The World Needs a Little More RE2PECT

If I have learned anything in my 28 years of living I have learned that one thing this world is lacking and could really use is a little more respect. Respect for others, respect for the game, and respect for ourselves. Derek Jeter was a walking poster child for this philosophy during his 20 year tenure as the New York Yankees shortstop and with him gone I worry that he may take a little of that with him.

Derek was well known to talk to opposing players during the game, umpires before an at bat, tip his cap to the opposing pitcher, people in the stands while he was on the on-deck circle, and to each and every member of personnel in the clubhouse behind closed doors. This is just what we know as fans from a very guarded and very secretive man and ball player so imagine all the things we don’t know or won’t learn until now since he is retired. The Yankee Way, or as I liked to call it the “Jeter Effect” trademark pending,  may be on the way out along with Jeter and his personal belongings.

The Yankees are their fans are entering an era that many of us have never seen, the era without the great Derek Jeter, an era without the Boss George Steinbrenner, an era without Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig, and an era without respect. When I speak of respect I hold the players as accountable as the fans and I speak of respect from the players as well as to the players. I speak of respect to your men and women covering the team from Buster Olney all the way down to the aspiring writers and fans. I don’t want to stand on my soapbox and scream “can’t we all just get along?” but really, can’t we?

We are all on the same team here and we’re all a family. Hal Steinbrenner, Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, the 25^th man on the active roster, the towel boy in the clubhouse, the ball boy on the field, the trainers, the writers who cover the team, the fans who passionately follow the team, the guy selling hot dogs in section 203 or that bald guy who keeps yelling all game long. We’re all on the same team and we need to start acting like it.

I used to run and basically own a sports forum that had daily threads and live discussions during the game and the unwritten rule was that anything, within reason of course, said in those live blog type threads was brushed off. We’re fans and we’re passionate and while that thin line between douche and passionate gets blurred sometimes as long as we didn’t go overboard it was overlooked and understood by all. It really made for a great environment, a friendly environment, and an active environment because we could all vent, call for this person and that person’s job, and at the end agree and work towards one common goal.

With that said I challenge everyone reading this today to add a little more respect and a little more understanding into your life. The most patient person in the world can use a little more patience and the most understanding person in the world could always understand a little more. As we head into this offseason of uncertainty and this era of new beginnings I challenge everyone here to start it off the right way, with respect. I love this game, I love this team, and I love each and every one of you reading this and I truly appreciate you all. Pay it forward, go!