Derek Jeter
Controversy hit the game of baseball yesterday when Yankees player Derek Jeter caused a storm by play acting when receiving a pitch to achieve first base. He was clearly in agony and claiming the ball had hit him so the umpires would award him a place in first base but in footage the ball is shown hitting the end of the baseball bat. This was a surprising act from a player who had built up a pristine reputation through his career and was very much a big role model to many on how to conduct yourself in the game of baseball.
Once again, there is another event which drudges up the issue of instant replays being used to help umpires decide on close calls. Derek Jeter was asked after the game where the ball had hit him, Jeter smiled: "The bat." "What can I do?" Jeter said. "My job is to get on. Barksdale (the umpire) said it hit me." This wasn't an earth shattering, shocking event that was as bad as fixing the world series or taking steroids but it was just frankly beneath a man who has been able to hold his head high throughout his career. Yesterday he could not..
