Derek Jeter

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Derek Jeter
Any sports enthusiast knows that whenever the New York Yankees are mentioned, the name is usually followed up with adjectives, which describe their sheer greatness. Although this team has had superior athletes over the years, the name that has drawn attention and acclaim is undoubtedly that of Derek Jeter. Jeter spent 18 seasons breaking records, influencing young people and showing that a heralded public figure does not always have negative connotations associated with them. The articles, Derek Jeter a hero to the end by Bob Klapisch, Derek Jeter’s Last Home Game Shows Why He’s ‘Captain Clutch by Anthony Castellano, and Yankee Captain Derek Jeter does it the old fashioned by Mike Lupica, are a testimony of Jeter’s virtuoso athleticism. Derek Jeter has been instrumental in influencing the New York Yankee organization due to his good sportsmanship, drive for success and his role-model endeavors.
All the three articles focus on one event and convey one central message. They focus on the final professional appearance of legend Derek Jeter on the pitch and convey the sole message that Jeter is a figure worth noting, and his departure will have a significant effect on the team. Notably, the expert player influenced the team in three ways. Foremost, he motivated the young players. In his article, Lupica repeatedly says that in the player’s last game at the Yankee Stadium, Jeter became a kid. Despite being 40 at the time, he played like a young and energetic professional.

In straightforward terms, the player motivated young and upcoming players not to despair, but to continue playing hard, and let age not be a deterrence. At 40, the player still emerged as the team’s panacea, gaining the nickname Mr. November (Lupica 1).
Secondly, Jeter is a source of encouragement to both his team and the fans. When David Robertson makes a notable mistake in the pitch, Jeter is quick to offer encouraging words “Don’t cry,” (Klapisch 1). This makes him a source of encouragement and confidence. Moreover, the moves that Klapisch describes clearly show the support that Jeter enjoys from the crowd. It is worth noting that, the trust that the crowd has in the legend player is enormous – an implication that he is a primary attraction. Even after Robertson makes a grave mistake – one that Klapisch describes as “…spray-painting graffiti on the Mona Lisa,” Jeter is able to restore their confidence.
Thirdly, Jeter is a societal icon that has triggered excitement and motivation in different fields. In his article, Klapisch says that Jeter had his whole career wrapped up in Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” (1), a hit song that people have come to associate with him. The emotional climate (Castellano 1) that surrounded Jeter’s final game at his home stadium reveals the extent to which he was connected to his fans, to the game and the entire Yankee fraternity. Clearly, Jeter is a role model for both his fellow players and all other upcoming players.
In conclusion, it is clear that Jeter is a legend who has had a significant impact on the game, his fans, fellow players, and the society. Three among his primary influences on the society are brought out in the three articles cited for the purposes of this paper – he is a societal icon, he is the panacea of the team, a source of encouragement and confidence, as well as a big motivation for his team. Overall, the player is a role model for many existing and potential players.

Works Cited
Castellano, Anthony. Derek Jeter’s Last Home Game Shows Why He’s ‘Captain Clutch’. ABC News. (2014): Retrieved on October 2, 2015 from: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/derek-jeters-home-game-shows-captain-clutch/story?id=25769647
Klapisch, Bob: Derek Jeter a hero to the end. North Jersey Breaking News. (2014): Retrieved on 2 October 2015 from: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/klapisch-derek-jeter-a-hero-to-the-end-1.1096807
Lupica, Mike. Yankee Captain Derek Jeter does it the old-fashioned way. Daily News. (2014): Retrieved on October 2, 2015 from: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/lupica-yankee-captain-derek-jeter-old-fashioned-article-1.1953566