Amar’e Stoudemire bathes in red wine on his rest days (Photo)
New York Knicks big man Amar’e Stoudemire is not the player he once was. At 31 years old and having dealt with several major injuries, the 13-year pro is coming off a season in which he started only 21 of his 65 games, averaging 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. Those numbers aren’t especially terrific for someone who made nearly $21.7 million in salary last season.
Yet Stoudemire, now in the last year of the max contract he signed in the summer of 2010, is doing what he can to stay young and spry. He also appears to be exhausting every avenue to reaching that goal, because his off-day regimen appears to involve bathing in red wine. From his Instagram:
“Recovery Day! Red Wine Bath !!” Stoudemire wrote in the photo’s caption. “#Kinging #Blessed #Hebrews Getting ready for the eighth day feast.”
Bathing in red wine may seem ridiculous, but the practice — also known as vinotherapy — has fierce proponents. The idea is that a glass or two of wine poured into a mostly water bath shifts cellulite, improves circulation, and generally invigorates the body. It would also seem to risk staining the skin to the shade of a high-quality burgundy leather, but that side effect might end up intimidating Stoudemire’s opponents on the court.
I don’t know if bathing in red wine actually leads to any of these benefits, although the placebo effect could very well account for one or two. Regardless, I think we should assume that Amar’e knows what’s best for himself. I’m sure his chain has some kind of positive health effect, too.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
