Derek Sanderson Jeter

 

Derek Jeter is one of the most amazing New York Yankees baseball players’ to-date.  Derek wears the number two jersey, plays short-stop, field and bats right handed.  He stands 6’3” and weighs 195 pounds, and is a pleasure to look at. 

Derek Jeter was born on June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, NJ.  He later moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, however he remained a true Yankee fan with the help of his grandmother.  Derek made the high school Varsity baseball team as a freshman and continued to play until he graduated.  Throughout Derek’s high school baseball career he earned Scholar Athlete, Player of the Year, High School Athlete of the Year, and USA Today’s High School Player of the Year.  In addition to baseball, he played Varsity basketball, where he earned all-state honorable mention.  After high school, Derek attended the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship.  However, college did not last long for Derek as he was drafted sixth overall by the Yankees in 1992. 

During Derek’s first full year in the MLB (Major League Baseball), he made the All-Star team and was named Most Outstanding Major League Prospect.  He was officially “called-up” on May 29, 1995. In 1996 Derek hit his first home-run.   

Derek has received many awards over his baseball career.  In 1996 and 1998 the Yankees won the World Series, 1999 was Derek’s best season statistically with another World Series win.  2000 proved for yet another World Series win and with Derek being named the Most Valuable Player for the World Series and All-Star games.  In 2002 he was the fourth player in major league history to score at least 100 runs in the first seven full seasons.  On June 3, 2003 Derek was named captain of the Yankees.  2004 found Derek receiving his first gold glove for superior infield performance.  In 2011 he was the 23^rd member and first Yankee to join the 3000 hit club. While Derek’s salary has seen ups and downs, he is currently worth $14,729,365 for the season. 

MLB is currently in preseason; however, the Yankees’ first home opener is April 13 against the Angels.  Derek Jeter and his New York Yankees team expect to have another great season. 

In addition to Derek’s baseball talent, he is involved with many fundraisers and programs.  Derek’s “Turn 2 Foundation” promotes healthy lifestyles on youth and promotes youths to stay away from drugs.  Derek is also involved with programs such as “Smart Moves”, “Girls on the Run”, and provides baseball clinics as well as scholarships.   

Derek Jeter, as well as New York Yankees team and other players sell various items on their websites, during games, and in various stores.  Items from jerseys, hats, and shoes to collectibles, cards, and books are available for purchase. 

            Derek, as well as the entire Yankee ball club is one in which you either love or love to hate.  The Yankees ball team receives a lot of criticism for how much they pay their players, but you get what you pay for and the numbers don’t lie.  However, if you ask most kids today who their favorite player is, the majority of the responses will be Derek Jeter. 

Works Cited

MLB Advanced Media. Derek Jeter. 2001-2012. 29 March 2012. <http://mlb.mlb.com/players/jeter_derek/index.jsp>.

PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3, or PS3 for short, is a system software gaming system designed by Toshiba, IBM, and Sony that has the option to update online or from a disk.  PS3 systems include nine options:  Photo, Music, Video, Users, Settings, Network, Friends, PlayStation Network, and Games.  The Photo option allows you to store photos and make slide-shows out of them.  PS3 also allows for copying of audio CDs, playing movies, and video chats.   

The PS3 system itself looks somewhat like a DVD player.  It has a disc slot that accepts CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, Audio and PS3 discs, and a memory card reader.  In addition there are USB ports to connect controllers, storage devices, etc.  The hard disk drive light flashes orange when in use, while the Wi-Fi light flashes green when there is a wireless connection.   

PS3 offers many accessories such as 3D glasses, headsets, remote controls, dual shock controllers, charging stations, eye camera, “Move” motion controller, keyboard, shooting attachments, and navigation controllers. 

PS3 is marketed towards kids and teens, however, many adults enjoy playing the games, using the Wi-Fi, or using the chat feature.  The technology of PS3 is useful in the fact that the risk of a virus is not there, you can connect it to a large television, you can play movies on it, and personal data is not at risk for being destroyed.  The PS3 is part of the seventh generation in video-gaming, it allows three trillion plus calculations per second, and is considered the best gaming console.  

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii are similar to the PS3. The three systems offer the same as far as online gaming, movies, motion games, and similar accessories.  The main difference is PS3’s online gaming service.  This service is the PlayStation Network.  PS3 also allows for connection of the portable PlayStation (PSP).   

PlayStation, as well as other gaming systems are built off of the Atari.  The Atari was released in 1977, and was the first video gaming console. The Nintendo NES followed in 1985; this system followed arcade games and used removable cartridges.  In 1989, the Sega Genesis was released.  Sega went a step further than Nintendo by offering better graphics.  Shortly after in 1995, Sony PlayStation was released.  This system used CD-ROM games, had better graphics and controllers.  In 2000, an even better version of the PlayStation was released, the PlayStation 2.  The competition kept up with the release of the Nintendo Game Cube and Microsoft’s X-Box in 2001.  In 2005 Microsoft upgraded the X-Box with the X-Box 360, and in 2006 Nintendo released the Wii.  The basic idea of technology for each system remains the same; it just advances with each newer version.

American culture has been greatly affected by the release of PS3, as well as other gaming systems.  People have an immediate means of fulfilling a fantasy by game simulation, watching a movie, chatting, etc.  In the past one would read a book, go to a movie theater, or visit someone in person; however, the options are much easier now.  Technology of this nature has made Americans lazy and somewhat less educated.