Derek Jeter Denies Gift Basket Rumors

After 20 years in the league, Derek Jeter appears to be loosening up.

The New York Yankees captain is walking among the people, visiting bars he didn’t know existed and, in some cases, setting the record straight on items he previously ignored. 

Jeter’s latest candid moment came during an interview with New York magazine. Spotted by Larry Brown Sports’ Steve DelVecchio, Jeter discussed the lingering rumor regarding his alleged penchant for giving female companions gift baskets upon the completion of a one-night stand. 

The 2011 rumor claimed that any female lucky enough to end up staying the night at Jeter’s Trump Tower condominium would be greeted the following morning with a gift basket stuffed with sports memorabilia and a ride home. 

Jeter roundly denied this to New York. 

“Like I’m giving [women] signed baseballs and pictures of myself on the way out! Who comes up with a story like that?” Jeter asked. “It said the reason people found out was because I gave the same girl the same basket and I had forgotten I’d given her one—like there are so many people coming through I forgot!”

Maybe Jeter is telling the truth. Maybe his bachelor pad isn’t a Weekend at Bernie’s turnstile of lascivious debauchery and consolatory swag bags. Perhaps it’s just a fantastical rumor constructed on the conveniently blank tableau of Jeter’s personal life. After all, believing the Captain is a double-top-secret playboy who hands out signed Topps cards and waffle irons to his female companions is so much more fun than the terrifying prospect that he’s just an exceedingly guarded and boring super-millionaire.

At any rate, if Jeter says he doesn’t give out gift baskets, we must believe him. Or we can disregard his word entirely and continue thinking “Jeets” is the Tempur-Pedic banana-hammock-wearing, low-key Bacchus we all desperately want to believe he is. 

It’s your choice, really. Choose wisely. Choose fun.

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