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J-Lo saved A-Rod's life and 4 other things we learned from Sports Illustrated's Alex Rodriguez feature

Alex Rodriguez, former baseball playing hero, turned villain, turned lovable goofball entrepreneur, is featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story this month. He looks good -- per usual.

The story covers much of A-Rod's 43 years on Earth: How he went from an exciting 20-year-old superstar shortstop with the Mariners, to a $252 million player who couldn't win, to a much-despised player who was suspended from baseball, and then, somehow, to a lovable, Instagram famous MLB TV analyst who's engaged to Jennifer Lopez.

We also learned some fun new anecdotes from the article that we didn't know about A-Rod before. Here are 5 of our favorites.

-The comeback story? Mostly all due to J-Lo

The article talks about how A-Rod put up a fake persona during much of his career, referring to himself as a "robot." His fiancée fixed that.

“The key to being in the public eye is being your best self,” says Lopez. “It’s not being fake. It’s being you. But the best version of you.” ... Lopez helped him see how he could be more. “She just sees it. She helps me out all the time when I’m trying to land a point on something. She’s just a wordsmith.”

Like seriously, she actually helps him understand words.

“Balmy?” Rodriguez asks. “How do you spell that?”

“B-A-L-M-Y. Balmy.”

“What does it mean?”

“It means when there’s a little bit of a humidity in the air. It’s hot but not scorching. When it feels like there’s a blanket around your skin. Balmy.”

-A-Rod drinks a lot of coffee

"He’ll often hit the gym at one in the morning, fueled by one of the nine cups of coffee he can consume a day, most of them served in A-Rod mugs."

-A-Rod is a big Coldplay fan

S.I. writer Ben Reiter went on Rodriguez's private plane with him and, apparently, A-Rod just shouts out bands that he wants to hear.

"[There's] a smooth sound system that plays Rodriguez’s favorite bands, like Bon Jovi and Journey. “Ash!” he shouts out to an assistant, upon boarding. “Coldplay!”

-A-Rod does his best working out at 1 in the morning

Probably so he can blast his favorite tunes as loud as he pleases.

View this post on Instagram

Getting ready for tonight’s epic finale with the same energy as if it was opening night. . Full speed is the only speed @jlo knows, and that’s one reason why she inspires so many people around the world. Tonight she completes a wild Vegas journey of 120 shows over a record-breaking 3-year residency. . #AllIHave isn’t just the name of the show, it’s what she has given to her audiences every single night. That’s what makes her great. When she hits the stage, the audience gets her best effort. That was true on her first performance, will be true tonight and it has been that way every show in between. She is working as hard today as she does every day and it’s amazing to watch. . Can’t wait to celebrate with the tremendously talented cast and crew that has gone through so much together to create an unforgettable experience for so many people. #jlovegas #finalshow

A post shared by Alex Rodriguez (@arod) on

-A-Rod might run for president

Reiter asks him if he'd ever run for office. Although A-Rod denies it at first, he leaves us wondering with this.

"He keeps thinking about it, though. “That’s funny you say that,” he says. “That’s a good question.”

First lady Jennifer Lopez? Who wouldn't want that?

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