So maybe it’s Alex Rodriguez’s fault that Alabama lost to Auburn.
Turns out Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron had a phone conversation with the controversial New York Yankee prior to the Iron Bowl, the ‘Bama quarterback told media on Tuesday.
The two talked for 10-15 minutes about what it takes to be a successful athlete and Rodriguez revealed that Yankees manager Joe Girardi showed his team video of former Tide center Barrett Jones shoving McCarron in the BCS National Championship win over Notre Dame.
"(He told them) that’s the passion they need within their club again and stuff like that,” McCarron said. “It’s just pretty crazy that they’ve watched me before and are fans of me.”
McCarron, a lifelong Yankees fan, was clearly elated about the call. He later told the media he was grateful for the position he’s in as the Alabama quarterback.
“It’s almost like living in a dream in a way because I’ve met guys that I’ve watched and watched coach for so many years,” he said. “Now I’m talking to them on the phone and meeting them in person. It’s just pretty surreal.”
Rodriguez isn’t the first Yankee to kibbutz with the Alabama program. Girardi has done some hanging around and Derek Jeter attended the Tide’s game with LSU in November.
But maybe some of that patented Rodriguez reverse-magic rubbed off on McCarron a little too much. I bet the Tide could’ve used a bit more Jeter and a lot less A-Rod before the biggest game of the season.
Just sayin’.