Barring rain, tonight is Derek Jeters last game ever at Yankee Stadium. Its also the first game hell ever play in the Bronx that has no implications on his teams playoff chances...ever. Jeter was the model captain, the king of clutch (Shout out to you Chris Wayland) and perhaps most importantly the ideal citizen. New York is a city defined by many historic buildings, events and figures, but in my mind no one has embodied the city in the past two decades in the way Jeter has. Perhaps nothing expresses his leadership qualities as much as the fact that in his 20 year career with the Yankees he was never once ejected from a game. Derek Jeter never won a regular season MVP, but nonetheless was the driving force behind many of the Yankees greatest playoff pushes and subsequent World Series titles. Of all the great sports plays in history, few stand out to me like the famous flip against the As and his Mr. October homerun, a homerun that was ultimately futile in the Yankees pursuit of the World Series against the Diamondbacks, but that represented hope for New Yorkers in the wake of 9/11. Your incredible athleticism at the shortstop position was a sight to behold. Few athletes, even great ones, transcend sport and become legends not just in their sport, but in the greater context of society. I like to think of figures like Mohammad Ali and Jackie Robinson in that realm, figures who changed the political and social landscape of our nation forever. Jeter is not a political figure, but instead the definition of a good citizen and a leader. No matter what our profession, we can all learn from the way Jeter composed himself, handling the vicious New York media, a team that had its share of divas (looking at you Clemens and A-Rod) and a whole slew of bench-clearing brawls with the Red Sox. You somehow never lost your temper, and always stood by your teammates. You are the epitome of what an athlete ought to be. During the steriod era you brought, joy, and a uncompromising work ethic to a sport that was in need of a real hero who didnt cut corners to achieve success. Derek Jeter: you are my childhood hero and as you leave Americas pastime forever I feel like a whole stage of my life is now behind me. The New York Yankees, the most historic team in all of sports history will never be the same. You will be dearly missed.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 15:51:59 +0000
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