“I think I’m gonna side with Jim Rice on this one.”
No sooner do they let Jim Rice in the HOF than he makes a fool of himself. His inclusion of class-act Derek Jeter in his bash list is a giveaway about what’s really bothering him: financial envy. Envy is certainly the deadliest of the seven deadly sins.
--From another source, just before Rice mentioned those players Rice said today's major leaguers fraternize with each other too much on the field, adding that while today's ballplayers might be in better shape than his generation in its heyday, they get injured more frequently.--
Anyone who watches Jeter would know that he (and most of today's players) is always smiling and joking with opponents. I believe that with Jeter, and the game in general, that this is what Rice is lamenting...they are not hard nose guys who dislike the opponent but are more a *wink, wink* fraternity.
Again, not sure I agree with Jim, considering Jeter will run through walls to catch a ball, but I know Jim is not a very good off the cuff speaker and believe he was trying to contrast today's pussified ballplayers with the hard-nosed players of yesteryear and named a few of today's stars without really thinking.