Derek Jeter And Legendary Launch Digital Media Startup For Athletes

Derek Jeter did not waste any time before moving on to his first post-retirement venture. Just three days after Jeter played his final game for the New York Yankees, he and Legendary Entertainment launched The Players’ Tribune, a startup that will offer unfiltered content from professional athletes.

The Players’ Tribune will chronicle the lives of its star contributors through a multimedia approach. Participating athletes will give their fans inside access through written articles, videos, podcasts, photo galleries, and more. From that description, The Players’ Tribune sounds a lot like another Legendary property, Nerdist. Chris Hardwick’s geek-focused company also entertains its visitors across a wide variety of media.

Jeter described the new site in an open letter he wrote on its homepage:

“I do think fans deserve more than “no comments” or “I don’t knows.” Those simple answers have always stemmed from a genuine concern that any statement, any opinion or detail, might be distorted. I have a unique perspective. Many of you saw me after that final home game, when the enormity of the moment hit me. I’m not a robot. Neither are the other athletes who at times might seem unapproachable. We all have emotions. We just need to be sure our thoughts will come across the way we intend.

So I’m in the process of building a place where athletes have the tools they need to share what they really think and feel.  We want to have a way to connect directly with our fans, with no filter.”

As we noted when Jeremy Lin joined the Whistle Network, there are very few pro athletes who create their own content online. The Players’ Tribune hopes to change that, and it claims to have “all-star professional athlete contributors” who will be announced in the coming weeks. Of course, Jeter is the first name to be revealed, and at The Players’ Tribune, #2 will be #1.