Derek Jeter – Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Sportsman of the Year
November 30, 2009 – 12:52 pm by Bunk
It’s been quite a career for New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. He’s won five World Series championships, four Gold Gloves (including in 2009), four Silver Slugger Awards (including in ‘09), been named to the All Star team 10 times, and won the Hank Aaron Award for the second time this past year. For his contributions to the Yankees most recent championship and for his impeccable character on and off the field, Jeter was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, which he’ll be awarded on Tuesday night.
Jeter joined The Dan Patrick Show on Monday to talk about receiving the prestigious honor, how he wasn’t always a great sport growing up, how the feeling of returning to and winning the World Series trumps any individual accomplishments, the special place Joe Torre has occupied in his life, and how he hasn’t put too much thought in to reaching 3,000 career hits.
On being nominated for the Sportsman Of The Year Award:
“It’s a tremendous award. It’s an award that’s been around such a long time, it’s, for me it means much more than just playing sports. I like to think it has something to do with how you conduct yourself as well. And looking at the guys who’ve won it in the past, it’s quite an honor.”
On if he ever actually thinks about how he’s conducting himself as a ’sportsman’ out there competing:
“I think I don’t know if you ever just sit down and think about it, I think it’s just who you are maybe. I don’t think it’s a planned thing, I think it’s the longer you’ve played, the longer you’ve been around, you realize that you’re playing a special place. And when you talk to parents and you hear them say how their kids look up to you, you may realize it. But I don’t think it’s ever a planned situation.”
On if his parents ever had to pull him aside when he was growing up for his behavior on the playing field:
“Yeah, when I was younger, you’d be surprised. My parents were always big on how you conduct yourself and be a good sportsman. And when I was younger, I didn’t always look at things that way.”
On if he had forgotten what it felt like to be in the World Series with such a long stretch of years (by Yankees standards) between appearances:
“I think I forgot how good it felt to win the World Series. You know, it’s been such a long time – we hadn’t won since 2000; we hadn’t been there since 2003. I was fortunate to play in lots of World Series when I was younger but the opportunity to get back after all those years, I really forgot how good it felt.”
On whether the pressure of being an athlete in New York is tougher to handle on or off the field:
“Probably in New York, I’d say it’s tougher off the field. Just from what people have told me, just because I don’t have anything to compare it to. But you’re under the spotlight pretty much every day of the year.”
On if he was aware that he is the first Yankees player to win the Sportsman of the Year Award:
“I was aware. I was told that when I was doing an interview for the magazine, and that’s pretty hard to believe considering all the great Yankees throughout the years.”
On what Joe Torre has meant to him in his career and his life:
“Well, he’s like a second father to me. I was with him since I was 21 years old. I pretty much grew up with him. We’re still real close. I was just in New York this offseason for his Foundation event. So he’s played a special part in my development and he’ll always be special to me.”
On if getting to 3,000 hits means anything important to him:
“I’m not lying when I tell you this – when I’m playing, the bottom line is you’re just trying to do things to help us win. Especially – you know, you asked a question about how it felt to be back in the World Series having not been in the World Series in a long time – it felt so good to be back so you know, our focus now is to get back there again. So I think if you take that approach, good things happen, if you’re consistent.”
Listen here to Jeter on The Dan Patrick Show
Tags: Dan Patrick Show, Derek Jeter, New York Yankees, Sportsman of the Year, Yankees win 2009 World Series
