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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

True about Mattingly; he was a lock for the HOF if he didn't get hurt. The guy was really a great player and his numbers bear this out. He also played the field with grace and was the ultimate professional. This is why he still is revered in NY long after his career ended. I think this is what non-NYers don't realize: if you play with class, don't complain and show up and play hard every day, the press takes care of you. If you make excuses, dog it, or otherwise behave like a jackass, the press will run you out of town. So many guys have come to NY and been driven out of town on a rail by the press and the fans. It's by far the hardest place to play in the country and only the strong survive. What has happened to ARod this year is the perfect example. The guy wins the MVP and the NY press and fans still hate him. Why? Because he makes excuses, doesn't deliver in the clutch and is perceived to not be a winner. That's why Scott Brosious and Tino Martinez are so revered here while ARod, a far superior player, is not. By some people's reasoning, once ARod won the MVP he should have been treated like Babe Ruth. No one is saying Jeter is Albert Pujols; but at SS he is a great player and the consummate winner. And he has won on the biggest stage with the most pressure and done it with grace and humility. NYers care about winning, period. No other city holds its players to such a high standard. Don't blame the NY press for inflating this guy's accomplishments because they don't. Honestly, I can't think of many sports figures in NY that are given a pass or made to appear greater than they are.