Derek Jeter - Yankee Legend

The words "great" and "awesome" tend to thrown around too often in everyday conversation. They embellish or cover the facts in certain situations. Frequently, what is termed "great" is actually no better than "good" and "awesome," a word now expressed nearly as much as the fillers, "um," "ah," and "like," is simply "excellent" or "terrific."

"Great" and "awesome" have taken to the grand stage of professional athletics for many years. Here, in particular, many ballplayers are considered "great" for no other reason than their salaries. That does not make a player great - his/her statistics, consistency, and longevity do.

This brings me to a ballplayer who TRULY GREAT. His name is Derek JeterDerek Jeter, captain of the New York Yankees. Last night, Jeter tied a Yankee record that stood for 70 years. Lou GehrigLou Gehrig retired in 1939 with 2,731 hits. Granted, if he did not fall ill, he would have had MANYmore hits. But let's not detract from Derek Jeter's feat. Jeter has been the full-time Yankee shortstop since 1996. Year in and year out, he has been consistent, both at the plate and in the field. He leads by example - that is a sign of greatness.

After going hitless in the first three games of the Yankees' latest series, against the Tampa Bay Rays, Jeter got 3 hits last night to tie the team record. He was set to break the record in his final at-bat, but he drew a walk. The fans booed - understandably. They wanted to be a part of history; they wanted to be in attendance when Jeter got that BIG hit.

But something dawned on me this morning. Maybe there was a reason why Jeter did not get that record-breaking hit last night. The Yankees play at home tomorrow night against the Baltimore Orioles.......Tomorrow is September 11 - the world knows what that date calls to mind. The game will be played in New York City, one of the main sites of disaster eight years ago, just several miles from Yankee Stadium. Back in 2001, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees helped New Yorkers and Americans forget about their sorrows for a brief period of time. They made the playoffs and got to the World Series. Derek Jeter's poise and dedication came through during those trying times.

You may think that I am a Yankee fan. I am NOT. But I truly admit, Derek Jeter is a class act, a "legend."