Captain Clutch

This past week, Derek Jeter participated in his 14^th and final all-star game. Jeter has become the poster child of the Yankees and, largely, has been the face of the MLB for the past decade. He also is the captain of the New York Yankees, which is a huge honor, since he is only the 11^th official captain of the team. Jeter is the longest tenured captain of the team as this is his 12^th season as captain.  His on and off field performance.

Derek Jeter is very well known all around the major league baseball. He is known as a leader and is well respected. Were ever he goes, he is treated well, even in towns that typically "hate" the frequently successful Yankees.  You would think that some teams fan base wouldn’t care for him, but wherever he goes he still is well-received because of the way he acts as a person. This was made blatantly clear in a viral ad done by Nike in his honor last week. He is one of the most poised athletes in the game. Younger players look up to him, and many want to be him. He is a role model on and off the field. One thing that sets him apart from most players is his off the field attitude. While he is often in the media, it was rarely negative issues that would damage his  or his team's reputation. By and large, he is the role model you would want kids looking up to.

Every team looks for one of these players that can lead their team through thick and thin. Jeter did so and this is the nickname "The Captain" came from. He will always be looked as a leader and as his last year come to an end, you can bet the Yankees will work to honor everything he has done for them as the model athlete, team member, and leader.

Derek Jeter's Farewell Season

Today's blog post was written by James Hodgens, a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Play Like a Champion founder and directors Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan.  James is a senior marketing major at the University of Notre Dame, and despite his allegiance to the Yankees, the editor of this blog will allow this homage to Derek Jeter. 

For some sports fans March is about college basketball; for baseball enthusiasts such as myself, it’s all about getting prepared for Opening Day.  Every year as the weather gets warmer; it means baseball season is getting closer.  However, this season will be different from every other season I have watched.  This year will be my last opportunity to watch my favorite player – Derek Jeter. 

I was born the same year Jeter was drafted (1992), and was three years old when he made his Major League debut (in 1995).  My earliest sports memories were of the great Yankees teams of the late 1990’s, and Jeter is the last remaining Yankee from those great teams.  Needless to say, I have never known the Yankees without Jeter.  To me, he is more than just a great player on my favorite team; he is a role model in a time where sports, especially baseball, have experienced a digression in the character of athletes.

Derek Jeter
New York Yankees

Jeter has had, without a doubt, one of the most accomplished careers in baseball: he is a thirteen time All-Star, five time World Series champion, and a member of the 3000 hit club.  However, what make him special are the demonstrations of his character and the values that he preaches.  It was not just natural athleticism that enabled Jeter to achieve so much; he possesses an incredible drive.  He once said: “If you’re going to play at all, you’re out to win.  Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy, I hate to lose.”  When he struggled during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, critics began to question whether or not he was too old to continue to excel.  He responded by rebounding during the 2011 season and having one of his best years in 2012.  Now, after missing almost the entire 2013 season, he is attempting to come back from injury for one last season.

Jeter has maintained his sterling reputation during baseball’s most corrupt years – the steroid era – and in what is considered to be the most difficult city to play in – New York.  Being the star player for the Yankees earns you a lot of support, but also a lot of negative attention from media and opposing fans.  Jeter takes it all in stride, using it all as further motivation.  In addition, his charity, the Turn 2 Foundation, has raised money to help children adopt healthy lifestyles away from drugs and alcohol.  For these reasons, Jeter is respected by teammates and opposing players from around the league.

Baseball will miss Derek Jeter when he retires.  Given his history of avoiding the spotlight, there is a good chance that he will live a quiet life after baseball.  Hopefully he is healthy enough to finish his career with one last great season.  For all that Jeter has done for the game of baseball, he deserves it.