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Jeter recalls day he and Rivera were sent down

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer

DETROIT (AP) — It’s the type of anecdote that sounds like an urban legend: The New York Yankees once sent Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera down to the minors at the same time?

Jeter remembers, all right — because that demotion in 1995 came right as he was preparing to play in his home state of Michigan for the first time as a major leaguer.

“I had everything packed and ready to come to Detroit, had family and friends coming,” Jeter said. “Then we got demoted to Triple-A.”

Nearly two decades later, Jeter was in Detroit on Tuesday, reminiscing a bit about his connection to Michigan before the Yankees played the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers. Barring a postseason matchup, this is Jeter’s final appearance in Detroit before he retires after this season. The Tigers plan to honor him before Wednesday night’s game.

Michigan has always been a special place to Jeter, who was born in New Jersey but went to Kalamazoo Central High School, about 140 miles west of Detroit.

“My dad was a big Tiger fan, he was a big Lions fan,” Jeter said. “Because I was born in Jersey, I think I leaned towards Yankees, but I was a big University of Michigan fan. I still am today.”

In June 1995, Jeter had only a handful of games under his belt when the Yankees hosted Seattle. Jeter started at shortstop, and Rivera — the future closer — was New York’s starting pitcher. Rivera didn’t make it through the third inning, but the Yankees did win 10-7.

The team went to Detroit. Jeter and Rivera went to the minors.

“Mo gave it up that last game. He was a starter, so he gave it up. I think we won that game, and they sent me down,” Jeter recalled. “I think I was guilty by association. They sent us down. Our bags were packed and we were going to Detroit, so there was a lot of family and friends that had to change their plans.”

Jeter, of course, would go on to play plenty of games in Detroit, and the 40-year-old shortstop is one of a dwindling number of active players who played at Tiger Stadium before Comerica Park opened in 2000.

“I liked old Tiger Stadium, because you had right field, that sort of overhung in the outfield, so you can hit balls that appeared to be outs and end up being home runs,” Jeter said. “It was fun to play in the old Tiger Stadium because, just when I was a kid, I used to go and watch games there. It seemed like every year, wait for a Yankee game, and we’d make the trip to Detroit and go watch.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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