Wednesday, February 12, 2014

THE CAPTAIN’S BOW - JETER’S LAST SEASON

 
Picture taken by The NYY Writer
It was no shock, for me, to have heard Derek Jeter announcing his retirement after this one last season; however, I was shocked that he announced it before the season as opposed to the end.  He has continuously averted the spotlight from himself and solely concentrated on the bottom line of a win versus a loss.

By announcing his retirement prior to the first game of the season, it definitely draws more-than-usual personal attention directly to him.  His genuine love for his family, the NY Yankees, the game, and the fans may be the collective primary reasons why he’s chosen this early-announcement route:

- His father has stated to the media several times that he’s told Derek to enjoy the moments and the journey. 
- Derek continually spoke of his gratefulness for the Yankees’ organization, especially George.
- His respect for the game of baseball, no matter what team, has been portrayed with class throughout his career, even his respect for the Mets & Red Sox.
- Derek has an unbelievable genuine respect for the fans and we all feel it when we’re sitting there rooting for the Yankees.

Again, I believe these collective attributes of Derek contributed to his thought process.  Anybody who believes that Derek did this early announcement to get any accolades really hasn’t been watching the last 19 years of leadership and aura this “Captain” has demonstrated each day we’ve see him.

I will write another blog/article when his last season ends, along with the unbelievable numbers Derek has collected; but, like Mo, there’s a lot more to him than the baseball numbers we’re so accustomed to weighing.  For Derek, it’s never been about him, but for once, it really is.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

DISMISSALS:  A-ROD & MIKE FRANCESA

Isn’t it ironic that the only two people who thought that A-Rod’s lawsuit cases against MLB & the Player’s Union had a chance are now without a voice to be heard or seen on the YES Network again?  Basically, in the same week, A-Rod withdrew both lawsuits, submitting to his 162-game suspension and Mike Francesa was withdrawn by the YES Network, ending his 12-year on-air broadcast with them.

Both dismissals give Yankees’ fans quite the opposite - affirmation and declaration!  It is now affirmed that we don’t have to deal with anymore court drama, while we can relate to the Declaration of Independence from both morons.

A-Rod may never play another game in a Yankee uniform, which is what most NYY fans hope.  That soap opera is still lingering, but it’s thankfully losing its storylines.  Perhaps the Yankees will make a compromising offer that will lessen the $61 million owed for the final two seasons (2015 & 2016).  At least in this coming season, we don’t have to deal with the saga.

Mike Francesa is only getting what he has deserved for a long time - someone to put him in his place and disconnect him!  The man has progressively gotten worse each year since his bitter loss of his “dog”.  Ever since Chris Russo (the Mad Dog) was dismissed from WFAN, Francesa has begun to act more and more like a brat. It’s bad enough listening to him on the radio waves rudely hanging up on his callers, but watching his expressions and temper tantrums on TV is even more humiliating.

He claims that the YES Network wanted sportscasters that only spoke on a lopsided sway to their liking.  Well, talk about calling the kettle black, he determinedly only listened to callers that saw things from his close-minded perspective.  Others were rudely hung up on by the world’s cockiest and rudest man.  Many of those callers were even ridiculed more, after their disconnections!

Sadly, Mike Francesa has a lot of knowledge in baseball, football, basketball and even horse racing; but, his knowledge has been increasingly fading to the back of his reputation with his rudeness moving to the forefront of his career.  Many guests have reportedly resisted wanting to be on his show anymore because of it, and many callers continue to call others who are more open-minded, who might at least give them a chance to opinionate!  Ironically, the radio station advertises itself as the “Fan” but it’s the “fan” that Francesa filters and selectively ignores.  Without fans, he’s sportscasting to himself.  Maybe this could help him realize this?  Nah, he’s too cocky and thinks the world revolves around him.

Rumors evolve that Francesa may soon be aired on another TV cable channel and A-Rod still has a contract that will pay him a very handsome amount whether or not he plays another MLB game; but, for this week’s dismissals, I bluntly state that the Yankees are currently disconnected from both...“Yes”!!!