Sportsman of the Year 2009 is Derek Jeter

I have always understood the “athlete” to symbolize something more, just the best player. And this is why Derek Jeter were inspired choice to win this year, as SI announced on Monday.
Jeter had  an amazing season, probably his second best (after 2006) for the past nine years. Naturally, it dynamically Postseason, and helped return the Yankees championship World Series. He did it at age 35 – older than every starting shortstop for the winner of World Series with the Pee-Wee Reese 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Johnny Podres, who pitched in Brooklyn in the book, was the second winner of the award, after Roger Bannister in 1954. Jeter is the first Yankees.

There have been some awkward choices. 1998 pairing of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa – “the easiest choice in our history,” according to the article, Gary Smith – startles now, especially that they are depicted on the cover as the Greek gods.

It’s trite, but here: Jeter makes you believe in the purity of baseball again. We can not really know him – some athletes this side of Tiger Woods put strong walls around their private lives – but the Yankees after so intense that fans and reporters can detect insincerity in the end. Jeter is genuine.

Jeter obviously extremely talented athlete, but his people skills as sharply. For those who do not have children, it is surprisingly deftly dealing with children. He is respectful of elders. He is patient with the journalists, both individually and in groups. He finishes group sessions, looking each in the eye and make sure we have what we need.

When Michelle Obama participated in a field ceremony before the game 1 2009 World Series, it was Jeter, who gave her a polite kiss on the cheek. The next night, before Game 2, Jeter looked as comfortable in the dugout Yankee, bopping his head to music as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed at the center of the field.

Regardless of the installation, it seems, Jeter knows how to react. On the field or off, he was an athlete. Now, as the Yankees pay him to extend his contract after next season?