Derek Jeter's parents did something many baseball fans cannot. They spoke to their child through a filter that suggests he was their equal and they did this with the wherewithal to understand timing, tone and language, as all parents should. The heroism here is not the thing that made Yankee fans pump their fists. It's in Derek's good fortune to be born to respectful love, where Dad isn't in competition with his gifted son but becomes a part of the flow, the unique river that is Derek Jeter- so poised, especially in NYC, and so intuitive in his confidence to wait to have kids so he could love them and his wife in ways a constantly traveling person cannot. The influential story here is in how his parents loved him and were able to hear him, help him and guide him with only calm and intelligence and peaceful decisions, day in, day out. They taught him how to be the amazing father and husband he is. No small feat - people are "striking out" at this all day today, tomorrow - they don't teach this in school - there'd be no time in the schedule for "American history" ha
Now it's your turn. Really lay into me.
Happy Friday from a true baseball fan.
