Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter was born on June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, Township New Jersey, but grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His family did not have much money so they had to work very hard to help him become who he is now. Derek Jeter is my hero not only because of the great baseball he plays, but because of the great person he is. One of the reasons I think he is a great person is that Derek Jeter never cheats, and plays by the rules. Another reason he is my hero is that Derek Jeter is extremely generous with his money and always gives to charity. Also, Derek Jeter doesn't brag about how good he is, and is always modest about how much he achieves. I think Derek Jeter is a great well-rounded person. He doesn't only play baseball for the money, or the fame, he plays for the love of the sport. I believe that if the Yankees didn't have a big enough payroll to pay for all of their players, he would ask to rework his contract so there would be enough money left to sign the other players also. Much like Eli Manning did to keep Victor Cruz on the team. This is another reason why I think Derek Jeter is a hero.

Derek Jeter is my hero and role model because he doesn't cheat. One example of this is that he never tested positive for PED's. PED's are preference-enhancing drugs that make a player bigger, and have more power. PED's are illegal in almost all the leagues around the world, but some players think they can get away with taking them. "If I ever see Jeter's name attached to the hip of performance enhancers, I'm done. I mean it -- I'll never watch another big league game again. Because if Captain Pinstripes could do the Vitamin S deed, then anybody can. Jeter's name is where I draw the line in the PED sand. He is the absolute last guy I'd ever suspect of juicing. It seems so, well, beneath him. He is the one player who I actually think would walk away from the game if he thought he had to cheat to compete." said Gene Wojciechowski. I agree with Gene Wojciechowski because when people hear the name Derek Jeter they don't just think of the Yankee's shortstop, they think of him as a future hall of fame shortstop, captain of the Pinstripes, and the leader of the "Evil Empire." If Derek Jeter used PED's he would crush the hearts of his fans. In my opinion, Derek Jeter really only cares about is being a legacy if he does it honestly and not with the help of illegal substances, but a legacy all by himself. This is one of the reasons why I think of him as a hero, and a role model.

Derek Jeter has always been very generous with his money. He understands the value of money because he was poor growing up and had to work hard. Derek Jeter donates a lot of the money that he makes to charity. He started and runs his own charity called Jeter's Leaders. Jeter's Leaders helps kids socially and helps kids who have been on drugs, and kids who have drunk alcohol under age. Not only does Derek Jeter run the charity he hangs out with the kids. Derek Jeter's other foundation, the Turn 2 Foundation, has raised over $17 million since its start in 1996, Jeter's rookie year. He also has had lots of events to raise money. He isn't one of those athletes who start's a charity to look good, but he does it from the kindness of his heart. This is another of the many reason's why I think of Derek Jeter as a hero.

Last but not least nobody has ever heard Derek Jeter brag. He always says this will be an interesting matchup between him and another player even if the other player that is not as good as he is. Derek Jeter has won many awards. For example hitting 3,000, being M.V.P. multiple times, and many more. Derek Jeter always says he can do better, and never says he is so amazing. He is always modest about his contribution to the Yankees. An example is if he hits a walk off home run to win the game, he never says we won the game because of me. Or when a pitcher is struggling and loads the bases and Derek Jeter makes a triple play he never says we got out of the inning unharmed because of me. I think Derek Jeter is great for people to look up to because he never brags and is always modest.

I think of Derek Jeter as a hero for many reasons. One of my reasons is that Derek Jeter never cheats and plays by the rules. My second reason is that Derek Jeter is extremely generous with his money and is always giving to charity. Also, Derek Jeter doesn't brag about how good he is, and is always humble about how much he achieves. I really think Derek Jeter is a great well-rounded person. I know that some people don't like Derek Jeter. I think it is because they are jealous that he on one of the best teams. Most people who aren't Derek Jeter fans or Yankee's fans hate him and the Yankees, but this isn't about baseball, your teams rival's, or great players who you detest because they aren't on your team. This is about Derek Jeter as a person, and all the amazing things that he does to help people in need. I'm not saying that you should love Derek Jeter; all I'm saying is that you can despise him as a baseball player, and his team, but like him because of what he does as a person. When your watching him play baseball, or are talking about baseball you can abhor him all you want I don't care, just don't loathe him as a person. Derek Jeter is my hero not because of the great baseball he plays but because of the great person he is.