Marlins CEO Derek Jeter avoided "even a whiff of conflict or controversy" during his playing days, but now is facing something new, a "steady stream of criticism,” according to a profile by HBO's Bryant Gumbel on last night's "Real Sports." Jeter said there is a "complicated history" with the Marlins fan base. Jeter: "It’s an organization (that) won a championship, dismantled the team. Won a second one, dismantled the team. Built a stadium, dismantled the team.” Jeter, asked about fans’ reaction to offloading star players in the offseason, said, “I expected exactly their reaction. But listen, this is an organization that has not been in the postseason in 14 years, and if you don’t win, you have to make changes.” Gumbel noted Jeter has a home in Tampa, but works in Miami. Jeter: "You have to be here. … You have to be present in the community and I’m here. I’m in Miami.” Asked about rebuilding like the Cubs, Astros and Indians, Jeter said, “This blueprint for success is not something I’m just making up.” Gumbel asked Jeter if he would tell him if the Marlins were tanking, to which Jeter responded, “What is tanking? … We’re trying to win ball games every day. ... You never tell your team that they’re expected to lose. Never.” Jeter continued, “I expect this team to compete. … Every single day, you compete. You never tell your players that you are expected to lose.” Gumbel responded to Jeter’s expectations of competing, and said, “But as an executive, it looks like you’re delusional.” Jeter: “Well, call me delusional” (“Real Sports,” HBO, 4/24).
TIME TO OPINE: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote it is "difficult for a player to find an executive voice, and Jeter hasn’t made that turn yet." This is "simpleton talk to say you expect your team to play its best, no matter who is in the uniform." It is really "making it difficult for any fans to buy in to what’s happening." Jeter is talking like he is still "playing shortstop, not like he’s running a major-league club" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 4/24). Also in Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis wrote Jeter in the interview displayed his "competitive nature while failing to make a compelling case that he is overseeing a competitive team on the field this season." The interview "breaks no new ground about Jeter’s plans for the Marlins" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 4/24). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote Jeter handled himself in a "clumsy, awkward, condescending manner." It proves yet again that the "mere fact that a person played a sport at a high level doesn’t mean he has any business running a sports team." It also "underscores the reality that, regardless of the reason, a fundamental disconnect exists between the importance of making fans believe that winning is the only thing while also making decisions based on broader business considerations that sometimes run contrary to doing everything necessary to win" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/21). YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend wrote under the header, "Derek Jeter's Upcoming HBO Interview Might Be His Worst Moment Yet" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/22).
