Justice: In the end, A-Rod’s love of game shines

Alex Rodriguez choked back tears Sunday morning when he spoke of his family, especially his daughters. His emotions seemed raw and genuine, and in that way, he was vulnerable in a way we had not seen before.

“No athlete ever ends his or her career the way they want to,” he told us. “They all want to keep playing. Saying goodbye may be the hardest part of the job.

“You always think you have one more hit in you or that you can help your team win one more game. That wasn’t in the cards.”

As endings go, he could not have struck a more perfect tone. He was dignified and understated. In a dozen seasons in pinstripes, this may have been the moment he most seemed like a true Yankee.

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He spoke of something larger, of the Yankees and all that they stand for. He said he still wanted to contribute to the Yankees winning another World Series. Only now he would do it in a different role.

The decision to end his playing career after Friday’s game against the Rays at Yankee Stadium was not his. He was upfront about that part of the deal. That simply was the day everyone settled on after Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner engaged Rodriguez in a series of conversations about the future.

The Yankees, focused on younger players, are moving on. Rodriguez is hitting .204 and riding the bench. At 41, he simply no longer fits.

A-Rod said there was never an ultimatum, that it didn’t get that far. When he understood what was being said, he attempted to focus on an appropriate ending and an optimistic future.

This is the Alex Rodriguez the Yankees have seen in the 18 months since his return from a year-long suspension. He has seemed determined to do every single thing right.

He surely knew …

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