If you've been living under a rock during the past weekend (and it was River Falls Days so there's a pretty big possibility), New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter recorded his 3,000th career hit.
He did it the only way Jeter could, slamming himself into the spotlight by becoming only the second player to record his 3,000th hit via home run. (Wade Boggs was the other.)
Later that afternoon, distinguished baseball writer Peter Gammons tweeted this:
"MLB should fly Jeter into Phoenix on Tuesday to allow the baseball nation to celebrate Jeter's accomplishment and what he's meant to the sport."
Me being a twitterholic myself, I had this to reply...
"I'm surprised @pgammo can tweet with Jeter's @#$% so far down his throat. #impressive"
Maybe I need to tone down on the vulgarity on my tweets, but the fact of the matter is this. While Jeter is one of the greatest players in baseball history, he is incredibly unlikeable outside of the Yankee fan base.
Jeter is one of the main reasons that the majority of America hates the New York Yankees. Yes, there are a TON of Yankee fans, but can you think of any player in baseball that gets booed loudly at visiting stadiums on a regular basis?
People always say that if Jeter was in, say...a Twins uniform, that he would be more accepted. Just like Cal Ripken Jr. was because he played for the Orioles. That might be true, but I have a feeling that Jeter would still be the arrogant prick most people see today.
Everything has to be big and flashy with Jeter. He loves the spotlight. He dated Mariah Carey. He's currently married to Minka Kelly. That's enough jealousy alone for most sports fans, but there's more. Jeter has won more World Series championships, five, by himself than 22 franchises in Major League Baseball.
Again, I get it...he's good. But he has to flash that in every single occasion. Watch the next routine ground ball in the hole that Jeter gets. The average major league player could pick the ball up, gun it to first, and nail the guy by 20 feet. But this is Derek Jeter.
Jeter will take the ball, jump 20 feet in the air, and then make the wildest throw possible to nail the guy by inches. Somehow, by not making the fundamental play, Jeter gets on Sportscenter nightly. Little Leaguers see this, and baseball is borderline ruined by kids trying to make a "web gem" like Jeter.
It also doesn't help that Jeter has the annoying little fist pump like he accomplished something after every freaking play. Fly out to left? FIST PUMP! Grounder to third? FIST PUMP! Probable strike called a ball? FIST PUMP! One of these days, I would like to fist pump Jeter's face.
And after all of this, Jeter is worshipped like a freakin' God. Tripping Olney (which is supposed to be Buster Olney on a really bad acid trip) tweeted that in the past week alone, ESPN has ran 3,000 stories on Derek Jeter's chase for 3,000 hits.
Whew, 3,000 hits. You must be tired Derek Jeter, just go ahead and take the all-star break off it's not like your legion of moronic fans stuffed the ballot box so their adorable mascot could play shortstop. Oh wait, they did. And baseball is pissed because 84 players were recognized as all-stars this season cause people like Jeter had a case of the Mauers.
It's actually surprising that Jeter would allow someone else to take his place at shortstop. Remember, Jeter forced the greatest shortstop ever to play the game (steroids or not) in Alex Rodriguez to move to third base upon his arrival to the Big Apple. Food for thought.
The bottom line is this. While Jeter deserves a ton of credit for his accomplishment, don't expect me or the majority of the baseball universe to worship him like a Greek God. Most human beings cheer for good things to happen to good people. Like...Jim Thome? Yeah, ESPN he's on the brink of 600 career home runs, but you wouldn't know that with your head so far up Jeter's ass.
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