Talk about a half-court buzzer-beater! Former professional baseball star Alex Rodriguez, no stranger to hitting home runs, showcased his impressive skills off the field by making a challenging shot that earned a Bucknell University student a sizeable reward. Keep scrolling to watch the iconic moment the ball swished through the net and meet the lucky winner of the grand prize!
Alex Rodriguez wins $10K for a Bucknell student
Rodriguez, famously known as A-Rod, was attending a special Bucknell Forum event as a guest of honor when he had the chance to change a college student’s life.
By banking a half-court shot at the Bucknell vs. Army basketball game on Sunday, Rodriguez won $10,000 for student Owen Garwood.
After sinking the shot, the packed Sojka Pavilion erupted in excitement and both men celebrated with great enthusiasm alongside several other Bucknell fans.
Garwood, a sophomore economics major at Bucknell University, said in a video following Rodriguez’s surprising shot that he plans to use the cash prize to help his parents pay for his tuition.
Although Garwood, a native of Ambler, Pa., attends school in and hails from the area, Rodriguez joked that his iconic half-court shot had swayed the student’s sports loyalties.
“He’s converted from a Philly Fan to a Yankee Fan,” Rodriguez said.
About Alex Rodriguez’s professional baseball career
Rodriguez, first nicknamed A-Rod by a Mariners announcer around the time of his MLB debut, played professional baseball from 1994 to 2016.
During his career, Rodriguez played for three Major League Baseball teams: Seattle Mariners (1994–2000), Texas Rangers (2001–2003) and New York Yankees (2004–2016).
He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, known for his impressive hitting and fielding skills, as well as holding numerous records, including being one of the youngest players to reach 500 home runs.
In 2016 Rodriguez hung up his bat and cap, retiring from the sport as a Yankee due to hip and knee injuries.
Alex Rodriguez’s life after retirement
Since retiring from professional baseball, Rodriguez has transitioned into a multifaceted career in business, media and sports ownership.
He co-founded A-Rod Corp, a holding company with investments in technology, real estate, wellness and entertainment sectors. Notably, he invested in companies like Vita Coco and Snapchat.
Rodriguez also co-founded Jump, a ticketing and fan experience company and previously co-hosted The Corp Podcast, where he interviewed industry leaders.
Staying closely connected to sports, he became a part-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Lynx, while also working as a baseball analyst for major networks like ESPN and FOX Sports.
