Sorts of Sports

Who Cares about Jeter?

Reason #31593 why I hate ESPN: This whole Jeter thing about getting not hit is just absurd and ESPN is blowing it wide open trying to make an issue out of it and therefore, making me defend Jeter. What is going on in this world. ESPN, why must you do this? It has been on your front page all day as if he got caught with steroids. Next you will be asking if he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Ok, if you didn't see what happened, Jeter took a pitch inside which appeared to hit him on the wrist, but after replay, showed that it came off the handle of the bat. Jeter acted as if it hit him and bought the call. He got on first, scored, and the Yankees lost the game. Why does ESPN care? Why should we care? Gamesmanship happens all the time in every single sport and Jeter was smart enough to get the call. If I've seen it once, I've seen it a million times.

Players will try and dupe the officials because it is not what you can see, but what you can prove. I've been an umpire and a ref and a coach and a player and I know how gamesmanship works. I think I hold the New Hampshire state record for taking charges in one season. I could sell a charge to the officials like it was my business. I remember once a ref didn't see the play at all, but heard me and then saw that I was on the floor and thus gave me the benefit of the doubt.

Gamesmanship is not cheating. This is absolutely absurd that people are talking about it. Players do this all the time in every sport. Take baseball alone, players try and sell the hit by pitch when the ball lands in the dirt near the feet. Then there is the AJ Pierzynski dropped third strike call. You do what you can to win. Forget instant replay. Jeter did nothing wrong here. How about we get an umpire who isn't deaf? I mean listen to the replay and it sounds like a ball hitting a bat.

Things could be worse, it could be soccer flops.