That’s why former MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez is embarking on such an exciting new chapter. Since moving back east, he’s teamed up with fellow entrepreneur Marc Lore to co-own the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a grueling four-year war for ownership of the franchise, their alliance has finally come to fruition. It ended with the finalization of a $1.5 billion deal with Glen Taylor for the purchase of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. Their vision focuses on re-energizing the Timberwolves and winning from within by establishing a winning culture.
Now that Rodriguez has hung up his spikes after playing his last game in 2016, he takes with him some important lessons learned from the diamond. He fondly remembers one key lesson learned from the late owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner. Rodriguez stated, “He had his line that the only thing more important than winning is breathing.” This philosophy serves as the foundation for Rodriguez’s approach to ownership, as he hopes to create a lasting positive impact on the franchise.
Even with all of playing career’s achievements piling up among his greatest professional honors, Rodriguez’s path has not come without its obstacles. He was heavily criticized for taking performance-enhancing drugs. This scandal ruined his reputation and likely prevents him from enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. With a little humility, Rodriguez openly admitted to these mistakes, knowing he had hurt himself worse than anyone else.
He’s not one to rest on his laurels and is looking to correct course in this new endeavor. Rodriguez said, “This is the most important thing in my life next to my family and best friends. Nothing else even comes close to it!” His dedication to the Timberwolves signals the beginning of a new era. Now he’s able to use all that he learned from those experiences.
Rodriguez makes comparisons between his ownership approach and that of Steinbrenner. For Dunn, it’s all about creating the maximum possible opportunities and creating the right kind of environment where innovation can flourish. One thing that George did was give himself as many options as he could have,” Rodriguez said, underscoring the need for flexibility and ambition in good leadership.
Marc Lore grew out that thinking by calling for a disruptive mindset to team building. He stated, “As a startup founder, it’s all about innovation. It’s about being disruptive, not doing things the conventional way. You know, we’ve got a clean slate here to rethink how things are done, not just accept where they are.” This mentality speaks to their common purpose of making the Timberwolves a perennial contender in the NBA.
Rodriguez and Lore’s vision for the Timberwolves goes beyond just winning games right away. They hope to restore the franchise’s culture and integrity, and re-establish connections with their community in substantive and positive ways. Their collaboration is a sign of their dedication to creating dynamic, long-term value and sustainable impact.
The duo knows winning the right way requires more than talent. They are passionate about providing an environment where players can develop their skills on the field while growing as mature and responsible adults. Given their tripartite backgrounds and perspectives, they are set up to make deep organizational changes.
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