Jeter returns to Letterman as a conquering hero
Photo credit: CBS via AP | Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui join host David Letterman on the set of "The Late Show with David Letterman." (Nov. 5, 2009)
World Series Game 6: Yankees 7, Phillies 3
Fans celebrate Yankees World Series win
The last time Derek Jeter was on "Late Show With David Letterman" was nine long and lonely years ago - the night before Halloween 2000, to be exact, and the weekend after the Mets were vanquished.
Twenty-six at the time, Jeter joked back then that "Yogi Berra always seems to find his way to my locker and remind me he's got 10 rings. So we've got a way to go."
Thursday night, the conquering hero finally returned, as part of a rite of passage that began in the '90s and was almost as expected as a parade - a stop by Dave's hangout on Broadway.
Except this particular passage seemed to take an awfully long time to start up again, didn't it?
Whatever: Thursday night's appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman" included the same conquering heroes from a decade ago. Dave joked with Andy Pettitte, "Now, Andy, I think you left New York for three years to go run a Dairy Queen or something." Everyone laughed. (It was Texas, Dave. Same difference.)
Said Andy, "While I was at the Dairy Queen, I was able to at least play in another World Series . . ." A zinger, but against the Yanks?
Jeter caught Letterman with a good one, too. How hungover are you guys, asked the host. Said the future-first-ballot-Hall-of-Famer, "Not as hungover as you are." Letterman may be a fan, but he doesn't drink, so was this a reference to recent travails?
A sense of the passage of time crept into the exchanges; perhaps as always with great players and their aging limbs. "How many years can a grown man squat, seriously?" asked Letterman of catcher Jorge Posada.
"You know what," Posada said, "I'm tired, I'm hurting today, but I got two more years on my contract and hopefully I can be behind the plate."
Series MVP Hideki Matsui turned up as well, holding the trophy. He's been here before, to do a Top 10, believe it or not.
The warm and engaging visit had just the slightest hint of bittersweet too, as in: Where will they all be nine years from now, the host included?
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