American exceptionalism on display - Derek Jeter, the Captain, hits 3,000 and more
Derek Jeter, the future Hall of Fame Yankee shortstop did something that Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig or even Mickey Mantle never did...and yet he is a quiet, humble hero in the style of Alvin York or countless other American heroes by Mark Vogl
(conservative)
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Yankee stadium filled today in preparation for a game between a very good New York Yankees team and the Tampa Bay Rays. The weather was beautiful after yesterday's rain out. Blue skies and lovely white clouds draped over the emerald green of the new Yankee stadium. But, there was a special buzz today as baseball fans gathered knowing that Derrick Jeter needed only two more hits to get 3,000. Derek would be the 28th man in the history of the game toreach thisperch.
Baseball was long known as "the" American national past time. In the twentieth century, generations of American children (yes girls too)grew up playing and listening to baseball. Trading cards were the currency of childhood. Countless boys learned statistics and memorized data about thousands and thousands of ball players. Baseball taught self-confidence, teamwork, specialization, and the value of hard work and sweat. Baseball taught boys about dreams. It set standards of conduct. It taught one to play by the rules. And, it helped create and substantiate the myth of American of greatness.
Movies like the Pride of the Yankees, Field of Dreams, For the Love of the Game, and many many others used baseball to paint stories of glory,sacrifice,fair play, and of the real nature of America. Baseball is about competition. Only one team can win, only one pitcher gets the win. Its about performance, its about stamina over a long season. It's about effort, and the cold hard reality that only one team can be the world champion each year. Learning disappointment is part of baseball. And truly great players play great for years and years. Legends live, you can see them. You can see play larger than most. You feel their presence on a team.
In our lifetime, fewathletes arelegends. Derek Jeter is one.There are some others, Emit Smith, and Peyton Manningcome to mind. But these men have little public ego. They play for the team, winning is more important to them than their individual statistics or honors. In an interview immediately after Jeter's three thousandth hit, Jeter's father said of his sons hit, it is important because we want to win. At the time of Jeter's monumental hit, a solo home run, the Yankees were behind 1 - 0. Later in the game Jeter would double and score another run. All together Jeter went five for five, driving in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Derek has been much more than just another baseball player or athlete to millions of kids, and probably millions of men too. Derek Jeter is a quiet leader. A man who leads his team by example, or through quiet words to comrades who need support, or guidance, or encouragement. Derek's behavior off the field has been spotless. He is a real role model. In a time when America has focused on socialism and the weakness and faults of the individual, Derek has been a living example of just how good a human being can be. Derek is the ultimate 21st Century American. His parents have been supportive and behind him from day one Yankee fans are used to seeing his parents when the cameras pan the crowd.
When one sits and thinks, or ponders life, it becomes readily obvious that there are few Beethovens, few Lou Gehrigs. Truly great people come maybe once a generation. America hasn't seen a great patriot since Ronald Reagan. We have seen plenty of super stars flash in the pan. We have seen plenty of wealthy people like Donald Trump. But, rarely do see men like Derick. It's not his hits, or excellent play in the field. It's more than that. It's Derek. It's the innocence in his face, the light in his eye. He looks like a 37 year old Little Leaguer! He has the same enthusiasm as the rookie year of America's boys, that first year when they put on the uniform and ride the bike to the baseball field.
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At last! Something we can agree on, and what an incredible way to get to 3,000. 5 for 5, hits a homer for the 3,000th hit, and drives in the winning run. I'm half surprised he didn't run out to the center field wall in the ninth to take away the home run instead of Granderson!
