The Polar Bear is well aware of the Tiger King.
When Pete Alonso wasn’t boosting morale during the coronavirus pandemic last week or honing his BBQ skills, the Mets superstar first baseman was binging “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” the seven-part true-crime documentary that has become a must-watch for Netflix viewers during these unprecedented times.
Alonso, who his Mets teammates dubbed the “Polar Bear” due to his 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame and lovable personality, shared his recent TV obsession during an Instagram Live chat Sunday with none other than Alex Rodriguez.
“That dude is nuts,” Alonso said of documentary star Joe “Exotic” Maldonado-Passage, a declaration with which A-Rod agreed.
The series revolves around wild big-cat collector Maldonado-Passage and his long-standing battles with fellow feline-lover Carole Baskin, which culminated in the 57-year-old Maldonado-Passage being sentenced to 22 years in prison for hatching a murder-for-hire plot against Baskin.
“Joe Exotic is a legit cartoon character,” Alonso said. “[Exotic] still in jail but I think he should be on your next Instagram live.”
A-Rod, who The Post reported in February was a potential candidate to buy the Mets alongside fiancèe Jennifer Lopez, passed on the suggestion.
But the baseball analyst and businessman did say that Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge would be joining him next week on the same platform in an effort to help provide baseball fans an escape from coronavirus, which has caused the suspension of professional sports leagues around the world.
Alonso has also done his part to lift the spirits of those in need during the pandemic. This month, the 24-year-old slugger sent a motivational video message to cancer-stricken lifelong Mets fan Kathleen Selig, which brought the 82-year-old Brooklyn resident to tears.
He followed that up with a personalized video thanking various doctors and nurses for their fight on the coronavirus frontline.
None of Alonso’s heartwarming actions come as a surprise, as this Amazin’ fellow became the face of the Mets last season not only for his 53 home runs but also his leadership and many charitable contributions.