The NY Jeters

The title of this blog post would be the name of the NY Yankee franchise if it was up to me. As many people know (even if you're not a Yankee fan), Derek Jeter is technically a free agent. He is one of the last remaining pieces of one of the greatest teams in all of sports that began with the 1996 Yankee squad.

There aren't too many figures in sports that define winning. Jeter is one of them. I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who once said that in today's sports, all you're rooting for is laundry. Players come and go now for bloated contracts, and every year you can see a whole new team run on the field. You're just rooting for the shirts they're wearing. That's just the way a business is run. And I understand that baseball is still a business, especially to the ones with the checkbook.

However, the fact that it's been over 20 minutes of free agency for Jeter is a travesty. If there is one team in sports that shouldn't put a price tag on a contract as important as Jeter's, it's the Yankees. For those who don't know, or remember, some of the shitty contracts that the Yanks have handed out over the years, allow me to enlighten you:

Carl "may he burn in hell" Pavano:  $39.9 million/4 years

Kei Igawa: $46 million (including negotiating fees)/5 years

Steve Karsay: $22 million/4 years

Rondell White: $10 million/2 years

Jaret Wright: $20 million/3 years

AJ "can't make a playoff starting rotation" Burnett: $82 million/5 years

Jason "Giambino" Giambi: $120 million/7 years

Yeaaaaa.....Now, Jeter's contract is larger than these, but the point is to look at the money they've spent over the last decade. Most of that money could've helped the Yanks more if they burned it and pissed on the ashes, literally (I actually think Pavano may have done that).

These contracts were dealt out quickly and, for the most part, without notice. To think that it was a quick decision to deal $26 million to NEGOTIATE a contract with Kei Igawa, yet we're playing hardball with Jeter's contract is mind-boggling. There is a generation of fans that spend ass-loads of money supporting the Yankees that were raised on Derek Jeter moments.

You know what...maybe they should decide to stop wearing pinstripes. Or take out Memorial Park. Because to me, and many other fans, Jeter is just as important to the franchise.

If George was still alive, a blank check would've been made out to Jeter the day that the season ended. I bet Jeter brought more happiness to The Boss than his idiot sons ever have.

So, as a pissed off fan, I can make one promise. If Jeter isn't a Yankee next year, I will trade in my pinstripes for good. They can sell their overpriced tickets and beer to some other rube.

- Diddy