Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Eric Schroeder will face off on a hot topic in sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week. Lambert and Schroeder will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why you they are right.
This week’s topic: Derek Jeter and Paul Konerko
This week we will be taking a look back at the carrers of two legendary baseball players, Derek Jeter and Paul Konerko, whose careers came to a close at the end of this season.With Eric being from Chicago he gets to talk about Konerko, arguably one of the best players in White Sox history, while Matthew gets to talk about one of the greatest players of our young generation in Jeter. Let’s talk about it… (Preview by Matthew Lambert and Eric Schroeder)
FROM ERIC SCHROEDER
Growing up in Chicago and in the home of White Sox fans, Paul Konerko has always been an idol of mine. I was too young to really appreciate Michael Jordan when he officially retired or when Frank Thomas hung up his cleats, but “Paulie” I grew up with.
From my very first White Sox game when I was five through last summer, Konerko has been a staple on the “South Side.” He epitomizes baseball in Chicago and baseball as a whole. A stand up player who has been clean his entire career, a minor accomplishment in this day in age for baseball, Konerko helped the Sox win the 2005 World Series. He has consistently been in the top 25 in the American League for hits, runs batted in, home runs and batting average. He is also a six time All-Star game participant.
For me this really hits home as the end of an era. The sports world is starting to change and some of the greats no longer are playing. It is a weird feeling to think that some of the best players stepping onto the field are just a year or two older than myself.
For now though, Chicago baseball will seem like it’s lacking something without the captain out there at first base. The team is generally in rebuilding mode, so I doubt there will be much lost as far as statistics go with Paulie gone. The area that will be noticeably different is the lack of his veteran leadership, which is irreplaceable especially with as young of a team as the White Sox had.
All in all, I am extremely glad I was able to see Konerko in his glory days, and those will be memories that I keep with me for the rest of my life.
FROM MATTHEW LAMBERT
Let it be known to all: I in no way would ever support the Yankees, but, with this being said, find myself in a quarrel about one of the greatest players in our generation: Derek Jeter.
Jeter may have spent his entire 20-year career playing for the bloodsucking Yankees, but he really never took over the Yankees image. He wasn’t flashy or cocky; rather, he was quiet and content. Sure, he was paid millions of dollars, but anyone would have paid for Jeter.
Most importantly, he played the game the right way: clean. When I talk about our generation of baseball players, we are commonly referred to as the “Steroid Era.” So many players were taken down for taking steroids like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa — even some of Jeter’s teammates like Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Chuck Knoblauch. You never heard Jeter’s name on the lists and lists of players that juiced up. That’s why I respect him, in a game where the long ball is everything, Jeter stood apart. He played the game with efficiency whether it was on offense (career .310 batting average) or defense (winning the Gold Glove five times).
While Jeter is a rarity in this sport for playing the game clean, focusing on the fundamentals and being a franchise guy, there are guys who follow Jeter’s image. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper look to be our future, the future of clean baseball, and if they continue to follow Jeter’s lead, baseball will make a comeback for “America’s Favorite Game.”
So when the Hall Of Fame looks at Jeter’s career and resume, keep the asterisk away from him— it isn’t necessary.
