Call it an unwanted blast from the past.
During the broadcast of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat on Tuesday, TNT cameras panned to former Yankees teammates Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez as they watched the game with their respective parties at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Before transitioning back to the game, however, the commentators referenced the Celtics’ 0-3 deficit in the series and offered a painful reminder to Jeter, 48, and Rodriguez, 47, about the championship berth that got away in 2004.
Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter appear on the TNT broadcast of the Celtics-Heat game on May 23, 2023. TNT via Awful Announcing/Twitter
Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter during Game 7 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox in October 2004. Getty Images“In Major League Baseball, in ’04, those two Yankees right there were against the Red Sox and the Sox were down three games to none in the ALCS, came back to win that, then they won the World Series,” the broadcast said.
The Red Sox, who, at the time, had not won the World Series since 1918, topped the Yankees in seven games during the 2004 ALCS.
Boston advanced to the World Series and swept the Cardinals in four games.
The Red Sox have won three additional championships since, in 2007, 2013, and 2018.
Hannah Jeter and Derek Jeter take in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat on May 23, 2023. NBAE via Getty ImagesAs for the Celtics, they bounced back with a dominant 116-99 victory against the Heat to capture their first win of the series.
Game 5 returns to Boston on Thursday night.
Though it remains to be seen if Rodriguez and Jeter will be in attendance, the duo appeared to enjoy themselves at Tuesday’s game.
Alex Rodriguez and Jaclyn Cordeiro attend a Lakers-Warriors playoff game on May 4, 2023. NBAE via Getty Images
Rich Paul and Alex Rodriguez speak during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Nuggets on May 22, 2023. Getty ImagesJeter was seated courtside with his wife, model Hannah Jeter.
The couple, who has been married since 2016, announced earlier this month they had welcomed their fourth child together, son Kaius Green, who joins sisters Bella Raine, 5, Story Grey, 4, and River Rose, 1.
Rodriguez, who is dating fitness enthusiast Jaclyn Cordeiro, he has been spotted at several NBA playoff games throughout the postseason, including the Nuggets’ series-clinching win over the Lakers on Monday in Game 4 of the Western Confrence Finals.
