Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Keith Olbermann Makes Case Against The Deification Of Derek Jeter
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 24, 2014
Modified Sep 24, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 24, 2014
Modified Sep 24, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In case you haven't been paying attention to Gatorade ads, Yankees shortstop and alleged butt fetishist Derek Jeter has been on a very emotional year-long victory lap celebrating one of the great careers in baseball. But if you're starting to feel like maybe Jeter, the Yankees, MLB, the media, and Jeter's many sponsors have perhaps taken this a bit too far, then you're in luck: Keith Olbermann is here to set fire to Jeter's legacy. Because once you start comparing people to Red Ruffing, you know the gloves are really off.
Special shout-out to the graphics people at Olbermann's show for these gems:


While Olbermann's statistical truth-telling and righteous indignation certainly puts a pin in the hype balloon, if Olbermann really wanted to bring Jeter back down to earth, he could of at least also mentioned the one-night stand parting gifts and hilarious sex stories. Oh wait, he actually did by ending the segment with a grave "Yeah Jeets."
In an amazing coincidence, Jeter officially kinda-sorta denied the gift-basket story to NY Magazine this week, because rhetorical devices are always what they seem to be:
"Like I’m giving them signed baseballs and pictures of myself on the way out! Who comes up with a story like that?” He laughs, incredulous. “It said the reason people found out was because I gave the same girl the same basket and I had forgotten I’d given her one—like there are so many people coming through I forgot!" Even if Jeter were cheesy enough to have handed out souvenirs, he’s far too careful to have made that kind of mistake.
Tagged
baseball
deifications
derek jeter
gods
keith olbermann
mlb
sports
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .