Fairytale Feats



I’d like to start off by saying that I hope this blog is not off-putting for you. Especially for you Jeter fans (like myself) who were expecting a full throttle DJ3K blog. He deserves it, and there is no question about that. That said, I’ve been watching all of the United States’ Women’s World Cup games. And I don’t feel bad about that. They play a skilled game, and it doesn't have as much of the BS injury-faking that the men's games have.

Sometimes the flopping in the men's game can be a lil' much. Lil' much.

Sunday’s quarterfinal win over Brazil was perhaps the best soccer game I have ever seen. So improbable, in fact, that I feel compelled not to choose between Jeter and the US women.  Helping in this decision is the fact that I’ve twice previously written blogs with DJ as the centerpiece, which means I’ve somewhat elaborated on what a tremendously historical player he is. I will do so some more in this blog. The connection between these two events is the wonder with which they went down. After each went down, I left myself saying “You couldn’t have scripted that any better….”

Heart and Hope

United States 2, Brazil 2 – USA advances 5-3 on penalty kicks

Hope Solo is now easily a household name, as Mia Hamm was for so many years. Incidently, she is a dead ringer for the leader of the villainous hot chicks in black from "Dude! Where's My Car?" Don't believe me?

Told you....

Unlike Jeter’s 3000^th, where we knew that it would happen sometime very soon, Sunday’s US Women’s soccer game was as improbable as it gets. Although entering the game as favorites (#1 in the world entering the World Cup), they were made into underdogs shortly after halftime. Traditionally, at an international game, you have factions of fans from each country in attendance who root for their respective teams. In addition, you have a great portion of neutral fans (assuming neutral soil, as Germany is) who usually pull for the underdog. One of the more amazing things about this game was that by the end of the game, the US had won over the neutral fan, as a very loud “U – S – A…..U – S – A…” chant could be heard throughout the stadium.

It was important for the US to get off to a good start in this game, and they did, scoring 74 seconds into the game. What a perfect start for a team that had experienced a rather embarrassing 4-0 semifinal defeat at the hands of Brazil in the 2007 World Cup.

Shortly after halftime, however, the wheels came off….and not by the US team’s doing. Brazilian superstar Marta made a run to goal and lofted a touch over US defender Rachael Buehler. Buehler defender the play shoulder-to-shoulder, as replays showed, while Marta feebly fell to the turf as Hope Solo grabbed the ball.

Someone will have to explain to me why Marta is more entitled to the ball there when they are shoulder-to-shoulder with a 50/50 shot at the ball. Swallow your whistle!

Chaos ensued, as the referee issued a penalty kick to Brazil and a red card to Buehler. You couldn’t help but wonder if any other player in the world but Marta gets that call in that spot. On the Cristiane penalty kick, US goalkeeper Solo charged up the crowd with a huge save. The place was up for grabs as the US preserved its 1-0 lead. So we thought. The referee squelched the celebration with a still unclarified call. Initially thought to be on Hope Solo for coming off her line, it seems that the call was encroachment on the United States. I don’t claim to have watched every international soccer game ever played, but I watch enough. I’ve NEVER seen that call made. Not once. Especially considering the borderline “encroachment” had no bearing whatsoever on the play. Marta sent home the re-kick, giving Brazil a definite advantage.

Outrage, anger, and resentment. US fans were incensed, as were fans of clean soccer who were in attendance.

Utter despair and disbelief for fans. Most of us lost our composure as we were being screwed (which tends to happen). It's a good thing the players kept their heads screwed on during the madness. Focus at its best.

While their fans were losing their composure, the ladies were not, forcing the game into extra time despite playing a man down. Shortly into the extra frame, Marta scored on a play where a Brazilian attacker was shown to be offside. Another illegitimate tally.

Despair, denial. This US team, with all of the hype and hubub, was about to be bounced from the World Cup.

That's when the United States' composure took the game over. As Brazil attempted the soccer equivalent of "taking a knee" by feigning injury to run time off the clock, the US went on attack like sharks on chum. When all seemed lost, the US rallied and tied the game on Megan Rapinoe cross to Abby Wambach's head. It was one of the most well-executed goals you will ever see. In the 122nd minute. Added time on the extra time period.

Euphoria, disbelief!

US fans like this guy were celebrating in the streets after the US tied the game at the 11th hour (or in soccer terms, the 122nd minute)

The soccer equivalent to trailing by 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and nobody on...loading the bases, running the count to 3-2....and hitting a grand slam. It was truly the last play of the game.

The US wasn't losing this. Heading to PK's with the world's best goalkeeper, the US maintained its composure by knocking home all 5 of its kicks. 2007 villain-turned-2011-hero Hope Solo saved Brazil's 3rd attempt, sending the US to a semifinal meeting with France. 

The save that sent the US to the semifinals. Hope coming up clutch in a big spot. Perhaps in search of the "continuum transfunctioner".

The greatest soccer game I have ever seen. One of the top 5 sporting events I have ever seen.  

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Captain Clutch 3,000 in Grand Style



Derek Jeter Homers for 3000th hit...and goes 5-for-5 with gamewinning RBI

Unlike the feat described above, this one was expected. We knew Jeter was going to get his 3000th hit sometime very soon. It was surely not going to be a surprise. However, leave it to Jeter to pull off the unexpected when no one is expecting it. (???).

After singling in his first at-bat, Jeter stepped up in the 3rd inning with 2,999 career hits. There was an energy in the stadium. Announcers were emptying their cliche tanks as Jeter stepped to the plate. At the time, the Yanks trailed 1-0. An ever-patient Jeter worked the count to 3-2 before fouling two pitches off. A classic Jeter at bat. You could almost envision him serving the next pitch into right field with his mechanically-sound inside out swing.

"Psst...Thanks for hanging that slider, Dave."

But Jeter had bigger plans. He took a low-and-away slider that hung a bit, and drove it into the LF seats. I am quick to get on the (hmm...I already used fart-sniffing to describe him in my last blog) "pompous" announcers when they screw up a call. Michael Kay got the homerun call right. For Jeter, it was "3,000.... in grand style."

Michael Kay definitely stayed up all night on Friday practicing his call of Jeter's 3,000th.

Nevermind that he proceeded to get hits in his next 3 at bats. Nevermind that he drove in the game-winning run with a single against a drawn-in infield. He's been doing that stuff for years. What's more important is that he showed all of the traits that make him great in that one single at bat. He was patient, as he worked the count. He was smart, fouling off pitches on 3-2 until he got his. He was clutch, hitting a game-tying home run. And he was humble, putting his head down and running around the bases as if he's done it a million times.

Derek Jeter. As cool as it gets. I was moved by the interview done on YES by Kim Jones with his father shortly after the hit. She asked him the first question on everyone's mind, "What goes through a father's head, seeing his son about to accomplish this feat? Take us through that" A calm, cool, and collected Charles Jeter replied, "Well, first of all, we have to win the game....we were losing at the time"

It doesn't get any better than that. Apple trees make apples my friends.

The apple does not fall far...

To close, I'm just going to throw some numbers at you. For some godforsaken reason, I feel compelled to defend his legacy. As with anything, a milestone brings out the haters. A common claim is "overrated." And I am familiar with the fact that he was voted as such in a player poll. I also don't care.

If you think he is overrated, I feel sorry for you. You just don't get it because you don't watch the Yankees enough to understand what he has meant to this team. He is the only Yankee to have ever gotten 3,000 hits entirely in a Yankee uniform. He was the 4th youngest player to reach the milestone, and should break into the top 20 on the all-time hits list before the end of the season. He is a career .313 hitter who has finished in the top 10 of AL MVP voting 7 times (Three times in the top 3). He was the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year. He has won 5 gold gloves. He was the 2000 World Series MVP. He's going to finish with 2,000+ runs scored, something that only 7 other players have accomplished. 

And oh, by the way, he has 5 World Series rings.  

He has since added a ring for his thumb. However you want to look at it - by statistics or by awards and accolades - this man is one of the greatest players of our lifetime.

If you're hating on Jeter for being overrated, I feel sorry that you weren't able to experience the Derek Jeter that some of us have. I'm not selling him as the greatest player of all time. I'm not even selling him as the greatest Yankee of all-time (He's 5th greatest in my opinion....behind Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and DiMaggio). But he's absolutely an all-time great, and is one of the greatest clutch players in the history of baseball.