Derek Jeter

For those who don't know, I live outside Philadelphia.

It's a big city, and it's pretty cool: the history, the activity, the cheese steaks.

But it's by no means the greatest place on Earth.

Because that's New York City.

In New York, there's an energy. There's more to it than people buzzing around and tall buildings.

It's got a feeling like no other city.

You coudn't be done with just Times Square in a day. There's everything to do, and then some.

Minutes after an emotional ring ceremony, the Yankees took the field against the Angels. World Series MVP Hideki Matsui hopped out of the visitors dugout to receive his ring, prompting a sight some will never forget. This could have been a distraction, but the Yankees got right down to business.

Pettitte took the mound in the first inning, let up a lead-off single to Eric Aybar, but proceeded to sit the rest down in order.

That was more than enough for Pettitte.

The primary reason why athletes play the game, any game, is their competitive fire drives them to win. What helps drive the Major League baseball player is to obtain the World Series Championship ring.

He's got no range.

Not an accurate arm.

Getting too old.

I hear it all the time. It makes me sick.

Derek Jeter is always either adored or hated. Those haters keep inventing new stuff to make him look bad.

Well here's my say.

First off, I'm not even going to use stats, because Jeter's stats aren't even half of what he is to a team.

We'll start with the physical game.

I'll make this clear right now, he is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league.

The New York Yankees.  Lord of their realm, with fans who let you know it.

Talking to a Yankee fan is generally an exercise in futility, since they are programmed to utter two basic phrases:

Phrase one: “Twenty-seven rings, baby”, or a something along that vein.

Yesterday, once again Nationals outfielder Willie Harris made a bigger impact in Mets infamy in making a game-saving catch on Rod Barajas. With two outs in the ninth inning, Barajas was up at the plate with the bases loaded. The Mets catcher would eventually hit the ball into left field where Harris had just came in the inning before.

Through five innings, CC Sabathia appeared on his way to an Opening Night victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

But the Yankees' ace quickly ran into trouble in the sixth, issuing a walk to Dustin Pedroia before Victor Martinez doubled and Kevin Youkilis brought them both home with a triple to cut Boston's deficit to 5-4.

After the Sox tied the game at 5, New York once again jumped ahead at 7-5, only to see the lead disappear another time thanks to poor middle relief by newly acquired Chan Ho Park and always erratic Damaso Marte.

Working in a local supermarket, I have a front row seat for all the latest hollywood gossip and glamour. There are upsides and downsides to this.

For example: downside, I can name about twenty celebrities who have cellulite, and how many plastic surgeries Heidi Montag has had.

A clear upside: the Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated, or any magazine that has Kim Kardashian on the cover.

The 2010 New York Yankees are the odds-on favorites to repeat as World Series Champions. They are stacked with some of baseball’s best (and richest) players, playing in the prime of their careers.

After this season though, Derek Jeter will need a new contract.

Many media outlets and fans alike have spent copious amounts of time discussing and debating Derek Jeter’s next contract. Jeter, 36, is in the final year of his 10-year, $189 million deal.

So how much should Jeter get in his next contract?