Boomer Esiason Is Spot On For Criticizing Derek Jeter For Not Going To Old Timer's Day (Even Though Jeter Has A Valid Excuse I Just Hate The Yankees That Much)
NY Post- The Yankees will be commemorating the 2000 World Series team at Old-Timers’ Day in August, but a rather crucial member of that team won’t be in attendance.
Derek Jeter isn’t showing up, which has gotten WFAN hosts Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti a bit riled up.
“It’s a little bit insulting … I think he should be there, he should be a part of it,” Esiason said on “Boomer and Gio” on Tuesday. “It seems elitist to me.”
“Derek Jeter said that he doesn’t want the fans to see him hit again at this age,“ Esiason’s co-host Giannotti said of Jeter’s reasoning.
“Derek Jeter’s not gonna embarrass himself. I think he would put the uniform back on and look just like Derek Jeter when we last saw him,” Giannotti said, challenging Jeter’s possible reasoning for not playing. “He’s in great shape, some of these other guys showing up are not — he is.”
And it’s not only that Jeter isn’t playing in the game, it’s the fact that he’s not attending whatsoever.
“Just show up, you don’t have to put the uniform on if you don’t want to,” Giannotti continued.
“Just show up, you don’t have to put the uniform on if you don’t want to,” Giannotti continued.
“I just think, to me, he’s the captain, he was the guy that was embraced by the fans and loved by the fans and still is to this very day,” he said. “It just feels a little bit elitist, that’s all.”
The WFAN hosts did note that if Jeter has something going on in his life that makes him unable to attend, that, of course, makes sense — but Esiason especially is not buying the rest of the act.
I think this company has a ton of competition. And at this company, I think the thing I compete for the most is hatred of The New York Yankees. You got Clem, KFC, Meek Phil, and of course Frank The Tank in the starting rotation of guys who despise this team. Their the damn worst. And a core element of the hatred is Derek Jeter. A guy who puts himself above the team on a variety of occasions.
So he's in the mix again here with controversy after the announcement of skipping Old Timer's Day. Boomer is right to criticize Jeter for skipping Old Timer's Day. Listen I hate the Yankees, but the one thing I'll give them credit for (which makes me sick even saying this) is their tradition. Jerseys without the name on the back, monument park, pinstripes, and Old Timer's Day. It's a great way to come back and see the guys you grew up rooting for. And people my age don't have a person they are more fond of than Jeter. Boomer is right to say just show up, you don't have to play (this is the first time they are actually playing the game since 2019). He's worried to play in the sense that he doesn't want the fans to see him not at 100% and not like they remember him, which again makes me sick again to say but makes sense. Nothing is worse than seeing a washed up athlete and being upset the glory days are over. But to Boomer's credit, people just want to see him and he's a legend (again makes me sick to say). Just coach first base. Tip your cap and wave. Play an inning in the field and do a jump play for a laugh on a routine groundball. Give the fans a thrill, they deserve it.
To sum it all up, Jeter 10000% has an excuse as he has an obligation for his kids, BUT he really should consider going next year, and Boomer is right to criticize him.