The Yankees’ captain is beloved in the big city like no one else. He’s a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer who’s waging an assault on hallowed Yankee records many thought could never be topped.
In all likelihood he’ll become the first player in pinstripes ever to reach 3,000 hits (he has 2,926). However, as of late, those lights that once shined so bright have started to dim.
Derek Jeter is no longer the untouchable top dog in New York he once was.
If LeBron James had signed with the Knicks instead of the Heat, this isn’t even up for debate. King James would have been the biggest superstar on the planet, let alone the city of New York. Instead he opted to take his talents to South Beach, but that’s a whole other story.
What happens if Eli Manning returns to form and wins his second Super Bowl MVP? The Eli-Brady, Eli-Peyton, Eli-Big Ben comparisons will fly off the pages of the New York newspapers like popcorn into Alex Rodriguez‘s mouth.
Would that be enough to dethrone Jeter? Maybe not, but the fact that it’s even a debatable question proves the point.
Jeter has always been the consummate professional — leading by example and New Yorkers rightfully ate it up, right down to the last few bites. When Jeter dove into the third base stands during the playoffs in 2004, even Red Sox fans had to tip their cap to the captain for his effort. But the one thing New York loves more than a quiet, hardworking professional is a loud (check that) very loud one.
If the Rex Ryan–Mark Sanchez combo had managed to follow through on all their talk and actually delivered a Super Bowl victory, Jeter would have been pushed aside and New Yorkers’ hearts would have belonged to the Jets’ duo.
And now, the Knicks have added Carmelo Anthony, a native of Brooklyn who’s already led Syracuse University to a NCAA national championship. Anthony showed New Yorkers why he was worth their entire team (minus Amare Stoudemire) in his debut with the Knicks on Wednesday, leading the Knicks to a 114-108 win over Milwaukee while tallying 27 points.
It should be noted that the Knicks probably aren’t done adding star power to the Stoudemire-Anthony duo, as they expect to load up even more with the 2012 free-agent class, which includes the likes of Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
The most telling signs of Jeter’s erosion atop the New York sports scene could be seen in his recent contract negotiations. Coming off career lows in average (.270), on-base percentage (.340) and slugging percentage (.340), Jeter was a free agent for the first time in his career and the turmoil began.
The 11-time All-Star eventually signed a three-year deal worth a guaranteed $51 million, but for the first time in his career, we heard whispers that he may not be worth it. The Yankees made the negotiations very public, going so far as to tell their captain to look elsewhere if he thought he could get more money from someone else.
I bet that Bill Belichick and Bob Kraft would never go so far as to dare Tom Brady to “see what else is out there,” if he didn’t like what the Patriots were offering.
The point is, the opportunities are out there for a new king to be crowned in New York. It’s Jeter’s title for now, but for the first time in a long time, it’s within reach for someone else.
Jeter should be counting the days. The next player to lead New York to a championship will take over the title of New York’s biggest sports figure. This isn’t opinion. It’s unavoidable fact.
The city that never sleeps is growing restless with the 36-year-old with no range. They long for a new leader. Whether it’s Melo, Sanchez, or someone else — their time is going to be sooner rather than later.
Who will be the next king of New York after Derek Jeter? Share your thoughts below.
