Derek Jeter, the Yankee great who never quite filled up Reporter’s Notebooks in his playing days, which ended Sunday, announced today he’s starting a Web site, The Players’ Tribune.com, to let athletes talk directly to fans without the “filter” of sportswriters and reporters reporting the comments.
In a posting on the Web site Theplayerstribune.com, he wrote, “I do think fans deserve more than ‘no comments’ or ‘I don’t knows.’ Those simple answers have always stemmed from a genuine concern that any statement, any opinion or detail, might be distorted. I have a unique perspective.
"Many of you saw me after that final home game, when the enormity of the moment hit me. I’m not a robot. Neither are the other athletes who at times might seem unapproachable. We all have emotions. We just need to be sure our thoughts will come across the way we intend.
“So I’m in the process of building a place where athletes have the tools they need to share what they really think and feel. We want to have a way to connect directly with our fans, with no filter.”
The site is designed to publish articles, charts, videos or whatever from athletes from all sports, with help from the staff of the site. “The Players’ Tribune will provide an authentic and holistic perspective from the athletes themselves,” its press release says. It promises another announcement tomorrow.
The Web site is a partnership with Legendary Entertainment, whose CEO Thomas Tull is a board member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His company also produced “42,” the acclaimed HBO film about Jackie Robinson’s historic debut in the major leagues.
Gary Hoenig, the founding editor of ESPN The Magazine, will serve as its editorial director. Jeter, a lock to enter the Hall of Fame the first year he is eligible, is listed as the “founding publisher.”