Alex Rodriguez Covers "Men's Vogue", Refuses Some Questions

This is interesting. Just last week, socially unaware basketball gazilionaire LeBron James received jeers for his historic albeit ridiculous cover of Vogue. This week, the newish Men's Vogue debuts its newest issue, and, controversial baseball phenom Alex Rodriguez is (finally) getting some good press. Well, almost.

The $275 million dollar man is the face of the "Adrenaline Issue", devoted to men in sports, with the cover art also being lensed by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. The interview is a mixed bag. It seems that after the photo shoot in Miami, "Rodriguez decided he'd be more comfortable answering questions emailed to his new handler." Call it another example of his diva-like behavior, or, fear of being misquoted, but the Yankees third baseman reportedly "refused to respond to a handful of queries on subjects such as his reputation among his peers and well-documented insecurity."

Just as a point of reference, LeBron James was the first black man to cover Vogue in its 114-year history, but, at least 4 of the 12 covers of Men's Vogue—Denzel Washington, Barack Obama, Will Smith, Tiger Woods—have been black men.

Lightning Rod [Men's Vogue]

Comments

[Derrick from Philly]

I like him...a lot.

[Andy Niable]

Definitely an improvement over the LeBron cover...

[Seahawk]

"Can He Redeem Himself and the Game?"
An overpaid, spoiled, petulant diva who chokes in the clutch?
Well, at least he didn't pose like King Kong and embarrass himself.

[Blah]

Well I can't say that I would be all that willing to reveal my insecurities to the world in a national publication either. Come on people, it's Men's Vogue, not the DSM. I will say though, he is fine and has some thick thighs. As Rachael Ray would say, "Yum-O!"

[TheRevKev]

I continue to hear all of these complaints about the Primadonnaness of A-Rod. I remember reading lots of stuff even in Sports Illustrated and ESPN Mag (YES, I READ THEM BOTH...WHERE ELSE DO US LOVERS OF THICK ATHLETES GET OUR 'FIX!?'"). INTERESTING, BECAUSE EVEN IN INTERVIEWS WITH HIS WIFE, HE SEEMS VERY...PRUDISH AND TIGHT.

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST BEING CAUTIOUS AND TENTATIVE, BUT OVER TIME, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING ELSE!

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HE IS A HONEY AND YES, THIGHS ARE the BEST reason IN THE WORLD TO WATCH BASEBALL, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT SEAHAWK, HE'S YET TO SHOW AND PROVE!

BUT SEXY COVER.

[DFS]

Dean, please. Obama refers to HIMSELF as black, so that settles that.

[Rod McCullom]

Dean, I'm reading your comment history. Since January 2007, in numerous posts, you've argued the same thing about mixed races and Obama's self-identification. As DFS said earlier, Obama self identifies as black.

If the senator prefers to be called black or African-American, it's presumptuous to say otherwise.

[Derrick from Philly]

Dean, I and everyone else on this blog understands your point. We understand that racism was an invention, and the "one drop" doctrine is an invention. However, that doctrine is the one aspect of these 400 years of American racism that most black folks and obviously, most white folks have no burning desire to challenge. What's the alternative to the "one drop" doctrine: fifty'leven categories of black people like they have in Brazil?

Tiger Woods and Vin Diesel can go f===k each other for all I care. Oh, I'm sorry, Rod asked us to mine ourselves and our words. 'shame though, 'cause Diesel's kinda' sexy.

And what was this topic about anyway? Oh, that sexy Latino BLACK brotha.

[ReggieH]

To me, the most interesting photo in A-Rod's Vogue is inside (not to say the 'is that a cup you're wearing or are you just glad to be in Vogue?' cover isn't arresting), where Alex is lounging on the grass, head in his wife's lap, pale eyes gazing at the viewer. This is the first time I've EVER seen that pose struck by a man. It seems to heighten both his beauty and his diva-ness at the same time...