NEW YORK -- In the few hours after the Yankees captured the World Series on Wednesday night, Derek Jeter quietly emerged from Yankee Stadium. It was about 2 a.m. and there was still a sly smile on his face.
A crowd of about 40 to 50 people was still around the players exit from the stadium and they were joined by a small force of about two dozen police officers nearby. When Jeter departed, the group of fans screamed loudly, chanting, "Je-ter! Je-ter! Je-ter!" The police moved in to provide a protective bubble around the shortstop and a few other Yankees players.
Jeter waved and hopped into a black SUV with his girlfriend, Minka Kelly. In another car behind Jeter was pitcher CC Sabathia. Jeter drove off, still smiling, as the chants intensified. In front of the car were two police motorcycles; in back of the mini-motorcade, two more.
It was an armed escort for one of the most important men in New York.
How important? The Bronx is considering naming a 512-foot bridge after Jeter and the bridge would cost $87 million; 87 million is also the number of women who've dreamed of Jeter, minus his uniform.
"There have been conversations at the community board, and I know the idea is being examined," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said to the New York Post of the potential Derek Jeter Bridge. "It's something I am ready to support. We're moving on it."
First, the bridge will be named after him. Next, someone will propose to rename the city after him.
But here's a question before the renaming of New York City to Jeter City commences:
Jeter is a free agent after the 2010 season. Could there ever be a scenario where he pulls a Brett Favre?
Derek Jeter a member of the ... Red Sox?
Or could this announcement ever occur? "We're proud to announce Derek Jeter as a member of the New York Mets," the team says in a statement.
Could that happen? Ever?
Next year Jeter will be 36 years old. In football, that's ancient. In baseball, it's moderately old, but still old.
Would the Yankees ever let Jeter go because of his age?
If you believe that, there's a bridge I'd like to sell you (named the Derek Jeter Bridge).
What is true is that Jeter holds the Yankees firmly by the baseballs. He'll be able to command (or demand) almost any salary he wants from the team because if Jeter left the Yankees there would be mass anger among the fan base (and mass suicides in the female model community).
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| Derek Jeter helped the Yankees end a nine-year championship drought. (Getty Images) |
Odd things sometimes happen in sports, and this would be among the strangest ever.
Favre left the Packers because the team didn't treat him like Prince Favre, and he also thought he had a lot left.
How many years does Jeter have remaining in that Hall of Fame arm?
"There's a lot left," Jeter said to CBSSports.com. "There's still a lot of winning to do."
"Nobody's thinking about retirement right now," he said, highly irritated.
Jeter was annoyed at the question, but it's legitimate because, despite being one of the greatest athletes of all time (in any sport) as well as one of the best ambassadors, he still ages. Yes, even Jeter gets old.
In the World Series, Jeter became the oldest starting shortstop to play for a championship team since the Brooklyn Dodgers' Pee Wee Reese in 1955. Only three shortstops started for World Series-winning teams after the age of 35 and they're all in the Hall of Fame: Reese, Phil Rizzuto for the Yankees and George Davis with the 1906 Chicago White Sox. What would prevent a Favre-like nihilistic scenario with Jeter is Jeter himself. Jeter knows leaving the Yankees for another team would cause a rip in the space-time continuum and he would stay with the Yankees just to avoid the universe imploding on itself.
At least, I think he would. Many thought the exact same thing with Favre.
The Yankees will likely strike a deal with Jeter before his contract is up. At least, let's hope they're that smart.
Jeter leaves the Yankees ... it won't happen. No way. No way in hell.
Right?
Right?
