It is urban legend in New York that Derek Jeter provided one-night-stands with gift baskets. The rumor spread in 2011 when the New York Post was tipped of Jeter's antics by the "friend" of a woman who received the parting gift twice.
"Derek has girls stay with him at his apartment in New York, and then he gets them a car to take them home the next day," the friend said. "Waiting in his car is a gift basket containing signed Jeter memorabilia, usually a signed baseball."
For a half decade, Jeter has ignored this claim and Yankees beat reporters have not dared dig into it. On Wednesday night, the silence ended. While appearing on the premiere of "Undeniable with Joe Buck" on Audience Network, Jeter was indirectly asked about his exchanges with female visitors.
IMPORTANT: Here's Derek Jeter addressing the infamous gift basket rumor with @Buck. pic.twitter.com/OZExpjSprz
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) November 19, 2015
Jeter is no fool. He is well-versed in the rumor. "You guys know what it is," he says to the crowd.
Many in the crowd had probably convinced themselves already that the story is true. But The Captain doesn't indulge their expectations.
"It's a dumb story and you really have to be dumber to believe it," he says.
C'mon guys, did you REALLY believe the Derek Jeter gift basket story? #UndeniableShow pic.twitter.com/q27OaalfNH
— Undeniable Show (@Undeniable_Show) November 19, 2015
This exchange is a reminder of how Jeter owns Buck. For two decades, Buck called Jeter winning multiple World Series titles. And Jeter has always had the upper hand on the broadcast booth.
Jeter did not give Buck a gift basket after the interview.
In other news, the former Yankees captain is reportedly engaged to supermodel Hannah Davis.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.