Because it's New York and the Yankees, it's been inescapable.
Jeter has had an excellent career that will land him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. He's banked more than $265 million over his 20 years, so he probably won't be sweating post-baseball life. (He's had to get by on $12 million this season since topping out at $22.6 million in 2010. Those Yankees drive a hard bargain.)
Jeter has managed to avoid scandal, even with the competitive New York tabloids watching. He's been a serial dater of models and actresses, but unlike a lot of players, he hasn't been married while he's pursued that hobby.
If you're inclined to shed a tear, let it be motivated by unabashed envy for the wonderful life Jeter has enjoyed since he came to the Yankees in 1996.
Things have been so hopelessly over the top that there's a Gatorade commercial with Frank Sinatra's "My Way" as the soundtrack. By the way, Jeter will be paid for that, too.
Every stop on the road has brought a pre-game ceremony and some sort of gift, none of which Jeter needs. He could buy Wyoming.
ESPN's Keith Olbermann had an extended rant last week that poked some serious holes in the Jeter legend. Olbermann is based in New York and no doubt he's overdosed on Jeter-mania.
Adulation doesn't always last forever. In 1982, a lot of people were weepy when Willie Stargell ended his career with the Pirates. Not that many years later, they were booing Stargell when he came back to town working for the Atlanta Braves. A guy who then worked for the Pirates skillfully leaked the information that Stargell had demanded a $70,000 car as payment for participating in a gate-boosting night in his honor.
There are probably Yankees fans who view Jeter's last game today as the end of life as they've known it. If they're older than 12, shame on them. The Yankees moved on after Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. They'll field a team next year without Jeter.
In a perfect world, we'd get just as emotional about the retirement of a treasured teacher who influences kids into developing habits that lead to productive lives. Unfortunately, their sendoff usually begins and ends with a plaque and a tray of cupcakes whipped up by the hairnet ladies in the school cafeteria.
We save the spectacular farewells for millionaires who play games.
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--ONE MAN'S TRASH
Once you accept that people are nuts, you focus on a way to turn that truth into profit.
MLB has done that. Whenever a team has a champagne-spraying celebration, MLB has authenticators on hand to collect the empty bottles and corks to be offered for sale. The authenticators verify that the trash was part of the celebration. They thus become "collectibles," and people apparently buy them.
Some teams are selling the empty bottles for more than $100, and the corks are $25. Remember, it's not just an empty bottle -- it's a bottle that may have been emptied by Casey Sadler.
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--FILLING A NEED
Sentimentalists applauded the Steelers' re-signing of James Harrison last week, but it came about only because necessity and convenience converged.
The Steelers lost linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier to injuries in the Carolina game and had a sudden need for help at the position. There's obviously a premium on getting someone who can quickly learn the defense, and that made Harrison the best candidate.
Like Brett Keisel, he's back because there's a need, not because there's an expectation he's the player he once was.
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--IS THAT ALL?
KDKA-TV put together a promo bragging it was the only local news station in Atlanta for the Pirates' celebration after clinching a postseason spot.
The promo includes a clip of reporter Rich Walsh asking, "How's this feel, man?" and the player responding, "Pretty special."
That's going to make the other stations sorry they weren't there.
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