Alex Rodriguez cheering for Miami Heat, feels Lebron James' "pain more than anybody"

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees said he is cheering for the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals and feels Lebron James' "pain more than anybody." (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Alex Rodriguez said he is pulling for the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals and sympathizes with LeBron James and how he's been vilified since his infamous 2010 departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to comments Rodriguez made on the radio during the Michael Kay Show before the Heat's Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder:

"Sometimes I feel so bad for him,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I feel his pain more than anybody….

“LeBron is definitely under the microscope,” Rodriguez said. “He is going to be judged on whether he wins a championship. So, yeah, I’m really hoping he gets this one behind him, and I’m cheering for the Heat, but ’09 was a career changer for me.”

A-Rod referenced 2009 when he helped the New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies for the teams 27th World Series win, saying that things turned around for him then and that he wishes the same for LeBron this year:

"It's not fun being the villain. It sucks. Pre '09, it felt like I was the villain all the time. Post '09, everywhere I go, on the road, at home, walking the streets of New York, I have so much good will, so much fan base, so much support. I really hope LeBron gets his championship so things turn around for him, too. He's a great kid."