THE Yankees have given their fans a gift by bringing Alex Rodriguez aboard. They have given them the gift of relating to their parents and grandparents.
How can that be true in this money-hungry game, you ask?
This generation of Yankee fans now has two superstars to root for in the same manner as past generations rooted for the M&M Boys in their prime. That would be Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris for those who can’t relate to the 1960s. Only these two could be better. Much better.
In A-Rod and Derek Jeter you have all the components of a baseball reality show. Anything can happen. How will the two superstars relate? Will A-Rod really be happy at third base? What if he gets off to a slow start, will fans be patient with him? What if Jeter struggles at short? How long before the A-Rod contingent pushes for him to move to the sexier position?
Will the two maintain their friendship? Will the media make them out to be enemies, much like the M&M Boys media made it seem like Mantle and Maris were constantly feuding? Those stories left Mantle and Maris laughing at critics. “Look Rog, it says here we’re fighting again.”
The feeling here is that too much is already being made about A-Rod’s switch to third. The man is sick of losing and he’s not getting any younger. He’s happy to move to third to have the chance to win his first championship. George Steinbrenner once again has done a good job making the Yankees a hungry clubhouse by bringing in stars like Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield who have never won a ring. Now all A-Rod has to do is perform under the bright lights.
A-Rod and Jeter can push each other from a competitive standpoint each game, each inning, each pitch.
“Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you.”
Barring a complete collapse from the pitching staff – at least until Tim Hudson & Co. arrive as free agents – these Yankees will always be competing in October.
“Sure Derek, that was a great flip you made against the A’s, but check this out.”
There is nothing wrong with that kind of competition. It is what great players thrive on to make each other better. Imagine if Mantle and Willie Mays played together. This is a dream matchup.
“Sure Jetes, you’ve won four rings – but you couldn’t get one for the thumb until I came along.”
The endorsements are endless. Jeter and the Boss had their conga-line spot last year. I can already picture one where A-Rod hustles out to shortstop, is tapped on the backside by Jeter, who points to third and says, “Excuse me, aren’t you in the wrong place?” Just fill in the tag line and the product.
Jeter and A-Rod were made for each other. This is Cooperstown come to life and the two will be appearing nightly at Yankee Stadium and other venues. It is the way it is supposed to be. Only the best survive and flourish in New York and today Alex Rodriguez will be welcomed home like he has never been welcomed before.
His baseball dream starts this afternoon at the Stadium. It doesn’t matter one bit that it starts at third base, all that matters is that he is now a star for the home team in the House that Ruth built and is playing alongside one of his best baseball friends, a champion.
If that is not a Field of Dreams come to life, then you don’t know anything about this game. Even Met fans might admit it’s going to be fascinating to watch Jeter and Rodriguez together. A new generation of Yankee fans has been given a gift. Sit back and enjoy each game, each inning, each pitch.
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WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?
August 6, 1999
Yanks and Mariners engage in 9th-inning bench-clearing brawl resulting in several ejections, injuries, Chili Davis attacking a Mariner’s coach and Don Zimmer being knocked to ground. Jeter, who sat out game but is on field during fight, chats with Rodriguez off to side while teammates pummel each other. Afterwards in dugout – and again in locker room – Jeter is confronted by teammate Chad Curtis, who is angry the two shortstops were kidding around during fight.
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March 3-4, 2001
Rodriguez takes shot at Jeter in Esquire article (April 2001), saying, “He hits second – that’s different than third or fourth in a lineup. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie [Williams] and [O’Neill]. You Never say, ‘Don’t let Derek beat you.’ He’s never your concern.” A-Rod also questioned Jeter’s leadership qualities. Earlier in offseason, in radio interview after inking $252 million pact with Texas, Rodriguez says that Jeter’s bank balance would never match his because Jeter is not as good. Jeter tries to down play quotes, saying he knows Rodriguez did not have malicious intentions. Rodiguez also tries to defend himself, saying some quotes were taken out of context.
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March 14, 2001
Yanks and Rangers face each other at Legends Field. It is first time Jeter and A-Rod see each other since Esquire interview. Jeter jokes with reporters about situation telling them, “He is the quote man.” A-Rod continues to back off magazine comments saying, “I am Derek’s biggest fan. When he hurts, I hurt. When he does well, I am happy. He is as good a friend as I have in the whole world. I would give him the shirt off my back if he needed it. I would never question Derek Jeter because I think so highly of him. I have to be clear and careful with what I say because my intent was never to hurt him.”
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August 2001
PAGE SIX reports that A-Rod brought Latina performer Joy Enriquez to All-Star Game only to have sexy singer run off with Jeter.
