Athletically Pleasing: Derek Jeter and drama where it should be

I first got hooked onto baseball after watching the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox, and the Cincinnati Reds. I still consider that one of the finest baseball series that happened in my lifetime. I came to be a fan of baseball, and Pete Rose in particular, because of his passion for the game, his determination to win, and play hard every day, and of course as a kid, that head first slide which I tried to emulate many times on the playground. I became a New York Mets fan after watching them on Channel 9 here in the Metro NY area, and have been a Met fan ever since. I would still watch any baseball game that came on, and would watch Yankee games on channel 11 with Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White, and the other hosts as well. I love baseball, and besides Muhammed Ali, baseball players were my first glimpse into how athletes were and how they approached what they did, and how they approached their craft. Obviously there were some jackasses and there were those that seemed to no matter what, put their nose down, shut up, and just played, and "took it to the stage" as the saying goes, and let their playing on the field do the talking. I respect anyone who does that in any idiom, and conducts themselves with authority, yet dignity, and quiet intensity. That's why I loved Hank Aaron as a kid, and why he's so revered today by everyone. Which brings me to Derek Jeter.

It is I imagine extremely tough being an athlete in any sport today, more so than years before because of a host of things. 24 hour sports news and radio cycles question and analyze every move you make on and off of the field, the pressure of having to perform at top levels constantly, forcing players to not take the "off season" off, but to train year round, and of course the now enhancing influences that seem to permeate all of sports right now. Put all of that together with the paparazzi following athletes into nightclubs, parties, and other places where there is public activity, you would figure that someplace somewhere anybody could slip up, and say something stupid, or get caught in some idiotic behavior that they have to have a press conference to clear up. The distractions then work their way onto the field, and players lose all focus as their personal lives are now in headlines.

That's what makes Mr Jeter a throwback to great players like Hank. he has a quiet intensity, and sheer love of what he does. Conducts himself respectably on the field, and in press conferences. He is never boastful, feeling the need to watch his home runs, or beat his chest in some braggadocious  "I'm a man" fashion. His head is always in the game, and he always seems to be where he should have been when something happens. His manifesto seems to be of the "Take it to the stage" variety where there is no room for saying what you're going to do, or announcing what you are capable of. It is the way it should be: Shut up and play. Derek Jeter is not an outstanding athlete physically, but brings to the table outstanding qualities of leadership, focus, intensity, and sheer love and desire of winning and believing that with hard work, and team effort a group of folks can be successful. This is definitely not a new idea in sports, but too often we see athletes talking about Me, Me, Me, and their sentences always start with I this, or I that, and somehow they make themselves larger than life by insinuating that the world and team revolves around them. Conceit, arrogance, and complaining seem to be the norm in sports as players constantly say stupid things on the field, and do even stupider things off of the field, dragging the whole team downward with scandal, and chaos.

I have never seen Mr. Jeter say anything idiotic, or for that matter even questionable, as he seems to be well grounded with realistic ideas of himself, and just what he does in the scope of the bigger picture. His parents seem to be in constant presence and availability, he always seems to have a good perspective on how things work in his organization, and while we have no idea what the man is like in his private life besides being a single guy with girlfriends, there never seems to be any scandal, any idiotic Madonna like individuals in the stands creating distractions, and there is never some report of Mr. Jeter acting like a complete fool in a nightclub such as bringing a gun, or some other moronic activity that requires an investigation. What he does in his private life has been so far, private which is a hell of a feat in this day and age.

Why is he to be admired? Because of those things, and above all else he has a job to do, and he goes and does it. Period. Whether he succeeds that day or not, he goes out there and gives 100 percent of his blood and sweat, body and mind for the thing he loves to do. The only drama is on the field. No external or peripheral shenanigans. He is to be respected as a true ambassador of a great sport, and a model of how to conduct yourself within it. No athlete should have to have the responsibility as role model, but let's face it, it is there, and like it or not, kids observe and emulate what they do. I would be proud to have a son or daughter look at Mr. Jeter and say. 'That's how I want to approach whatever it is that I do." Because it's how we all should approach what we love to do. With a consistent work ethic, determination, respect for others, that help you achieve collective goals, and most of all shutting up and just doing what you are supposed to be doing.
When the smoke clears and he is all done with this sport, hopefully he will go down as the complete professional who did what it took to raise the level of acceptance of behavior on and off the field, and in the process achieved desired goals. For right now, to describe him, I will use a phrase that for the last few months has been associated with negativity. I will take this one word phrase and reapply it to positivity where it should be. And I can't think of a better place to reapply and reestablish this phrase than describing Derek Jeter. The phrase is simply one word.......Winning.