Derek Jeter is standing up. He wants you to join him.
“We know what it’s like to be bullied or trolled,” Jeter said.
The retired Yankees shortstop’s website, The Players’ Tribune, has recruited sports stars to participate in a campaign against hate speech.
Dubbed “STAND UP,” Jeter hopes to use “the power of some of the biggest names in sports to take on the divisive rhetoric that has infiltrated our national conversations,” his website said in a press release.
Jeter, Broncos linebacker Von Miller, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns starred in a video in which they read hateful comments directed at them.
See the video here. Note: It contains offensive language.
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“Everyone’s anonymous,” Jeter said. “There’s no connection there. People that don’t know you, never knew you and probably never will know you that are saying hateful things.”
The website plans to release more star-studded videos in the coming weeks featuring 76ers center Joel Embiid, Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, Bucks forward Jabari Parker, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and soccer player Abby Wambach and tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
Jeter also runs the Turn 2 foundation, which focuses on youth education.
The Yankees recently said they hope Jeter will attend their yearly Captains Camp and speak to some of their brightest prospects. Jeter has made surprise appearances at the program each of the last two years. The Yankees’ minor league training facility is also in Tampa.
Jeter played 20 seasons, winning five World Series titles. A 14-time All-Star, he finished top three in the American League MVP vote three times, won five Gold Gloves and was the 1996 Rookie of the Year.
Grading Yankees’ 2016-2017 offseason Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
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