Derek Jeter's "The Players' Tribune"

Launched today. Will be interesting to see how it does. It's already got 1,000-plus Twitter followers.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/

 

Is Manky Jimmy the editor

 

I hope this becomes worthy of my retwopect.

 

Had been a little curious what he would do, this is not a bad idea, and I'd guess he has the people behind him to pull it off. Will be interesting the first time someone says something to get himself in trouble. You would have to guess that "no filter" is hyperbolic.

 

I eagerly await the kind of introspection and edginess that have always been part of Jeter's public persona.

His first assignment should be a Tom Brady column on the need to work hard in the face of adversity.

 

At least he has Lenny Dykstra's "The Player's Club" as an example of what not to do. I contacted the managing editor of that pub when it was fledgling, and pitched him an interview with Chris Drury. He told me they only covered "the best of the best because that's what the publication was all about."

He later ended up suing Dykstra for unpaid salary.

 

I do think there are a couple things (at least philosophically) to be taken seriously here.

On one hand, this, like school and team-run media before it, is an example of sports cutting out the middle man (or woman) in media. You know --us journalists. And they can do it in a way that they see as more beneficial to them and without the sort of agenda they don't endorse.

That may or may not ring true to us, but if THEY believe it does, the symbiotic relationship between sports and independent media continues to sever. And that could have interesting implications. We've already seen it in diminished access (I report, sadly, that I think a lot of the most in-depth profiles on NFL players come from their own teams). What could be next? Beyond the big TV deals, who do they need anymore?

 

You have to admit that it's a better start than Murray Chass in retirement.

 

It was nice not hearing about him for, what, two days?

 

Will Jeter's quotes run in red type?

 

Jesu.

 

Just looked at the site. It says the "editor reveal" will be Oct. 2. Sounds a little like an episode of The Bachelor.

Any predictions as to what former New York or New Jersey media types will be working for the site? Feels like an ex-Yankee beat writer or an ex-New York sports editor will be on board.