Roger Clemens is now on trial facing perjury charges. Barry Bonds has been convicted of obstruction of justice. Pacman Jones has just been arrested again; Tiger Woods hasn’t won a golf tournament since he was exposed as a serial adulterer. Through the travails and embarrassments of all of these and many more tarnished athletes who were once looked upon as cultural heroes, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter has remained a constant— a team player, a clutch player, and an undeniably great player who has maintained his integrity and high values of competition and sportsmanship, never betraying the trust of his fans, his city, his team, or his game.
Yesterday Jeter reached 3000 hits, the watermark of the greatest of the greats, becoming the only lifetime New York Yankee to do so. He achieved the magic number with the flair only special players can muster, rising to a grand occasion like Ted Williams, hitting a home run in his final at bat, or Cal Ripken, marking his passing of Lou Gehrig’s “iron man” record for consecutive games with a homer. Yesterday, Jeter passed 3000 in a rush, going 5 for 5 with the hit # 3000 being, yes, a round-tripper.
As the fan of a team that Jeter’s heroics at the plate and in the field have often tormented, I have long found him spectacularly annoying, but there is no denying that he has also been just spectacular. I believe in heroes, and I know how seldom there co-exist in the same athletic body the talent and determination to perform at a heroic level of play as well as the impeccable character that heroes must display.
Derek Jeter is one of those rare individuals.
I hate you, Derek Jeter, but I admire and respect you more.
Go Yankees.
Ethics Alarms 
Yabbut he’s STILL a YANKEE!!!!!
(waytago, Derek. Go Sox!)
Heck, the Red Sox are in first at the All-Star break. Time to be gracious.
Derek Jeter (like Cal Ripken) has not only been “good for the game”, but more importantly, good for our society. A good role model and example to youth and adults alike. Indeed, as the article points out, “one of those rare individuals”. Congratulations Derek (and Cal), and THANK YOU!
Only true Yankee and Red Sox fans understand the profudity of your post. As a Yankees fan, I have it easy cheering for Jeter. I root for him as a great player and a good role model. I think my son and I would totally give up on baseball if Jeter ever succumbed to scandal.
Your post defines good sportsmanship. Thank you.
Scott Clark
I don’t watch baseball (my dad is a huge Red Sox fan), but I’d feel the same way if it turned out Tom Hanks wasn’t actually a nice guy in real life. He’s always a good sport on Conan, even going back to 2000 (when Conan was just that redheaded guy, but Tom Hanks was still the biggest star in the world). That would be devastating to me if that was an act.
There’s another ethics hero related to this story, Christian Lopez:
http://gothamist.com/2011/07/10/yankees_fan_who_caught_jeters_3000.php#photo-1
I’m an Indians fan, and it is with great reluctance that I say anything nice about any New York Yankee, but you’re right, of course.
Another way in which Jeter was sort of an ethics hero, by the way, is that throughout his career of touring the country as a star athlete, with women lined up at his door every night, he had the decency not to get married. Hard to blame the guy for taking advantage of opportunities denied to most of us, but at least he didn’t betray a wife (and children) into the bargain. There aren’t all that many pro sports heros who fit that description.
Given that his current squeeze is the luscious Minka Kelly,
I think Derek’s glad he waited.
Wow Jack said something nice about a Yankee. Someone better check his back yard for a pod.
Does your opinion take into account his All-Star snub?
Sure. 1) Jeter has always been good about the All-Star game 2) He’s done more than his share of PR duties 3) He’s older, just off the disabled list, and has a younger shortstop (temporarily playing third) on his heels. 4) His team won 14 out of 17 while he was injured, and he needs to show that he isn’t a liability. 5.) Three days off with Minka Kelly. 6) He says he’s exhausted. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt.