Around 10 years ago, before the 2001 baseball season, Derek Jeter signed a 10-year $189 million contract. Now that contract has expired, and his free agency is creating tension between him and the team over the length and value of the next deal, even though it is widely considered obvious that he will eventually re-sign. All of this reminds me of an encounter I had with Jeter about 10 years ago, sometime after he signed that new deal. 

First of all, 10 years ago, I was eight years old. I wasn’t any eight year old, however. I was that precocious little stud who would proudly brag to everybody I met that I could name the starting lineup for every team in baseball. I was also a huge Mets fan, as I am now. 

Now, I live in New York City, and for a stretch of time Derek Jeter parked his car in the garage under my apartment building. (Interestingly as we noticed, he would often drive Jorge Posada to games, but that is neither here nor there). One afternoon with my parents, I saw him in the garage. Most eight-year-old kids who see one of the most iconic figures in baseball would ask for an autograph, maybe a ball and would leave happily to go tell his friends about the awesome encounter. Not me. 

Fully aware of the big contract he just signed, I proudly went up to him and asked, “So, Derek, do you play for the money or the fun of the game?” He laughed, and as you’d expect, he said that he plays for the fun of the game, of course. 

Given his current contract dispute with the Yankees, I keep on thinking back to this story. Especially in the prime of his career, as he was then, I can’t blame him for squeezing every dollar out of the team. And, maybe, he has every right to do so now. Yet, even as a Mets fan, I hope he doesn’t let his steep contract demands tarnish his relationship with the Yankees and his career in anyway, because after all DJ - you play for the fun, right?