NY Post comments on Jeter's greed.

[jerseygary]

Leon - I was thinking the same thing you wrote, I could see myself doing that if it was someone on the team I follow that hit 3,000 and I caught it. However, if I was Jeter I could also see myself doing exactly what the opinion writer said as well - giving the guy a $25,000 or more check and insisting he cash the thing. I thought it was a good article and I wish other writers would have the guts to say similar things. Unfortunately if they did they'd forever forfeit their chance to interview one of those guys ever again.

[mr2686]

C'mon guys, this is a no win situation for Jeter. If he takes that ball as a gift, he's a money grubbing jerk. If he quietly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) so that he won't have to pay taxes he's a jerk because nobody knows. If he publicly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) he's a jerk because it wouldn't be enough and the poor guy would have to pay taxes on the amount.
Too bad Roger Maris isn't alive so that they could compare notes about the wonderful NY press.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Originally Posted by mr2686

C'mon guys, this is a no win situation for Jeter. If he takes that ball as a gift, he's a money grubbing jerk. If he quietly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) so that he won't have to pay taxes he's a jerk because nobody knows. If he publicly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) he's a jerk because it wouldn't be enough and the poor guy would have to pay taxes on the amount.
Too bad Roger Maris isn't alive so that they could compare notes about the wonderful NY press.

I disagree, the kid did the right thing so why can't he ? We all have to pay taxes and you seriously don't think his acct wouldn't find a way to write it off if he gave it as a gift ? Or just outright bought it ? Jeter is paying taxes on all the merchandise they sell right ? The kid is gonna have to pay taxes on anything in any amount so that is a mute point. I do think the kid is gonna be alright and see a nice payday coming for him over the next couple years in advertisments and sponsers, but it doesn't look good that Jeter has done nothing for him when the kid did everything for him. And this is coming from a HUGE Jeter fan who agrees he owes no one anything but it comes to a point of doing the right thing which as far as I know he has done nothing.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by mr2686

C'mon guys, this is a no win situation for Jeter. If he takes that ball as a gift, he's a money grubbing jerk. If he quietly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) so that he won't have to pay taxes he's a jerk because nobody knows. If he publicly offers the guy money (fill in the amount) he's a jerk because it wouldn't be enough and the poor guy would have to pay taxes on the amount.

Since neither of the last two options actually occurred, it's nothing but pure speculation (and a bit of wishful thinking) on your part as to what the press and public's reaction would actually be.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Since neither of the last two options actually occurred, it's nothing but pure speculation (and a bit of wishful thinking) on your part as to what the press and public's reaction would actually be.

Very true, and since he has done nothing up to this point, you have to wonder if he even cares what the press or anyone thinks? If he did wouldn't he have done something right away ? And it shouldn't have to be for press or his reputation, it should just be about doing the right thing and returning the favor.

[Exhibitman]

I am not surprised that Jeter would not have felt a sense of duty to reach into his pocket and pay for the ball. It comes back to a culture of entitlement that celebrities have built around them. It isn't unique to baseball or sports. Celebrities are often comped and treated to stuff that the rest of us have to buy [remember the Academy Awards gift bags and gifting suites controversy a few years ago, where it turned out that the celebs were getting tens of thousands of dollars in high end merchandise free of charge in their swag bags?), on the tabs of publicists, managers, agents, sponsors, studios and others who want the 'glory' of their august personages. It gets to the point where they feel no personal duty to pay for things because they can simply assume that everyone will just hand over the goods gratis and/or that the agent/manager/studio/team will just take care of it. Case in point: a client of mine who trains celebrities was asked to use her facility for her client's unpaid photo shoot with a legendary photographer (I never heard of him but apparently being asked to sit for him is a very big deal). She agreed to let the client use her studio for an afternoon. The celeb and her team were very pleased with the space and the results and later asked to take it over for a big for-pay fashion shoot for a magazine, which would have displaced my client's business for a good chunk of a week. She wanted to help out but could not afford to close shop for days without compensation. I advised her to ask for a site fee [which is what any production would have had to pay for a space in any normal situation] to cover the lost income and the celeb decided to have her shoot elsewhere rather than pay for her site; apparently she just expected that the glory of having the shoot there would be compensation enough. From Jeter's perspective, he met the guy, signed some stuff for him, and the team gave him some nice tickets, so why should #2 reach into his pocket and add to the bounty when the team took care of it already?

[David Atkatz]

To paraphrase Eddie Murphy, "I'm Derek Jeter, goddamnit."

[JeremyW]

You're thinking of Dave Chappelle, not Murphy. Good call, though.