The saying “age is nothing but a number” might hold true on the baseball field, but for Alex Rodriguez, it seems it might also apply to his fame. A-Rod, the legendary New York Yankees slugger and the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves who is now a serious deal with them was in a hilarious situation three years ago. This highlights the generational gap in sports fandom.

So who created this hilarious situation? Well, it is none other than the Timberwolves’ young star, Anthony Edwards. In a press conference back in 2021 Edwards, the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was asked about the upcoming ownership change. When the reporter mentioned A-Rod’s name, Edwards delivered a now-viral response. 

Anthony Edwards’ answer took the sports world by surprise 

Edwards said, “I don’t know who that is. I know he’s going to be the owner. But I don’t know anything about baseball.” Now if that sounds absurd, it’s time to see what the internet said. The internet, of course, had a field day as there was a future superstar completely oblivious to a baseball icon. Particularly one that was about to become the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2021. So how did Rodriguez react to this? 

A-Rod, ever the good sport, took it in stride. He posted a lighthearted response on Instagram, introducing himself to Edwards with a friendly “Hi, Anthony, I’m Alex!” While this was a great way of introducing him to the prodigy. Edwards’ responded with a more reserved “What’s good, my guy,” complete with a “cold sweat” emoji.

This whole exchange, though funny, raises an interesting point. In today’s fast-paced world of sports, with new stars emerging every season, how long does a player’s legacy truly last in the minds of younger generations who weren’t around to witness their peak performance? The fans on social media gave a funny perspective on this. 

Fans reacting to this incident 

For Edwards, baseball might not be on his radar. He was only six years old when A-Rod won his last MVP award, and just a teenager when Rodriguez retired. Combine that with being from a National League city where A-Rod never played, and it’s easy to see how his fame might escape Edwards’ notice. There were some funny reactions on Twitter. Sarcasm flowed in.

Another fan cringed at this.

There was this one among others that called this fiasco “incredible”, of course sarcastically. 

However, this incident also offers a heartwarming moment. A-Rod’s playful response shows he understands the generational shift and doesn’t take himself too seriously. It paves the way for a potentially interesting owner-player dynamic in Minnesota. And today Edwards has won praise from the legend himself.