KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some of Patrick Mahomes' earliest memories are from baseball clubhouses, where he accompanied his father, Pat, a pitcher for six major league teams. Mahomes, then 5, recalls seeing his father's Texas Rangers teammate Alex Rodriguez trying to perfect his swing by hitting off a tee before games in 2001.
The frequent sight made an impression on Mahomes that he carries with him now that he's the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The lesson: Athletic ability alone is not enough to carry a player to greatness.
"My favorite player growing up was Alex Rodriguez," Mahomes said.