Miami | Alex Rodriguez | Carlton Key Biscayne | baseball

He earns his stripes in New York, but Alex Rodriguez is still safe at home in Miami.
Admit it, you'd love to be Alex Rodriguez. Who wouldn't? He's a handsome, superstar athlete with a cool nickname, an eye-popping contract, a deal with Armani, and a gorgeous wife. He's taken Oval Office meetings with Presidents Clinton and Bush and played poker with Michael Jordan, golf with Tiger Woods and Bill Gates, and third base alongside his idol, Cal Ripken Jr. At home he's got a Picasso, a Chagall, and two Gold Glove Awards. He's also the reigning American League MVP, just appeared in his sixth All-Star Game, and, here's the kicker, he's the second youngest starter on the most famous baseball team on the planet, the New York Yankees.

It would appear that Alex Rodriguez has all of the touchstones of a man who's going places. But this life wasn't handed to the son of Dominican immigrants like a trust fund. It was hard-earned on lumpy fields in the Dominican Republic and later on the sun-drenched diamonds of Miami. If Hemingway hadn't gotten there first, the book of Alex Rodriguez's life could easily be titled, To Have and Have Not.

His father, Victor, a former shoe store owner and former catcher in the Dominican pro league, introduced his youngest son to baseball at the age of four. His mother, Lourdes, taught him the value of hard work, taking two jobs to support the family after she and Victor divorced when Alex was nine. While helping his mother count tips from her waitress job, Rodriguez recalls staring at his Cal Ripken Jr. poster and dreaming of becoming a big-league shortstop.

With his father's skills and his mother's work ethic, Rodriguez was soon impressing scouts from across the country, and at the tender age of 17, he was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 1993 MLB amateur draft. After 82 minor-league games - barely enough time to get to know his peach-fuzzed teammates - Rodriguez made his major-league debut less than one month before his 19th birthday.

Today, many believe he's the game's premier player. A rare combination of talent and competitive drive who, like fellow icons Jordan and Woods, is known the world over by a single name: A-Rod.
Earlier this year, a blockbuster trade moved A-Rod from the Rangers to the Yankees, and from shortstop to third base. He even had to switch uniform numbers from 3 to 13, all in an effort to gain the one accolade that has eluded him, a World Series ring. "Above all personal goals," he says, "what I really want to be is a world champion."

In 11 big-league seasons, his uniform has read Seattle, Texas, and now New York, but Alex Rodriguez is most at home in Miami, where he returns every off-season. "It's been a wild ride for me and my family," he says of his cross-country odyssey. "But now we've got goals ahead of us and we're focused on that."

No matter what you've heard, don't bet against #13 this October.

American Way: You left Miami when you were a teenager, but you were back there training in the off-season. Describe your perfect day in Miami.

Alex Rodriguez: I'd work out in the morning at BOD by Dodd in Coral Gables. After that, I'd go have brunch at a place like the 1200 Restaurant & Courtyard at the Biltmore Hotel. It's a very relaxed setting and the menu there has something for just about everyone?s tastes. After brunch, I would go take a boat to Key Biscayne and just enjoy the day on the water.

American Way: You were just hours away from being a freshman at Miami when you signed your first contract with Seattle. Let's say I've only got one day and one meal left to eat in Miami before I head off to spring training, where would you take me?

Rodriguez: One place you have to go is Joe's Stone Crab, because it's kind of a landmark. It's one of the most popular restaurants in South Beach. We'd have to go there early, though; they don't take reservations.

American Way: What about a spot that's popular with the locals?

Rodriguez: A good local place is Caffe Abbracci. It's a great spot right in Coral Gables. I've been going there for years.

American Way: Women everywhere were crushed when you got married in 2002. Where do you recommend going for a romantic night out?

Rodriguez: I would go back to the place where my wife, Cynthia, and I got engaged: the Astor Place at the Hotel Astor in Miami Beach. The Hotel Astor is a beautiful, old art-deco building that was redone in the '90s. The restaurant is romantic, and the food and service are great.

American Way: Miami has a combination of great old hotels and luxurious new developments. Which do you recommend for a weekend getaway?

Rodriguez: I'll give you three options, depending on what you want to do. If you want to have fun, I'd go to Loews Hotel down at the beach. Besides being right on the water, it's close to the Lincoln Road Mall and the Art Deco District. If you're looking for a place that's more family-oriented and more private, I'd suggest the Key Biscayne Ritz-Carlton. If you want to be centrally located, I'd go to the Mandarin Oriental hotel downtown. The Mandarin has excellent views of Biscayne Bay and a great restaurant called Azul.

American Way: Miami is famous for South Beach. Do you have any favorite nightspots down there?

Rodriguez: I'm not a nightclub guy, so I'm the wrong person to ask. There's a lot of hype about South Beach, but I really enjoy the Coconut Grove area. It's quaint, there are more locals, and I used to go there a lot as a kid. It's really what I'd call Old Miami. From time to time they have live bands down there, and there are several bars with nice outside seating areas.

American Way: Miami is a great sports town. Do you still follow your hometown teams?

Rodriguez: No question. I'm on the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami [where the baseball stadium is named Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park]. I follow the 'Canes very, very closely in all sports - football, baseball, basketball, everything. I'm very involved with that program. I also enjoy the Miami Heat. They're a pretty young team and they're fun to watch. I've also become personal friends with Pat Riley and [Heat owner] Mickey Arison and his family, so I support them and what they do.

American Way: Last year you saw the Yankees and Derek Jeter, your best friend in baseball, square off with your hometown Florida Marlins in the World Series. Did you have a rooting interest?

Rodriguez: I wasn't cheering for one team or the other. I was just happy that the World Series came to Miami. I think anytime you have an event of the magnitude of the World Series in your hometown it can only improve the city. It was just a great event that injected the community with a kind of youthful energy and pride. Obviously, it was great for the Marlins franchise as well.

American Way: As a hitter, you've got a lot of power on the diamond, but let's talk about driving the smaller white ball. What are your favorite golf courses?

Rodriguez: There are so many great courses in the Miami area. My favorites are Riviera Country Club in Coral Gables, and also La Gorce in Miami Beach [both of which are private courses].

American Way: After a long day on the links, is there a spa where you like to unwind?

Rodriguez: My wife really likes the Aqua Spa at The Delano, which is an Ian Schrager hotel in the heart of South Beach. Sometimes on Sundays we'll go there together to workout, have brunch, and lay out by the pool. It's a great way to spend the day. Very relaxing.

American Way: You've been on the cover of GQ and you're considered one of the more fashion-conscious players in the game. Where do you recommend heading for a day of shopping?

Rodriguez: I'd definitely recommend taking a drive to the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami Beach. They have beautiful stores there. Bal Harbour has Giorgio Armani, Cartier, Zegna, Dolce & Gabbana, and something like a hundred other shops. It's the best of the best.

American Way: Be honest, did you ever sport the Miami Vice look back in the day?

Rodriguez: No! [Laughs] I skipped that generation, I guess.

American Way: Miami is famous for sun, sand, and surf. Where's your favorite public beach?

Rodriguez: I like to take Ocean Drive and end up somewhere around 21st Street, where the boardwalk starts. You can lay out and it's a little bit quieter there. The water and the sand are really nice and relaxing there, too.

American Way: You don't have any kids yet, but give me a fun spot for families in the city.

Rodriguez: For a family, I think there's no better place than Key Biscayne. It's very safe, you have the open bay water, excellent golf courses like the Crandon Park Golf Course, and great resorts and hotels like the Ritz-Carlton.

American Way: Lenny Bruce used to say that Miami Beach is where neon goes to die, but the city has really enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the past few years, hasn't it?

Rodriguez: Yes, I think Miami is growing every day. For the most part, I think it's seen as a very young city, with the new Performing Arts Center, the new hotels, and the whole Biscayne area blowing up like it is. I think these new elements mesh well with the older, more traditional aspects to help the city become richer in tradition.

American Way: Will you settle in Miami when your career is over?

Rodriguez: I think so. It's really up to my wife and my family to see where we'll settle down, but I really see myself and my family being in south Florida and Miami. This is home.

American Way: On that note, you've given nearly $7 million to the University of Miami. What other local efforts are you involved in?

Rodriguez: I'm the national spokesman for the Boys and Girls Club. We built the Boys and Girls Club on 32nd Street in Coconut Grove basically from the ground up. We've also broken ground on the Alex Rodriguez Learning Center at the Boys and Girls Club. My wife and I are building the learning center there to stress the importance of reading. Through our foundation, we're also trying to replicate some of the successes we've had in Miami in the Washington Heights area of New York, where I was born.

American Way: Are you at all superstitious about wearing #13?

Rodriguez: I think any player who tells you he's not superstitious is lying. I'm superstitious about things like not being prepared or not working as hard as I can. The harder you work and the better you're prepared, the luckier you get. I think #13 is cool. It was my high-school football number, and my favorite quarterback, Dan Marino, wore it in Miami, so I thought why not?

American Way: Ted Williams said he wanted to hear people say, "There goes the best hitter who ever lived.†What would you like people to say about you when you're 65 and strolling the streets of your hometown?

Rodriguez: The best advice Cal Ripken ever gave me was to be in the lineup every day, play hard, and respect the game. So I hope people would say, "There's a guy who gave it 100 percent all the time and respected the game of baseball and gave back to his community.â€

HE SAID...
Here are Alex Rodriguez's favorite spots for fun and sun in Miami.

Lodging
Hotel Astor,
expensive, (305) 531-8081

Loews Miami Beach Hotel,
very expensive, (305) 604-1601

Mandarin Oriental,
very expensive, (305) 913-8288

Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne,
very expensive, (800) 241-3333

Dining
1200 Restaurant & Courtyard,
Mediterranean, expensive,
(305) 445-8066

Azul,
French/Caribbean, very expensive,
(305) 913-8358

Caffé Abbracci,
Italian, expensive,
(305) 441-0700

Joe's Stone Crab,
seafood, very expensive,
(305) 673-0365

Shopping
Bal Harbour Shops,
(305) 866-0311

Lincoln Road Mall,
(305) 351-3442

Gyms/Spas
Agua Spa at The Delano,
(305) 673-2900

BOD by Dodd,
(305) 740-7772

Sports/Entertainment
Florida Marlins ticket office,
(877) 627-5467

Miami Heat ticket office,
(786) 777-4667

Performing Arts Center of Miami,
(305) 377-1220

University of Miami ticket office,
(800) 462-2637

Golf
Crandon Park Golf Course,
(305) 361-9129

La Gorce Country Club,
(305) 866-4421

Riviera Country Club,
(305) 661-4653

WE SAID...
Here are our favorite spots for fun and sun in Miami.



Lodging
Hotel Place St. Michel,
moderate, (305) 444-1666.
The intimate, 27-room Coral Gables inn evokes Old World Europe at every turn, from the paddle fans to the parquet floors. Dinner at the superb Restaurant St. Michel, complete with piano player, only adds to the romance.

Hyatt Regency,
expensive, (305) 358-1234.
This downtown hotel within walking distance of the Miami Convention Center is located on the Miami River and makes a fine biz hotel, but what draws us is the occasional $75 Internet rate we've been able to nab.

Dining
Doraku,
moderate, (305) 695-8383.
Unique ingredients and a happening vibe combine to make this the coolest sushi joint in Miami Beach. Our favorite nibble is the Dancing Roll with ultrafresh unagi. Pair yours with a flight of sake and you'll be set for the night.

Scotty's Landing,
inexpensive, (305) 854-2626.
This seafood spot down on Biscayne Bay, next to the Dinner Key Marina, is strictly a locals hangout. So if you go, don't tell 'em it was us who clued you in to its convivial vibe, simple but satisfying menu, and endless sea breezes.

Tropical Chinese,
moderate, (305) 262-7576.
Looking for the best Chinese food in Miami-Dade County? Look no further. In Tropical's open kitchen, seasoned chefs cook up an extensive menu of what's described as Hong Kong-style specialties, which are all good, but we're nuts about the knockout dim sum.

Nightlife
Macarena Tavern,
(305) 531-3440.
A SoBe hot spot for flamenco and salsa dancing, Macarena draws a large Latin crowd. Before you put on your dancing shoes, sample the Spanish specialties like paella and sangria.

Purdy Lounge,
(305) 531-4622.
A relaxed feel, mood lighting, retro soundtrack, and funky decor (guests recline in plastic hand-shaped chairs and thrift-store couches) put the "lounge†in Purdy Lounge. It does get crazy crowded, but it's usually well after we've paid up and hit the pillow.

Attractions
Parrot Jungle,
(305) 258-6453.
The original animal park that Franz Scherr opened 68 years ago recently closed so it could relocate to its new home off McArthur Causeway, an ideal setting for the more than 1,100 tropical birds and other forms of wildlife on view.

Venetian Pool,
(305) 460-5356.
We could have told you about Coral Castle, the Deering Estate, airboat rides in the Everglades, or any other number of area attractions here, but we so love the Venetian that we couldn’t help but take this opportunity to brag on it. The 820,000-gallon municipal pool, sculpted from a rock quarry and fed by artesian wells, is so notable it’s earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.