilot for CNBC called "Back in the Game," a concept that has Rodriguez "mentoring down-and-out former athletes."

ALL IS FORGIVEN? Rodriguez' analyst role on Fox Sports has "arguably done the most to repair his image." The Ringer's Bill Simmons said, "He goes on TV, and he's really good. ... You look at (Barry) Bonds, (Roger) Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire; these guys are synonymous with steroids. A-Rod is the only one who has come out of the abyss." Guthrie writes Rodriguez "brings the same relentless work ethic he exhibited during his career to his new job." His prep "includes dozens of phone calls." Fox Sports President of Production John Entz said, "One of the comments we heard most frequently, either from people who didn't like the Yankees or Alex, was along the lines of, 'Man, I turned on the show, I really didn't want to like Alex, but he was so good. I can't help but like him.'" Rodriguez admits Entz "took a lot of shit" when he initially hired him. Rodriguez: "The people who took a chance on me early on when everybody was running the other way, those are the people who I go to war for" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/31 issue).