More Derek Jeter

Seth Mnookin (Red Sox fan) profiles Derek Jeter in the latest issue of GQ.  Now while Mnookin went ready to try and bury him, it appears he, too, can't help but admire the Yankees' captain.

The fallout continues from the Siena College survey that I talked about yesterday.  Jason Keidel, on CBS New York, has his say over just how foolish it is that Derek Jeter won the popular vote over Babe Ruth.  Now, if this was a poll for favorite or most-popular, then I understand the results a little better.  But it's supposed to be a poll for "greatest" New York athlete, and that's where it's just dumb.  Even Jeter would probably admit that he's not better than the great Ruth.

As for Keidel's request that we "list the ten best Yankees of all-time, and tell me where Jeter ranks. Of all his single-digit predecessors who have been bronzed in Monument Park, Jeter doesn’t dent the top five."  Well, he's right.  I touched on it back in August, 2009.

1) Babe Ruth
2) Lou Gehrig
3) Mickey Mantle...or...
3) Joe DiMaggio (it's so tough)

After that, everyone else is secondary.
5) Mariano Rivera (if pitchers are allowed on this list)

6) Yogi Berra
7) Derek Jeter
8) Whitey Ford
9) Bill Dickey
10) Too many others to choose from...perhaps Tony Lazzeri, or Don Mattingly, or Thuman Munson, or Posada, or Pettitte...(I'd probably pick Lazzeri).

So who else would represent New York?  We should all agree that it's Ruth at number one.  That's the easy part.  After that, comes Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Yogi, Mariano, and then Jeter (representing the Yankees).  I'm not ranking them, I'm just listing.

The Mets can add Tom Seaver.

The Giants (of baseball) bring Willie Mays, Mel Ott, and Christy Mathewson.

The Dodgers have Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson.

The Giants (of football) add Sam Huff, Frank Gifford, and Lawrence Taylor.

The Jets?  Joe Namath.

The Knicks bring in Clyde Frazier, Willis Reed, and maybe even Patrick Ewing.  But what about Dollar Bill Bradley and Dave DeBusschere?

Finally, the Rangers. Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Rod Gilbert...who else?
The Nets (remember they played on Long Island) once had Dr. J.  No-brainer.

The Islanders...yes, the Islanders...Mike Bossy - at the very least.  Billy Smith, Denis Potvin, and Bryan Trottier all deserve thought.

The Devils - can we include them? - Martin Brodeur, of course.

Hell, don't we even have to consider Pele?  What about other "fringe" sports?  Gets it becomes a little dicier here.

Just thinking out loud here, of course.  Feel free to add on.