The Yankees pay Derek Jeter almost $20 million a year, but taking guff from fans apparently isn't in his job description.
I hear that the star shortstop went ballistic on a banker in dugout box seats after getting thrown out at home during Wednesday night's 7-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Utlimately, according to witnesses, Jeter had the hapless fan tossed out of the stadium.
Yankees PR chief Rick Cerrone yesterday disputed that account, saying the fan "was being loudly critical of Jeter to the point of harassing Jeter and annoying the other fans. He was removed by security so they could talk to him, but he was not ejected. He said, 'I'm leaving anyway.'"
But Daily News associate publisher Ira Ellenthal - a witness - told me it happened this way:
"Derek, you should have slid or run into the catcher to try to jar the ball loose," the banker - who yesterday asked not to be identified - kibbitzed as the 31-year-old Jeter started down the dugout steps.
Jeter stopped abruptly and stared at the banker.
"Are you a base-running coach?" he asked sarcastically.
"No," the banker answered, "but I know baseball."
Jeter continued into the dugout, but a couple of innings later, he locked the banker in a death glare and blurted: "You have issues, man."
In the eighth inning, Jeter continued the argument. "I couldn't hear his exact words, but the fan was conciliatory and Jeter would have none of it," Ellenthal said.
A cop walked over to Jeter, and they conferred. Jeter pointed at the banker and made an "out" sign with his thumb.
As the banker was being escorted away by Yankee Stadium security personnel, he told Ellenthal: "I can't believe I'm being ejected from the stadium."
Ellenthal said Jeter usually "conducts himself like a perfect gentleman. But what I saw the other night was a thin-skinned, confrontational child, who allowed a few words of mild criticism to turn him into a world-class jerk."
I hear that the star shortstop went ballistic on a banker in dugout box seats after getting thrown out at home during Wednesday night's 7-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Utlimately, according to witnesses, Jeter had the hapless fan tossed out of the stadium.
Yankees PR chief Rick Cerrone yesterday disputed that account, saying the fan "was being loudly critical of Jeter to the point of harassing Jeter and annoying the other fans. He was removed by security so they could talk to him, but he was not ejected. He said, 'I'm leaving anyway.'"
But Daily News associate publisher Ira Ellenthal - a witness - told me it happened this way:
"Derek, you should have slid or run into the catcher to try to jar the ball loose," the banker - who yesterday asked not to be identified - kibbitzed as the 31-year-old Jeter started down the dugout steps.
Jeter stopped abruptly and stared at the banker.
"Are you a base-running coach?" he asked sarcastically.
"No," the banker answered, "but I know baseball."
Jeter continued into the dugout, but a couple of innings later, he locked the banker in a death glare and blurted: "You have issues, man."
In the eighth inning, Jeter continued the argument. "I couldn't hear his exact words, but the fan was conciliatory and Jeter would have none of it," Ellenthal said.
A cop walked over to Jeter, and they conferred. Jeter pointed at the banker and made an "out" sign with his thumb.
As the banker was being escorted away by Yankee Stadium security personnel, he told Ellenthal: "I can't believe I'm being ejected from the stadium."
Ellenthal said Jeter usually "conducts himself like a perfect gentleman. But what I saw the other night was a thin-skinned, confrontational child, who allowed a few words of mild criticism to turn him into a world-class jerk."
