Derek Jeter Won't Admit Who He Is Angry At

Derek Jeter finally commented on his contentious off-season contract negotiations today and said he was "angry" but wouldn't specify who he was angry at.  The New York Yankee held a press conference announcing his re-signing with the only team he has ever played for at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa--70 miles from the Winter Meetings in Orlando.  The mountain goes to Jeter.

The five minute announcement was broadcast live on ESPN and the MLB Network this afternoon.

The Yankee Captain was originally rumored to be asking for a deal in the stratosphere of 6 years and $120 million, but finally signed a contract for 3 years for $51 million and a fourth year for $5 million. The 11-time All-Star sat between the man who held firm on the Yankees side of the bargaining table, GM Brian Cashman, and the team manager, Joe Girardi before the conference began.

The conference room was filled with reporters who car-pooled from the Winter Meetings to hear Jeter--who cleared his throat often and looked a little uncomfortable at times--answer questions which have swirled around his drawn out off-season contract talks.

He started the press conference by smiling and saying, "I've never had one of these before."  He thanked the Steinbrenner family and claimed he, "Never thought he wouldn't be a Yankee again."

While much was made by the New York press about Cashman telling Jeter to "test the free-agent waters" over the past couple of weeks, Jeter said he never had any discussions with other teams.  He talked about having his face Photoshopped onto New York Mets and Boston Red Sox uniforms by joking "about being Photoshopped in worse ways."

Jeter got serious when asked why he never discussed the rumors which leaked out during the negotiations.  "I never spoke on this situation," he said.  "That bothered me the most," he continued, " The negotiations are supposed to be private."  He never mentioned how much his agent, Casey Close, originally asked for and if the rumored amounts were true.

"I wasn't negotiating with anyone else," Jeter stressed.  He said he was resentful of the whole process and how he was portrayed as "greedy" and full of "arrogance." "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry," the stern-faced Yankee said.

The future Hall-of Famer didn't take any shots at who his was anger was directed at.  There could be the usual suspects in the Yankee front office--Cashman, Hal or Hank Steinbrenner--who Jeter could lash out at, but he took the high road--even after getting the rumored demands sliced in half.  Leaking information could have been a bargaining tool to make Jeter look like the bad guy and, for a while, Yankee fans were divided on that front.

 The brief conference ended with the 36 year-old Jeter saying he is ready and able to play a few more years and all the chatter of him being too old doesn't bother him.  He drew the conversation away from his own abilities by saying, "I just want to prove we're the best team in baseball."  True Derek Jeter.

If Yankees Don't Land Lee; What's Next?

While the New York Yankees' GM, Brian Cashman, was scaling down a 22-story building in Connecticut this weekend, the team finished signing up two free agents, closer Mariano Rivera and shortstop Derek Jeter.  It is only fitting that this year's Winter Meetings are in Orlando--the home of Disney World--especially the way the Yankees Mickey Moused with the team captain the past few weeks.

Things have been rather noisy around the Yankees off-season offices--not for all the right reasons--and now the Boston Red Sox have started making a racket.  The Sox finally showed some form of life and unapologetic gall this past weekend by announcing that they had offered Rivera, one of the Yank's signing  priorities, a three-year deal and then traded for first-baseman, Adrian Gonzalez.  It's good to see the Yankees/Red Sox rivals butting head once again especially since their wooing of Mo was a direct slap to the face of their own closer, Jonathan Papelbon.  The Sox finally landed a big-time hitter after losing both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to the Yankees in past off-seasons.

Things have been relatively quiet between the two AL East division teams after the Red Sox Nation basked  in the glow of the ALCS in 2004 and the days of "bloody" socks and Pedro Martinez roughing up Don Zimmer.  Regular season games against the Sox have become five hour tests of endurance  compared to the ones against the chippy Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays short-lived "dynasty" will soon go the way of their cowbells and mohawks as the team gets stripped by free-agency.  Rays fans may find solace in the knowledge that it is no secret that Jeter has expressed interest in becoming a major league team owner and has just completed a $36 million estate in Tampa.  Jeter's final playing days have just been signed and sealed and that $51 million should be enough for a down payment on the fan-starved franchise after his days in pinstripes are over.  

The Yankees deals with Rivera and Jeter do raise a few questions.  Rivera has mentioned that his two-year, $30 million contract might be his last.  He was offered three years by Boston and turned it down and there was never any reports of him fighting for more time.  2012 could be the year "Enter Sandman" blasts from the speakers in the house that Jeter built.

Jeter, on the other hand, haggled and got three years plus a fourth with incentives.  Now the only question is whether or not last season's slump was just a bump on the way to Coopperstown.  The 36 year-old  Jeter will be working hard to regain his reputation as a premier player.  The shortstop will turn 37 in June and wasn't too happy with the way he was described and flogged during the contentious contractual process.

Too many stories claimed only two shortstops--Honus Wagner and Luke Appling--were ever successful after the age of 37 and they played eons ago.  Since 1969, only 19 shortstops older than 37 played 100 games in a season and only one, Larry Bowa, made the playoffs.  So Jeter has a high wall to scale.  Maybe he should borrow some of Cashman's rappelling gear.

Now that Cashman has signed two pieces of his off-season trifecta, he can concentrate on getting every one's favorite Christmas present,  Cliff Lee.  Lee's name will be in the New York headlines a lot for the next few days with a few side bars about Andy Pettitte.  The left-handed starter Lee is Cashman's main concern.

"My priority is pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching," the GM said, "I've been focusing on the legacy guys, but I really need to take care of our pitching."  Lee is the class pitcher in a shallow group of free-agents.  The righthander and Pettitte would fill that void.

Lee is going to be looking for a deal of about $140 million for six or seven years.  The Texas Rangers, Lee's team last season, is hoping a longer contract will keep their ace in Arlington, but the Yankees believe their deeper pockets will prevail.

The Yankees and Rangers are the only serious bidders for Lee.   If the Yankees don't get Lee, they might have to fight for the services of Plan B; Carl Crawford.  The Rangers are also interested in the centerfielder and he could become a parting gift to the team that doesn't land Lee, but only if the Los Angeles don't grab him first.   Although the Yankees just lost DH Lance Berkman, it is unlikely that any team could afford both players--especially the recently bankrupt Rangers.

Crawford would be a replacement for one of three current Yankee outfielders--Curtis Granderson,  Brett Gardner or Nick Swisher.  Granderson came on strong at the end of last year and Swisher, a fan favorite, had a solid first half, then wilted after his All-Star appearance.  Gardner is the young stud and modelled similar  to Crawford, so any rumors of a trade means talks are on between the Yankees and Crawford.

One player the Yankees might want to test in the trade waters is reliever/starter Joba Chamberlain.  The yankees' front office has never expressed interest in trading the inconsistent and maligned Joba, but many think he could thrive on a different team. 

A.J. Burnett could find himself gone if the Yankees sign Lee and Pettitte.  Burnett throws more pies than strikes and the Yankees might be interested in unloading the tattooed pitcher by paying some of his money to a team that wants him.  A nice relief pitcher would be welcome in that trade.  Toronto reliever, Scott Downs could fit the bill.

The Yankees tried to acquire Downs from the Blue Jays last year and have something in common with the lefthander--his agent Casey Close is Jeter's front man.  Nothing breeds love like familiarity and Close has become a regular on Cashman's Skype.  Damasco Marte's shoulder injury leaves the lefty's future in jeopardy and the Yankees bullpen even thinner.

Cashman knows his off-season success hangs on signing Lee.  Jeter and Rivera were primarily slam-dunks and even Carl Crawford would be seen a booby prize.  Its Lee or nothing.

Red Sox Made Last Minute Pitch To Mariano Rivera

The Boston Red Sox made a last ditch effort to land New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera and were prepared to non-tender the contract of Jonathan Papelbon according to a source close to the negotiations.  The 2-year, $30 million offer was exactly the same deal Rivera is set to sign with the Yankees tonight, according to the New York Daily News.

The Yankees gave the green light to sign Mariano after it was reported that other teams were showing interest in the 41 year-old, future Hall-of-Famer.  Besides the Red Sox, it was believed another club was prepared to give the closer a 3-year package worth about $51 million.

Rivera has said he wanted to remain with the team and "Stay loyal to the Yankees," according to the source. The right-hander is a lifelong Yankee and as a tribute to that bond agreed to take less money and fewer years to stay in pinstripes.

Papelbon, who is coming off his worst season in Boston (3.90 ERA, 8 blown saves) and was the Red Sox closer for five years must be wondering where he fits in to the team's future plans.  He is eligible for free agency after next year.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have settled one third of their off-season Triple-Crown.  Getting Derek Jeter and Cliff Lee are the other two jewels in the trifecta.  Rivera's free agency was pretty quiet compared to those other negotiations. In fact, Rivera's contract talks were relatively mouse like.  Until yesterday, the only peep from Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza, was when he remarked that the Yankees and Rivera were "a little far apart" on getting a deal together.   All that changed quickly after other teams started throwing offers on the table.  Cuza has verified receiving calls from other teams, but wouldn't elaborate.

The Yankees winter has been nothing short of dramatic.  While Rivera's contract talks were relatively civil,  New York's sports talk shows have been dominated by discussions about the Yankees love-him-or-leave-him treatment and re-signing of their poster-boy, Derek Jeter and the contractual numbers being thrown at this year's big arm, starting pitcher Cliff Lee.  Jeter's talks have dragged on for weeks and has fans taking sides about the shortstop's worth.

Not so with Rivera.  He has freakishly shown no signs of aging.  Mo posted a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves last season and only he knows how many more years he can pitch.  For now,  the Yankee Stadium sound man will keep "Enter Sandman" on it's play list for at least a couple of more years.

Closing of OTBs is the end of a NYC era ... and culture

By Tony Mangia

It looks like this could be the final stretch for a lot of the dreamers, schemers and a cultural stereotype in New York City if a last ditch rescue of the Off-Track Betting Corporation doesn't come through—and it looks like a long shot.

After a year of Chapter 9 bankruptcy, it appears the New York State Senate has failed to vote on a bailout package and will shut the doors on Friday. A last minute vote is the OTB's only chance of survival. Over a thousand employees of the legal bookmaking joints are bracing for the impact of the closings. 

OTB has run this sloppy track before.  Since 2008—when the state took control—and as recently as last April, talks have swirled of shutting down the forty year-old old state-run betting parlors.  Analysts have called for privatization of the system as a way to rid the city of it's debt. It is currently short-changing the New York Racing Association $2 million a month and owes them over $25 million. OTB filed for bankruptcy exactly one year ago tomorrow and has been—like trans fat and salt portions—a sore spot with Mayor Bloomberg for years.

OTB's CEO, Greg Rayburn, said OTB is "prepared for the shutdown, if it's necessary...and [he] would continue to talk to people in the Senate and explain to them what the provisions are in the bill."  Rayburn—who pulls in $125,000 a month—said he would "urge them to come and act before Friday, because, realistically, once you close, you close." 

The pending plan is to design a new business model with concessions by unions and management in an effort to modernize and lower expenses. Hmm ... maybe Rayburn could start with his salary.

The New York City institution once had parlors in every neighborhood and catered to die-hard railbirds, senior citizens and a wide array of characters who couldn't make it out to Belmont or Aquaduct. Just plunk down a talent agent and every OTB could pass for a Central Casting office. Where will where these New York City extras play the ponies, loiter and socialize after the windows are permanently closed?

Even the adventurous and curious, who didn't know a furlong from a filly, learned how to parlay and pick a trifecta under the fluorescent glow of a ticket-strewn linoleum floor. There were the frat boys and yuppies, with fat bankrolls and loud talk, who strolled in before their Triple Crown parties—and were about as welcome to the old ticket-rippers as Julian Assange is to a White House dinner.

Now, only a dozen or so of the once ubiquitous hangouts remain scattered about the boroughs. Old timers—who think Facebook is the 5-2 favorite at the Meadowlands—blame the decline in OTB attraction on everything from computer games and Internet wagering to a new generation raised on televised football and basketball. Native New Yorkers, who grew up with OTBs, just blame it on more lousy government involvement and believe it should have been sold to a private corporation years ago. Others cried slot machines were the OTB's only salvation and now it is too late.

It's reasonable to suggest that this race between the frisky Senate and the has-been OTB was over before they hit the gates. There was never going to be a neck-and-neck finish down the stretch. Even though one thousand jobs and a way of life in New York City are on the line, it's looks like they're going to put the old nag out of her misery.

No Seabiscuit story here.

Comparing Jeter to Tulowitzki; Like Apples to Rocks

Troy Tulowitzki just signed a seven-year contract extension which will take him through the year 2020 when he will be paid a base salary $14 million with escalations of $6 million in his final year---at the age of 35.  If the tight-fisted Colorado Rockies can expect to spend $20 million on a 35 year-old Tulowitzki who currently has zero World Series Championship rings on his fingers, why can't the New York Yankees fatten their offer for Derek Jeter?

Jeter's agent, Casey Close, met with Yankees brass yesterday and Hank Steinbrenner said he is "confident that Derek will remain with the Yankees."  In an unconfirmed meeting in Tampa, Close met with Hank and Hal Steinbrenner in which could be the start of positive negotiations.  Does the Tulowitzki contract have anything to do with the two sides finally playing nice?

The 26 year-old Tulowitzki's career is on the rise and the Rockies feel they are investing in their future.  He will get $20 million a season from 2015 through 2019. If Tulowitzki is earning $20 million at age 34, what is Jeter's value?

Jeter, understandably,  is coming off his worst season as a Yankee and the 36 year-old is asking to hang around for another four or five years at $23 million per.  Could Tulowitzki's contract set up the framework for a breakthrough in the Yankees/Jeter impasse?

The Yankees shouldn't gauge their offers on Tulowitzki's numbers and Close has to push his client's intangibles and the public relations disaster that would follow if Jeter is released.  Unceremoniously dumping the face of the Yankees would rock George Steinbrenner's over-sized face from his Monument Park plaque.

Let's look at the comparisons.  The Rockies shortstop plays in Coors Field--a hitter's paradise.  Tulowitzki's OPS of .949 dwarfed Jeter's .710 but Tulowitzki--considered the best overall shortstop in baseball--drops to .863 outside the confines of his friendly home field. Fair enough.

Jeter has bling on five fingers and you can't dismiss the fact, even in decline, no one brings as much of a winning pedigree and professionalism to the ballpark like the boy from Kalamazoo does.  His effect on teammates and even opponents is difficult to put into dollars.  It's hard to remember a time you saw Jeter just languishing in the dugout.  He's always at the top of the stairs watching the game--looking for an edge or pushing a slumping player.  Priceless.

Let's review the facts.  Derek Jeter has to face a few realities.  First--cue Bob Sheppard--Now, batting No. 2,  as the third most important piece of the New York Yankees championship puzzle, Derek Jee-tah.  That's right, the life-long Yankee shortstop is the third priority of the team's off-season's acquisitions behind  signing Cliff Lee and re-signing closer Mariano Rivera.

Rivera is still near the peak of his game and Lee is going to come as close to breaking the deep Yankee bank account as anyone can. Did somebody say $3500 seats premium seats?

Jeter was told by the Yankees to test the free-agent waters and he found the pickings were slim.  Even rivals like the Boston Red Sox expressed no interest--even if it was only to rock the Yankee boat.  A slumping 36 year-old shortstop is not desirable even one with Jeter's credentials. 

Second, in 2014,  a 40 year-old Jeter will not be playing shortstop.  He might not be at Robinson Cano's right side in three years.  Strategically, he could move over to third while Alex Rodriguez fills the DH spot.  Could Jeter ever fill the DH with 15-18 HRs a year--I doubt it. 

The Winter Meetings open next week in Orlando and the Yankees want to concentrate on Lee.  The Rangers hurler is the big present the Yankees want under their Christmas tree and Jeter has become a bothersome lump of coal.  Its a shame.

Look at the money the Yankees threw at Nick Johnson last year.  They paid a fortune for A.J. Burnett and have gotten piles of losses in return. Think of what that $16.5M could have done.  The Yankees only in-house shortstop is inexperienced Eduardo Nunez, so the Yanks are in a precarious position.

Compromise.  Hal and Hank, remember what Jeter has meant to the team and the backlash if he doesn't return.  Derek, think of finishing in pinstripes and what you can accomplish next year with Lee.

Simply. Jeter's 11 All-Star appearances, 5 rings (so far) and 5 Gold Gloves should mean something.  He  has a proven track record and should be worth at least 3 years at $18 million per season.  

Tell me what Tulowitzki has accomplished by 2020.

Nolan Ryan Makes Play For Pettitte

By Tony Mangia

Maybe the the Texas Rangers realize they won't be able to sign pitching ace Cliff Lee and want to really zing the Yankees as revenge.  Rangers president Nolan Ryan is playing this off-season like when he was on the mound---hard and fast.

Ryan might not be planning for a Lee exit but reports say he is making an attempt to lasso home-grown Texan star, Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte to ease the pain if it happens.  Cue the harmonica and start the first verse of "Home on the Range."  Nothing Pettitte likes better than being back home--in Texas.

According to sources, Pettitte called Ryan to congratulate him after the Rangers eliminated the Yankees in the ALCS---leading to Texas' first World Series appearance.  At that time, any contact with Pettitte regarding  a stint with the Rangers would be considered tampering.  Ryan waited until the Yankee lefthander became a free-agent before reaching out to him.

Pettitte hasn't declared his intentions for next season, but always expresses a desire to be near his family in Deer Park, a town outside Houston.  Pettitte spent two seasons with the Houston Astros before returning to the Yankees in 2007 to be closer to his children.  The Texas Rangers play in Arlington, only 250 miles from his family's home.

Pettitte, 38, has pitched well the past two post-seasons but is disappointed in the hard-line stance Yankee GM, Brian Cashman, took in an incentive-filled contract in 2009.  The pitcher feels he getting paid as a No. 4 starter, when in reality he is the No. 2 behind CC Sabathia.  He started last season with a 11-2 record with a 2.70 ERA but later missed a couple of months with a pulled groin. 

Pettitte has been doing his annual 'Will he or won't he retire' routine.  A couple of weeks ago, Pettitte told a Houston radio station he would play in "New York or nowhere for sure." Ryan has not denied expressing interest in the Yankee (he declined comment through a Texas spokesman), but Pettitte might be using this as leverage to get back at Cashman.  Pettitte has never showed any interest in playing for the Rangers but it looks like logical plan B.

It seems improbable that Pettitte will leave the Bronx.  He has stated many times his desire to finish career in pinstripes and has turned down offers from other teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers when Joe Torre was there.

Pettitte was paid $11.75 million last year, well below the erratic A.J. Burnett's $16.5 million.  Burnett was a complete washout and Pettitte could be the most important key to next season's success. Unless Burnett completely turns it around--which is doubtful--he looks like dead weight until his contract is up.

If the Yankees land Lee and pair him with Sabathia, they will have the best 1-2 punch in the majors.  Add that pair to Pettitte and Phil Hughes and it is the best starting rotation in baseball.

There are reportedly six teams still in the mix for Lee.  The Rangers are climbing out of bankruptcy and a $130 million contract would take almost 30% of their total budget--not advantageous considering MVP Josh Hamilton's contract is up for renewal next year.

The Yankees are clearly the front runners for Lee, but Ryan is not going to let his ace go quietly into the Texas sunset. What the Rangers can offer  family men Lee and Pettitte is the convenience of being near their homes and Ryan's reputation as  a legendary Texan has a lot of influence. He might even offer  a plan where the two pitchers could fly to their families on off days--ala Roger Clemens.

If by chance the Yankees lose Pettitte, they could be in a bad place.  There aren't many quality starters of Lee and Pettitte's caliber.  Sticky negotiations with two other members of the Core Four have already got Cashman and the Yankees crunching numbers.  Derek Jeter has been told to 'test the market' and Mariano Rivera turned 41 the other day.

Everything looked so much easier for the Yankees only a few weeks ago.  Cashman's unsentimental hard-line stance might have to soften.

Some Reasons For Derek Jeter To Leave NYC

By Tony Mangia

The Yankees claim they have not upped their offer for Derek Jeter.  Sources say Jeter's agent has lowered his demands and another report said that the two sides have not spoken in over a week.  Its finally come down to this and it may be too late to save the popular Yankee's image.  Even WikiLeaks is having a hard time deciphering this mess.

The chinks in Jeter's armor began to show this summer.  A weak performance at the plate, the bad acting after the "phantom beaning" in Tampa and culminating with the howls of disapproval after the shortstop won a Gold Glove.  A disappointing post-season and now a very public contract dispute have led to the prince of the city sporting a tarnished crown.

Since 1996, the brightest and most recognizable face in New York not named Giuliani and the poster boy for major league baseball quietly handled success and all the notoriety that goes with it.  Not an easy thing to do under the glaring New York City lights.  Jeter did it with class and a beautiful woman holding his arm.  A difficult feat considering the frenzied New York City media was chewing on the other hand.

The day of reckoning has come.  Jeter must face up to the fact he no longer has the legs of a young colt or the power of a buck.  The flashes of brilliance are more apt to be flashes of the paparazzi these days.  Jeter has changed in the last fifteen years.  The city is not the same one I knew either.

Everything changes.  New York City has transformed since the young shortstop with a fade haircut rolled in from Kalamazoo.  While Jeter and the iconic Core Four were piling up victories and championship parades and the city picked up the pieces from 9/11, Manhattan evolved into some kind of adult amusement park.

If Jeter ends up in a San Francisco Giants uniform or even a (no way) Red Sox flannel, New York will survive.  Maybe the following list of peeves which annoy New Yorkers could help make Jeter's possible relocation to a faraway place easier.

Jeter already has his Trump penthouse up for sale.  He is off the dating market, but was told by GM Brian Cashman to test the open waters of baseball, so maybe something is up. As a lifelong New Yorker, I serve up these irritants to living in New York City nowadays. 

First thing wrong with New York City right now, the Kardashians, have roosted here.  The publicity hounds have made inroads into select places I never venture, but its the thought of them foraging here and filling the tabloids with their photos that makes me wish for more Jersey Shore.

A few years ago, while Jeter was the most sought after bachelor in New York,  the starlet-magnet would have probably been hitting on Kim or vice-versa.  Jeter has been in a long-term relationship with Minka Kelly (still don't who she is or what she's done) and there have rumor of upcoming nuptials, so we won't go there with Kardashian.  Anyway, the last time Kim, with an ass which could be a Macy's Parade balloon by itself, was spotted she was at ribbon-cutting ceremony for public toilets in Times Square.  Isn't there anything this chick won't do to get some pub?

Speaking of the Kardashians, Bed Bugs have overrun the city.  The little critters have infested Abercrombie and Fitch, the Waldorf and other high-class stores and hotels.  Roscoe the bug-sniffing dog has been very busy and sleepovers are not the rage.

Speaking of pests, stepping from the brown J-M-Z lines comes the Hipster---the fedora-topped, hip-hugging jean wearing, messenger-bag toting 'artist' mass-produced by the clone factory of Williamsburg.  When not handing out coffee at a Starbucks, these creatures can usually be spotted at some "dive" bar nursing a two-hour micro-brew and talking about their band.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Let's not forget the Tourists.  Who says the Euro was in trouble and if I hear "Vair is zee toilette?" one more time, I'm calling the INS.  It's called a bathroom!  And stop walking arm-and-arm-and arm down the sidewalk and clogging it up for working New Yorkers.  It's not NYC in 1984!  No one is going to snatch you from your flock!

In 1996, only Wall Street blow-hards showed off their cell phones, now Texters act like a public walkway is their living room.  God forbid you bump into some one yakking on their phone while holding their cup of latte and walking their dog---simultaneously.  Oh yeah you won't have to divert your eyes while you chat with Dog-walking friends, while they hold a baggie of dog poop like a Chinese fan .

If Jeter and Minka have children in New York, they will most likely grow up to be DJ's or Designers.  All rich kids in the city end up posing as one of those.  It's a phenomenon I still can't figure out.  Who buys those clothes any way?

I could rag on with all the other things that have changed for the worst since Derek Jeter graced the diamond at both the old and the new Yankee Stadiums.  There are Food Trucks, which stink up whole blocks (I'll take a $5 cupcake!), Pedicabs which charge $50 for a $8 cab ride,  Pedestrian Courts on major avenues and  Little Italy is well...littler.  There are no Wal-Marts and too many Yankees games can only be seen on ESPN.  Thank goodness Joe and Jon won't be lulling me to sleep anymore.

Some changes are heartfelt.  George Steinbrenner is gone.  So is Bob Sheppard.  The World Trade Center is still a big hole in the ground, but Yogi has returned from his self-banishment.  Some good news there.

If the Yankees give Derek Jeter the bum's rush like they did to his fellow teammate and pal Bernie Williams, the player's highlights will still remain. Good memories. While the Mets, Knicks, Jets and Rangers produced nothing in fifteen years, Jeter has five championship rings, "the dive" and "the flip"to remind us how important he was to the Yankees and the city when it was wounded.

This is a New York City which is ready to hire a school chancellor with a publishing background, never spent one day in a public school and sends her kids to a private school in Connecticut to oversee over a million city school kids.

If New York can do that, I think the Yankees could find room for a 36-year-old shortstop coming off a down year with the desire and a quest for 3,000 hits in a New York Yankee uniform.  If neither side budges on the negotiations, Jeter could be in the wind.  That might be one change New Yorkers will really hate.