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So, now what?
Like millions of retirees, Derek Jeter will be asking himself that question when he plays the final four games of his illustrious career for the New York Yankees this weekend - his final home game in pinstripes tonight, weather permitting, and then three in Boston on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Yankees have already been eliminated from the postseason so that will be that.
Of course, Jeter isn't your typical retiree. He's only 40 years old, has designs on a second career as an entrepreneur and, perhaps, team owner, and has gazillions in the bank.
But he's probably going to want some down time, some travel time, once the season ends. So here are our five suggestions on where he should go.
5) ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Jeter is from Michigan; Kalamazoo to be exact, and has always loved the University of Michigan. He would have attended U of M had he not been drafted by Major League Baseball, and has shown up on the sidelines of Michigan football games numerous times once his baseball season has ended.
Good. He should go. Again. Right now. Michigan football is struggling at 2-2 after a home loss to Utah last week, and its athletic director and coach are under fire. Jeter's never been a big "rah-rah" guy but maybe they would make do with some steely Jeter resilience and a pep talk.
4) LOS ANGELES, Calif., with a layover in OMAHA, Neb. - Why these two cities? Jeter has talked openly about wanting to own a sports franchise. Spending some time in L.A. with former basketball legend Magic Johnson, now part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in Omaha, with self-made billionaire Warren Buffet, would do Jeter good to learns the trials and tribulations of ownership. Just …. Don't seek advice from Michael Jordan, who owns the Charlotte franchise in the NBA and, well, let's just say MJ was a better player than owner.
3) TAMPA, Fla. - Oh, he'll be visiting here a lot. This is where Jeter lives after building a mansion the locals have dubbed St. Jetersburg, a fairly large monstrosity at 30,000 square feet. It, um, stands out, shall we say, even in a neighborhood of million-dollar homes with driveways and docks. It would behoove Jeter to ingratiate himself to not only the neighbors but to the Tampa community at large. After all, if his post-retirement plans include possible ownership with the Yankees, Tampa is NYY South.
2) BALI - We're thinking exotic here. And long-term. In his 20-year career, Jeter has dated some of the world's most beautiful women, but at 40 there is speculation he is ready to settle down with his current steady, 24-year old swimsuit model Hannah Davis. Bali, Tahiti, Fiji … they all are exotic, wonderful places to tie the knot.
1) LEBANON, Kan. - Huh? Kansas? Look, we weren't going to populate this list with places like Paris, or an African safari, or Tokyo, or whatever. If anything, Jeter has shown us over 20 years that he's less flashy, more pragmatic. So why Lebanon, Kansas? This small town is considered to be the exact middle of the United States of America.
Jeter said this week that one thing he hasn't done in more than 20 years of playing professional baseball is go to a summer barbecue. We're certain a family in Lebanon, Kan., wouldn't mind hosting Derek Jeter for a Saturday afternoon barbecue next July.
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