Can't We Have Anything Nice???

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You see that smile on Jeter's face?

I'm telling you, I watched him play approximately 95% of the games that he ever played in and he was smiling a lot. Even if they were losing, Jeter would find a moment to smile a little bit.

He enjoyed playing shortstop for the Yankees.

I still laugh when I think of him covering his face with his glove because he was laughing so hard at Luis Sojo falling down (for no apparent reason) during the 2000 World Series.

I smile too when I think of him standing at the railing, talking and laughing with the kids who were there (he did that every single time he played).

But it's sad that he got old right before our eyes.

What's even sadder are the people giving him grief.

Has Jeter hurt the Yankees this year?

Should Jeter still be batting second?

Jeter's range is hurting the Yankees at short!

Was Jeter an overrated player?

Well let me answer all of those questions for you.

He could have been pushed to short in a wheelchair and Yankee fans would have been cheering for him.

Me included.

Let me tell you something about Jeter.

When he dove into the stands in the Boston game - we've all seen the play - A-Rod was standing next to him with both hands pressed to the side of his head.

A-Rod and hundreds of others wouldn't have chased that ball to a bloodied end.

Jeter could've pitched if he wanted.

He could've batted clean-up for all I cared.

He was the leader.

He was the guy who made my Mom cry when he announced that he couldn't play anymore.

He was always classy to his fans, his teammates and the guys who competed against him.

He tipped his cap to the pitcher and the opposing manager before he batted - every game!

He never had a prolonged argument with an umpire. Was never ejected from a game.

He had about 3,600 hits.

He made the flip play.

And yet, there are people out there who want to crap all over his career and all that he stood for.

That sucks.

Overrated?

His career stats don't compare to A-Rod, or Bonds or McGwire or Sammy Sosa or even Ken Griffey...

...but let's see how it plays out, folks...

Like it or not...

...he'll go down as one of the greatest players in the history of baseball.

And he deserves that designation.

Just look at how he played his last game at Yankee Stadium.

That's what we watched all the time.

So thank you, Derek Jeter.

It was our pleasure.

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