Derek Jeter introduced a mailbag feature to The Players’ Tribune this week, and managed to Rickroll his readers in the process.
New York Yankees legend and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter gained a reputation throughout his career for managing to keep his private life out of the public spectrum, a seemingly impossible task in today’s social media age.
Next: The Top Pitcher for Each MLB Franchise
This is not to be confused with distancing himself from the fans, however. Jeter was a fan favorite throughout his playing days, and the manner in which he portrayed himself to the public was a large reason why.
In his retirement, Jeter is now enabling current athletes to connect with the public, outside of the typical press conference setting or 140-character tweet. In October 2014, he launched The Players’ Tribune, a publication by the players for the fans.
Below is a statement, welcoming viewers to the website:
"Welcome to The Players’ Tribune, a new media platform that presents the voices of professional athletes, bringing fans closer to the games they love than ever before. Founded by Derek Jeter, The Players’ Tribune aims to provide unique insight into the daily sports conversation and publishes first-person stories directly from athletes. From video to podcasts to player polls and written pieces, The Tribune strives to be “The Voice of the Game.”"
In his newest addition to the publication, Jeter has introduced the Tribune Mailbag, something he refers to as ‘a new series featuring athletes and fans in conversation.’ It is only fitting that he started the new series off himself by fielding a few questions from the fans.
Among the topics touched on were his favorite breakfast cereal, players he enjoys watching today and his choice of Biggie over Tupac.
While the Q&A was not exactly compelling drama, Jeter managed to cap the session off by Rickrolling anyone who read through his answer to the final question.
"I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this is Derek Jeter. It’s interesting that you managed to stay mostly private throughout your career even as social media became more popular. I like that it connects athletes with fans, but there’s also a bunch of cases where it’s gone bad. Overall, has the rise of social media been a good thing for athletes? –Alex, ChicagoIt’s definitely complicated. I haven’t been active on social media, but I actually just got a Twitter. Check it out."
Well done, Derek Jeter.
It will certainly be intriguing to see who will be featured in the next Tribune Mailbag. Judging by the impressive collection of athletes serving as editors and contributors on the site, I doubt that the fans will be let down.
Next: The Top Hitter For Each MLB Franchise
More from MLB
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
- MLB Rumors: Insider names Braves’ most likely player to be traded
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal