O Captain! My Captain!

All eyes were on Derek Jeter during his quest
for 3,000 hits. Jeter's home run for No. 3,000
was a perfect ending to a long and storied
career full of hard work and playing the game
the right way.

Let it be known that I have, nor will ever be, a Yankees fan. I despise any team that spends an exorbitant amount of money to buy championships, while teams like the Kansas City Royals build the right way – through their farm system.

That being said, I was actually in awe of the Yankees last week – well, at least in awe of their captain.

I've never been a huge Derek Jeter fan, but he is one of the few players that plays the game the right way. He shows up to the field ready to play, diving into stands to catch a foul ball or getting the timely hit his team needs. He doesn't show up the other team or the umpires – for him, it's just business as usual.

Last week, Jeter recorded his 3,000th hit – an impressive feat for anyone. But the way he did it was even more remarkable. Of the 3,000-plus hits, only 237 have been home runs and 481 have been doubles. Basically, Jeter has made a Hall Of Fame career out of being the setup man for the Bronx Bombers that hit behind him. He has also made only 224 errors in nearly 9,500 chances.

It isn't just his offensive production that impresses me, it's also his character. Jeter was a star in high school, but he never let it get to his head. That sense of maturity has carried on throughout his career – so much so that the only time he makes the papers is when he starts dating another supermodel.

Even with all the fanfare that surrounded his 3,000th hit, Jeter kept his cool. He didn't press because he knew eventually he would get it. And when the ball sailed over the fence for No. 3,000 and into the mass of people eagerly awaiting the chance to clutch history, Jeter trotted around the bases as if it were his 100th hit – nothing too special.

He probably could have taken the rest of the game off if he wanted to, but that wouldn't be Jeter's style. No, instead he went 5 for 5, while helping the Yanks beat Tampa Bay – a perfect ending to a perfect day. After the game, Jeter's character shined even brighter when he met the young man who came away with the ball, posed for several photos and signed some bats and balls for the ultimate dogpile warrior.

So from baseball fans everywhere, I'd like to say, "Thank you, Derek." You have worked harder than anyone else and have played the game in such a way that brings honor to the pinstriped Evil Empire. And when the time comes to hang them up, I will guarantee that you're a first-ballot Hall of Famer and deserved to have your number and bust hanging beside the likes of Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle.