Consider, for instance, how Tim Duncan wasn’t even voted by fans or coaches to the N.B.A. All-Star Game last February. In the context of what Duncan and his San Antonio Spurs achieved in the playoffs, let’s assume the coaches will not repeat that egregious oversight next season, in what could be the final go-round for one of that sport’s purest fundamental, team-oriented stars.
In many measures of style and substance, Duncan is the Jeter of pro basketball, so it should be no surprise that Jeter, a pretty fair high school basketball player, has long been a Duncan fan and was pleased to hear that Duncan, when told of Jeter’s admiration, was genuinely flattered.
“I have not met him, but Tim is a guy who does everything right on the basketball court,” Jeter said. “I mean, he’s not dunking from halfcourt or spinning around and doing 360s. Fundamentally, he’s as good as anyone who’s ever played the game.”
Jeter scoffed at the popular opinion that Duncan wasn’t sexy enough to sell the game, adding that this would be the view only of those who didn’t understand basketball.
“We’re in an atmosphere or culture where it’s all about the highlights,” he said. “But when you get to the playoffs, it’s about finding a way to win games and championships.”
Reminded that he and Duncan had each won five rings, Jeter flashed a crooked smile.
“Yeah, very true,” he said.
As things currently stand, Duncan has a far better chance of breaking the deadlock. Having already overspent on a team that is old and broken, the Yankees are not as interested in investing more in
Jeter’s endgame as they no doubt are in squeezing every penny out of it, beginning with the day, Sept. 7, they announced on Friday that they would hold for the captain.
Some immediately wondered why so early in the month, also opening weekend in the N.F.L. But what is the difference? Much as we will remember his postseason triumphs, his flip play in Oakland and his Mr. November home run in the Bronx, as Jeter said: “People respect you for how you played the game, for how you carried yourself, and that means a lot more to me than someone respecting me for one particular play or something like that.”
The glory, in other words, has been in the routine. That’s what he will miss most about baseball, and that is what baseball will miss most about him.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/sp....html?emc=eta1
Except Jeter has always been extremely overrated, played in a large market, had to be overpaid in his last contract as to not feel disrespected, and typically played on a stacked team that would have won without him. In fact, he's a lot more like sidekick than Timmy.
Edit- And this is coming from a Yankees fan. lol
Is Pooh Jeter coming back to the NBA?
It's the same thing with Cal Ripken Jr. Other than that stupid streak I always thought he was highly overrated. And that is coming from a life long O's fan. Cal Ripken can do no wrong here in Baltimore.
Im a NYer, Jeters overrated. They probably would have won championships without him, somehow he became the face of the Yankees during the le period so i put him into legendary status in the Sports world.
the difference between the two is one will always be remembered and the other wont. That's what a big market like new York does for you. Jeter is beloved by all it seems like. the media, the fans, and the mlb higher ups love the guy. He's getting sendoffs everywhere he goes. Duncan isn't even the fan favorite of san Antonio. His exit will go unnoticed by the casual fan. Sad but its the truth.
Never been a baseball fan, and I've only been to one game here in New York, and that was the Yankees. Never really understood the rules, but regardless, I was pumped up when Mariano came out of to play. You know, enter sandman and all. Off topic, sorry!
That's because one desperately wants the limelight and the other has done everything in his career to stay away from it.
MLB Players with 400 HRs and 3000 Hits:
Hank Aaron: 755 HRs, 3,771 Hits
Stan Musial: 475 HRs, 3,630 Hits
Carl Yastrzemski: 452 HRs, 3,419 Hits
Willie Mays: 660 HRs, 3,283 Hits
Eddie Murray: 504 HRs, 3,255 Hits
Cal Ripken Jr.: 431 HRs, 3,184 Hits
Dave Winfield: 465 HRs, 3,110 Hits
Rafael Palmeiro: 569 HRs, 3,020 Hits
Ripken is far from overrated, dude.
Duncan is more appreciated than you think. Many people are aware he was the best player of his generation, and his exit will not go unnoticed.
Couple things.
Very glad to hear Jeter reference Duncan. Makes me willing to showcase my rooting interests as a semi in the closet Yankees fan. Can we assume had Duncan's career unfolded on the Knicks his status would be as elevated as Jeter's.
The author brought up next year's all-star selections and that Duncan would get a nod as a tribute. Do we know if any other legendary player received a courtesy selection in his final season?
Not overrated at all.. Nobody ever called Jeter the best player in the game or said he was robbed of league mvp's or anything like that. They mostly said a few things about Jeter.
Great Leader
Incredibly consistent- .311 lifetime average 3400 hits
Winner- 5 Rings
One of the great all time Yankees
That's all I ever really heard about him.. Nobody ever said Jeter was Ted Williams. But he was a great player..
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/7...er-of-all-time
If it wasn't for that stupid streak he would be a nobody. We had so many other deserving players on our team over the years and all we had to hear crammed down our throats was Ripken this Ripken that. Dude could bat 125 and still would get voted to the All-Star game year in and year out. Its a joke.
Last edited by florige; 07-21-2014 at 02:44 PM.
You should really read the comments posted to that article. Several of them demolish Cody's assertions. It's not like I'm calling Ripken the GOAT or anything, but damn, dude...give credit where credit is due. Did Cal steal your parking space at Camden Yards or something?
You know what bleacher report articles ae good for? Wiping your ass with.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...ers-in-history
@ that article
He still is a great player.
The one thing I don't want Tim to do is to stick around on a clearly empty tank like Jeter did.
You should really read the comments posted to that article. Several of them demolish Cody's assertions. It's not like I'm calling Ripken the GOAT or anything, but damn, dude...give credit where credit is due. Did Cal steal your parking space at Camden Yards or something?
Cody's article may have been a bit much. But alot of what he says is truth. The Ripken homers here in Baltimore just love to defend this guy like he's the greatest MLB player in the history of MLB. I just still stand behind that if he didn't have that streak to go off of he would be no more famous a baseball player than JJ Hardy. Nah he didn't take my parking space I am sure he has a place outside by his statue at Camden Yards. lol
^^^^^^ This is true, non Spurs fans at work give the dude his respect and speak highly of him all the time. He is a legend and top 10 all times, his exit will be big.
This is the only year it's empty. Last year he was hurt but the year before he played great..
I'm sorry but Derek Jeter does not deserve to be mentioned alongside someone of Tim Duncan's caliber. Duncan is arguably a top 5 all time player in his sport. Jeter is not even top 100. He may not even be top 200 or 300.
For those that don't follow baseball (and based on the many posts I see here by you uncultured s, you don't), Derek Jeter is and was even more overrated than Kobe Bryant. At least we can agree Kobe has usually been a top 5-10 player in the league since hitting his prime til the last 3-4 years, but was just overrated to #1 status. Jeter was never even close to top 10 ANY year and was called a top dude every ing year, not to mention was talked about nearly as much as Kobe.
Jeter isn't in Duncan's class. Never was, never will be.
This is not true, i mean until i read this topic i didnt even know who Jeter was, as a Turkish Spurs, Duncan and basketball fan, i can say Duncan is known by a lot more people than Jeter guy and he will be always remembered, because baseball sucks and globally nobody cares about it except you guys.
You really want to try and name 299 players better than Jeter.. Must be quite a list..
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