Frank Curto [8:10 PM]
I should say I do not believe you need to win a championship to be a great player or a king. Dan Marino and Henrik Lundqvist are examples.
Justin Birnbaum [8:10 PM]
I agree with Frank.
Benny Tomko [8:10 PM]
True, but what Judge did this season was his stork. And as for popularity, he is now the spokesperson for one of the largest companies in the world.
Danny Small [8:10 PM]
I don’t think a hockey player will ever be the king of NY.
Nicholas Durst [8:10 PM]
I would say he always performed well, team never helped him in the playoffs though.
Justin Birnbaum [8:10 PM]
Eli Manning won two Super Bowls and has never really been close to this top spot in my eyes.
Nicholas Durst [8:11 PM]
The King of NY needs to be not only a star on the field, but a star off it.
Frank Curto [8:11 PM]
Lets see how Judge does the second time around. The numbers were great, but he needs to match or excel if he is the king.
Danny Small [8:11 PM]
It was tough for Eli because Jeter was still around when he was winning Super Bowls.
Benny Tomko [8:11 PM]
Just typing that very same Jeter sentiment.
Frank Curto [8:11 PM]
Well, then football players are out lol. Kidding of course, but they do seem to have a lot of off-field problems in the NFL.
Justin Birnbaum [8:11 PM]
Completely unrelated, but I think being in Peyton’s shadow hurts Eli, especially the Jeter complex.
Frank Curto [8:12 PM]
I’m not a Yankee fan, but Jeter is King, might still be now.
Benny Tomko [8:12 PM]
Absolutely.
Nicholas Durst [8:12 PM]
The undisputed King of NY from 2013-2015 was Matt Harvey. He had the “it” factor and revitalized the Mets franchise. Then you always saw him at Knicks and Rangers games. Before him, it was Victor Cruz. Off the field popularity is very important when it comes to NY.
Robby Sabo [2:28 a.m. ET while editing]
See, everybody and anybody can say, “Hey look, this guy is popular.” There’s no arguing popularity. What we need to is properly point out those instances in which popularity is unwarranted or overrated. As it turns out, Harvey’s was completely overrated. Is Judge’s? Is Beckham’s? That’s the real question to go along with true value to his specific team.
Justin Birnbaum [8:12 PM]
I think Jeter abdicated his crown with his move down to Miami.
John DaSilva [8:12 PM]
Eli was the man but he never looked to be the man off the field, rather let guys like Victor Cruz do that.
Frank Curto [8:12 PM]
Jeter is the standard everyone. Winner on the field, captain of team, never got in trouble off the field (or never was caught). Either way, always out of trouble.
Benny Tomko [8:12 PM]
Frank might be right, it still might be too early to label someone else as the king of New York.
Justin Birnbaum [8:13 PM]
I think Jeter is the perfect archetype to look for the successor now, minus the championships.
Frank Curto [8:13 PM]
Think about it. Jeter played here in NYC for how many years? Never a drinking problem, a women problem, and a winner on the field as his foundation. That is the definition of what we are discussing here.
John DaSilva [8:14 PM]
Even though many players were considered the man, sometimes the No. 2 guy besides him is just as important.
Nicholas Durst [8:14 PM]
Jeter was a HUGE womanizer. Had more girlfriends than just about any athlete.
Danny Small [8:14 PM]
Harvey couldn’t be the king because he wasn’t even THE guy in the Mets rotation for the most part.
Nicholas Durst [8:14 PM]
Harvey was THE guy in the Mets rotation until 2016.
John DaSilva [8:14 PM]
For Beckham, he needs that QB to be right there with him.
