It took the New York Yankees nine years to win another World Series title, but if you listen to all the whiny little bloggers out there, you’d think that they’d bought every title of the millennium. They didn’t even make the playoffs last year! But Josh, all they do is spend money to get the best players! You mean they’re actually TRYING TO FIELD THE BEST TEAM THEY CAN with their available resources? Those sons of bitches! Why can’t they half-ass it like the Pittsburgh Pirates! THERE’S an organization that acquires personnel the right way!
Anyway, I don’t like the Yankees, but they don’t annoy me the same way the Yankee haters do. And those people were at it again after Derek Jeter was awarded his fourth Gold Glove yesterday. Questions of Jeter’s range have become commonplace of late, but he had only 8 errors (fewest of all AL shortstops). Plus he smells really nice.
What Jeter boasts, however, is aura. He walks it. He exudes it. More than any professional athlete I’ve ever seen or covered. He has [Michael] Jordan’s regal texture, but without the insufferable arrogance. He has Tiger Woods’ audience, but does more with it. He’s quick with a smile, a laugh, a kind word. [H]ow can’t you appreciate the man? –Jeff Pearlman.
Gold Gloves apparently are for regal texture now. Makes sense, I suppose. Are we sure the Steinbrenners didn’t buy him that Gold Glove? Rumor has it that they can be a little loose with the purse strings.
It seems like Derek Jeter and “Friday Night Lights” star Minka Kelly have been together for a while, so one can only presume that Kelly–whose beau has dated the likes of Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, and Mariah Carey (in her prime, mind you)–is holding it down. Kelly, who also appeared in State’s Evidence and (500) Days of Summer, is having almost as good a year as Jeter’s: she has two films slated for release next year, and the almost-unhealthy infatuation of Leighton Meester to boot, almost certainly inspired by their upcoming film together, The Roommate, a sort of contemporary take on Single White Female. At least Minka gives us one one reason to cheer for the Yankees, even if there are about 75,000 reasons to hope they get swept by the Phillies. Keep fighting the good fight, Minka. Also.
Derek Jeter became the Yankees’ all-time hits co-leader with this base hit, his 2,721st in the bigs, down the first base line yesterday. And he should surpass Lou Gehrig on that list sometime today. Jeter isn’t overrated or underrated; people drone about him all the time and that’s fine. He’s one of the best of his era. Who I can’t stand hearing about is that gaddamned Mariano Rivera. A CLOSER CANNOT BE AN MVP. If he takes the mound with his team losing by a run, he can’t get that run back. Unless this happens. But seriously, that guy can’t retire fast enough. I would even put Jeter over Albert Pujols, but only because Jeter actually plays shortstop and Pujols just stands a first base like he’s waiting for a bus. Watch the “historic” hit after the jump. He tied a team record. Whatever. Read the rest of this entry »
From Hot Clicks: It’s Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter walking down the street looking like douchebags. Not sure when Saturday Night Fever became timely again. And look, there’s Roger Federer on another set 5,000 miles away. Or, um, across the street. Yeah, that’s it. Nice shoes, asshole.
For the first time ever, Derek Jeter will play against the New York Yankees tomorrow.
As a member of the United States team for the World Baseball Classic, Jeter will play against the Yankees for the first time in an exhibition game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
“I haven’t really thought about it that way,” Jeter said. “It will probably feel like an intrasquad game.”
The game is a warm-up for the second W.B.C., which begins Thursday and ends March 23. Jeter played in the first Classic, in 2006, but not against the Yankees.
Not everyone is jumping out of their MLB duds to don uniforms of their own nationalities. Dominican Albert Pujols will not be playing for his homeland, and would have considered playing against either the DR team or his Cardinals team “disrespectful.” And tomorrow, I’ll be playing with myself. I see nothing disrespectful about that.
ASYLUM POLL: Should WBC Country Allegiances Trump Team Allegiances?
The Texas Longhorns seized the #1 college ranking with a win over Missouri this weekend, but more important than Colt McCoy’s bid for Heisman Trophy front-runnerdom was OMIGOD Derek Jeter was at the game!!!!!1!!
The Yankees captain, who hails from Michigan and lives in New York City, had no apparent reason to be at the game except to remind us all that his girlfriend is actress Minka Kelly, and if he wants to be on the sideline of a premier national sporting event, then he’ll be on the sideline. Because he’s Derek Jeter, and his girlfriend is Minka Kelly, and you, sir, are neither rich nor famous nor adored by millions in the nation’s most populous city. He really can do anything. Except get the Yankees to the playoffs as the ravages of time take away his defensive range and slows down his swing.
[Tree's Trunk via Busted Coverage, more info here]
