Derek Jeter vs. Alex Rodriguez
In the annual soap opera that is New York Yankees spring training, one storyline that seems to grab attention every year is the so-called feud brewing on the left side of the Bronx Bombers' infield between shortstop Derek Jeter and much-maligned third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
This week, ARod added more fuel to the fire, when he admitted to reporters that he and Jeets no longer had dinner dates and sleepovers as frequently as they once did. Since Rodriguez made his comments, many, including former Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer, have come to the Captain's defense, claiming ARod needs to do a better job of fitting in with the club.
Rodriguez's comments and the subsequent response highlight much of the problem that has made his three previous seasons in New York tumultuous. While Jeter commands the respect of the league and the adoration of the Yankee faithful, ARod is routinely jeered and lambasted for underachieving, despite posting numbers that dwarf Jeter's statistical accomplishments.
Still, there are some who believe that Rodriguez's inability to earn the Big Apple's esteem is exacerbated by Jeter's unwillingness to defend his former friend. In late December, former Yankee Darryl Strawberry suggested that as team captain, Jeter needed to better support the beleaguered All-Star and discourage Yankees fans from booing their third baseman.
The pick: So long as he wears pinstripes, the Yankees will always be Jeter's team, as he has led the team to four World Series titles and has consistently proven to be a clutch performer. Until Rodriguez drastically improves his .241 postseason batting average as a Yankee, he will never come close to earning the kind of adulation Jeter gets from Yankee fans. -by Sapna Bansil
Tim Hardaway vs. His own Homophobia and Stupidity
Just a week after former Orlando Magic forward John Amaechi became the first NBA player to ever come out of the closet, former NBA journeyman Tim Hardaway dropped an explicit anti-gay bomb. Responding to a question about Amaechi's coming out and Hardaway's personal feelings regarding the potential for having a homosexual teammate during a south Florida radio interview last week, Hardaway said, "I hate gay people."
Hardaway added in the interview that he felt gay players shouldn't share the same locker room as heterosexual players, and that he feels very uncomfortable around gay people. What might be even more surprising than Hardaway's ridiculous comments is his level of shock at how quickly gay and lesbian groups were to respond to his hate speech. "It was like, you know, I had killed somebody ... I never knew that this was going to escalate that high," Hardaway added.
Umm, Tim, you're an idiot. It's hard to determine which is more troubling - your original comment or your overall ignorant outlook on the American public. Good rule of thumb, Timmy: Don't agree to do any more television, radio or even electronic interviews, because every time you open your mouth you make things worse. Stick to things you know, like basketball.
-by Ben Simon
