OUTTA BOTTE EXPERIENCE
You probably have heard by now that Derek Jeter’s vaunted No. 2 will be retired on Sunday night at the Stadium, rightfully placing The Captain’s jersey alongside the rest of the Yankees’ legends forever in Monument Park. Beyond the typical pomp and circumstance we usually get with these ceremonies, here are a couple of fitting touches we’d love to see the Yankees add to make the night even more special for Jeter and everyone watching.
1. CAPTAIN, OBVIOUS
GM Brian Cashman already has said that the “captaincy should be retired with number 2,” so why not make that official on Sunday night?
2. THE GOLDEN GATE
The city renamed part of River Avenue near the Stadium “Rivera Ave.” for Mariano Rivera after he retired. Why not dub Gate 2 at the Stadium “Gate Numbah Two,” as a nod to Jeter and late public address announcer Bob Sheppard?
3. CONTINUE THAT CONNECTION
The famed introduction that Jeter continued using through the end of his career after Sheppard’s death should be — and you’d think would be — brought back when Jeter is introduced, much like the nice touch of Metallica performing “Enter Sandman” for Rivera’s final home game in 2013.
4. GO-AWAY GIFT BASKETS FOR ALL!
Sorry, just kidding.
5. GONE FISHIN’?
If the Yankees still are looking for gift ideas for the possible future owner of the Marlins, perhaps a fishing boat — or at the very least a new fishing rod – would work.
6. SPEAKING OF ROD
How about a promise never to similarly retire frenemy Alex Rodriguez’s No.13? Either that, or a couples retreat with the Jeters and J-Rod so they all can become besties again.
7. PARTY ON, DUDE
The Daily News would love to present Derek with a life-size framed photo of that infamous “PARTY ON” back page from 2003, or if he prefers “MR. NOVEMBER” or any other front or back page he spurred through the years.
8. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Having Jorge Posada “flip” Jeter the keys to city would be a strong nod, but we’d also love to see the Yanks ask back Jeffrey Maier to lean over the wall and remove the veil off Jeter’s plaque in Monument Park.
9. SIGN OF THE TIMES
Jeter touched the sign with Joe DiMaggio’s famous quote “I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee” every time he walked to the field in the old Stadium. Why not add a sign from Jeter for future
10. R-E-2-P-E-C-T
We mentioned Metallica earlier, how amazing would it be for the Yankees to get the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, to show up and sing her signature song for Jeter?
l Holy moly, one more time with the Mets, with Jeurys Familia possibly facing shoulder surgery now for an arterial clot one day after being used for a third straight game.
Not saying there’s a correlation here, but the phrase “breaking” news truly knows no bounds with them.
l Stolen from Frank Isola’s Twitter, “It’s not enough that the New England Patriots dominate the Jets, but now they have to destroy the Mets?”
And one more: “Does Henrik Lundqvist attend his exit meeting with Phil Jackson?”
l Would be cool and unsurprising for Tom Coughlin to give Victor Cruz another chance in Jacksonville. Like with bagels and pizza, it’s hard to find good Salsa outside New York.
l Washington fooled everyone and won the Presidents’ Trophy in the regular season,