Overview
“ESPN Inside Access: Derek Jeter” is stocked with 134 minutes of interviews, highlights, an ESPN SportsCentury feature and much more. The disc also includes a feature titled “On the Field” which is a collection of Jeter’s most famous plays (including discussions on “the dive” and “the flip”) and rare minor league highlights, as well as an exclusive interview with him on the set of “Saturday Night Live” and on “Up Close” with Chris Meyers.
What’s interesting?
At the start of the DVD is Jeter’s interview on Up Close with Chris Meyers, done right after the shortstop won the Rookie of the Year Award and the Yankees won the World Series in 1996. As you proceed through the DVD, there’s another section of Jeter being interviewed by various people from 1998 to 2007. Watching Jeter’s maturation over the years was pretty cool, but the most impressive thing to note is that his demeanor never changes. In every interview he remains humble, grounded and appreciative of the opportunity he’s gotten to play shortstop for the Yankees. He’s unique in that he never shares too much information in any interview, yet always manages to give more than the standard, cookie-cutter responses that you get from most athletes.
Best feature
By far the best feature on the disc is the SportsCentury piece. Once you get past a review of Jeter’s upbringing for the umpteenth time, the feature shares a couple of inside stories that are rather interesting. (Such as the time Jeter privately blasted teammate Bernie Williams for being late to the clubhouse before a World Series game, as well as how former Yankee Chad Curtis essentially vanished from baseball after trying to publicly embarrass Jeter following a brawl with the Mariners in 1999.) The feature also discussed the incident in 2003 when Yankee owner George Steinbrenner suggested his shortstop was spending too much time in New York clubs and perhaps had “lost his focus”.
Could do without
There was only one small feature the DVD could have left off and that was, “World’s Sexiest Athlete.” Other than a funny comment or two from fans, do we really need to know how good looking people think he is? The guy used to date Miss Universe Lara Dutta and actresses Jessica Alba and Jordana Brewster – we know the guy does well in the female department.
Overall
On a whole, the DVD is rather enjoyable. The SportsCentury piece is worth a watch on its own, but it’s also interesting to see how well Jeter handles himself in interviews and how generally well liked he is by not only fans, but former manager Joe Torre and teammates Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and a slew of others. You also get the impression that even though he appears to be a great guy, he’s rather private and even not to be crossed with in certain situations (just ask Chad Curtis). The “Make a Wish” feature was touching and the snippet of Jeter dressed in drag for a SNL skit was also funny. All in all, even if you hate the Yankees, it’s hard not to root for a guy that works hard to stay out of trouble, has never gotten a big head and outright loves playing the game.
