"The deuces were wild when Yankees shortstop, No. 2, Derek Jeter, got his 3,000th hit July 9.

He became only the second player to hit a home run for his milestone hit (Wade Boggs did it in Aug. 1999), and the second player to get at least five hits on the historic day (Craig Biggio is the other).

In addition, July 9 is the anniversary of the first time Joe DiMaggio hit for the cycle in 1937, something he did two times. Finally, closer Mariano Rivera, who has seen each of Jeter's hits in person, got save No. 22. It was a spectacular day for Jeter and the crowd loved it. He is an excellent role model and his family is his biggest influence and his strongest supporters.

'YANKEES HEAVEN'

I saw this first hand back in 2003 when I got a taste of what I have referred to as "Yankees Heaven."

My friend John Randolph, who I met at the Training Grounds gym (now called Club F.I.T) in Teaneck, invited me to the opening day game. John is a first cousin of then bench coach Willie Randolph so toward the end of the game we ventured down to Section 3, the area where the families of the Yankee players and coaches sit.

The view from there, between home plate and first base in the lower deck, was incredible. Watching Rivera pitch from that angle made it appear that he was throwing the ball 200 miles an hour. I got to sit and talk with Willie's wife Gretchen, but the best was yet to come.

Since it was opening day the players had a homecoming dinner scheduled for that night. So John and I followed the crowd from Section 3 into a waiting room reserved only for family members and guests.

'HELLO ...'

As I walked into the room a tall man approached me, stuck out his hand and said, "Hello, I am Charles Jeter, Derek's father."

Now this was a man I had seen countless times on TV, whenever the camera flashed on Dr. Charles and Dorothy Jeter. I knew who he was and there he was walking up to me to introduce himself. Wow!!

Before long we traveled through the bowels of the stadium and found ourselves outside the Yankees locker room. About 20 feet to my left, on the other side of a barricade was George Steinbrenner signing autographs. WNBC reporter Bruce Beck walked past me. So did radio broadcasters John Sterling and his partner at the time Charlie Steiner. Yankees players were coming in and out of the clubhouse to mingle with people they knew. And I was right there among them! I am sure my eyes were as wide as any little kid."