Derek Jeter Overrated? NO WAY!

Sometimes there are times where there are things I feel I need to address. Today, I feel the need to take something to task. Here is what I'm referring to: Via NY Daily News:. In a Sports Illustrated survey of 495 Major League Baseball players in its June 23 issue, Derek Jeter was voted the most overrated with 10% of the vote. Struggling Giants lefthander Barry Zito was second at 9%, while Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew were tied for third with 7%. Mets third baseman David Wright and Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis tied for fourth at 4%. Now how in the world is Jeter overrated? Sure he doesn't deserve to be paid $18 million, but neither does anyone else for that matter. So how else is he overrated? What are you judging him by? He's a leader, he's consistent, he's clutch, and he's a proven winner. What else do you want from the guy? He is deserving of all the fame he has because he earned his success. He hustles on every play, he shows up to work and goes about his business the right way and does everything that is asked of him. He ALWAYS has a team first mentality, something lost on the game these days. So how is he overrated? Let's look at some of his awards: - 8-time AL All-Star (1998-2002, 2004, 2006 & 2007) - 4-time NY Yankees Player of the Year (1998-2000, 2006) - 3-time AL Gold Glove Award (SS) (2004-06) - 2-time Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star (SS) (1999, 2004) - 2-time AL Silver Slugger (SS) (2006-07) - South Atlantic League All-Star (SS) (1993) - Florida State League All-Star (SS) (1994) - Baseball America 1st Team Minor League All-Star (SS) (1994) - Minor League Player of the Year (1994) - NY Yankees Minor League Player of the Year (1994) - Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year (1994) - Florida State League Most Valuable Player (1994) - International League All-Star (SS) (1995) - AL Rookie of the Year (1996) - All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (2000) - World Series Most Valuable Player (2000) - TSN Award (SS) (2006) - Hank Aaron Award (2006) - This Year In Baseball Awards Top Hitter (2006) Honorable Mention: - Placed second in 2006 in the AL MVP voting - Has a Major League Baseball record in career postseason hits, singles, at-bats, runs scored and strikeouts (yes I even included a negative). The timing of this poll is questionable. It is taken at a time when the Yankees were struggling, Now if this poll had been conducted in October, when Mr. Jeter has been playing for the last 13 years then I think the results would be different. I think that a lot of this is based on jealously. Jeter is THIRD on the Yankees ALL-TIME hit list. Now think about that. Think of everyone who's put on the pinstripes and think how Derek is only behind Ruth and Gehrig. That's amazing. But according to most people this is a feat that just any ol' joe can do. But then again jealously rears it's ugly face again. Why? Because he plays in New York, plays for the most storied franchise in professional sports, has fame, fortune, looks, women and the list can go on and on. I'm jealous of Derek too but I don't think he's overrated. Maybe I'm still living off the Yankee dynasty of the late 90's, but he's still here and still performing. Maybe it's the fact he gets to live out his boyhood dream of playing shortstop for the Yankees. Maybe it's because he's dated women such as Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minillio. Maybe it's because he has his own cologne. Whatever the case may be, everyone should get off the Hater-ade. It just makes you sound ignorant and like you have no idea what you're talking about. If he's overrated then please tell me who's better and who has a resume in today's game better than Jeter? I've stated this many times in the past…Derek Jeter has the best life in the world. He plays for the New York Yankees (his boyhood dream), makes millions of dollars, has a list of women that would put any man to shame, is still young, he performs at a high level and enjoys what he does. Doesn't get any better than that. Yep, I said it, he has the best all around life of anyone you could think of. Now try and debate that. He's still got a lot of baseball in him and there's no question he is a sure future Hall of Famer. The day he gets inducted in, we'll remember him for so many things: hitting the first HR in November, being the first to be named MVP of the All-Star Game and World Series in the same season (2000), making one of the most memorable plays in postseason hisoty (The Flip), the guy that was face of the latest Yankee dynasty but most importantly..he will always be remembered as a Yankee. Now I know that makes people jealous…. but he earned it.