Derek Jeter’s Company Developing an NFL Player’s Amazing Life Story

Last updated on: August 17, 2016 at 10:34 am by Kate O'Hare

Derek Jeter’s Company Developing an NFL Player’s Amazing Life Story 2016-08-17T10:34:58-08:00 Kate O'Hare

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Derek Jeter was a Catholic-school student, and while his fidelity to the Faith is not known publicly, he did openly pray at his last at-bat at home, and his foundation provides scholarships for St. Peter Claver Catholic School in Tampa Bay, Florida, established in 1894 to provide education for African-American students.

Now the retired Major League Baseball and New York Yankees star is turning to something new — movie producing.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Former Yankees star shortstop Derek Jeter and his media company The Players’ Tribune (TPT) are gearing up for their first film project.

TPT has optioned the rights to former NFL player Vernon Turner’s life story. Turner, who played professional football in the ’90s with the Buffalo Bills, L.A. Rams, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, contributed a story called “Letter to my Younger Self” to TPT in May that speaks about his upbringing and witnessing his mother’s drug use.

Brett Gursky (who consulted on series Hello Ladies) and Josh Surkin (who previously worked for Highland Film Group) of relative newcomer indie production banner Magic Hour will produce the film with TPT. The project is not currently set up with a studio or distributor.

I just read Turner’s story, a letter from his 49-year-old self to his teenage self. It’s staggering. As a product of rape, the world would have wanted Turner dead before birth. The man he resented was the man who saved the day. Help came when it needed to, if he put in the work. Turner became a man, and he kept his word.

But it begins with the 15-year-old Turner on his knees, but for the wrong reasons.

Dear Young Vernon,

Get up.

Get up off your knees, Vernon.

I need you to listen to me — and if there is anyone in this world you should listen to, it’s me.

Because I’m you, from the future.

You’re only 15 years old right now, but I’m almost 50. I’ve been through a lot. And I’ve been asked to write you a letter giving you some advice to help you as you navigate all the incredible and heartbreaking things that are going to happen to you in the coming years. All the mistakes — and all the successes.

And the first piece of advice I have for you might be the most important.

Get up.

Get up off your knees, Vernon.

Because if you don’t, you’ll never forgive yourself, and you’ll leave this world with a broken heart.

I know you’re mad at Mom. So mad that you wish she would just die — that she would just hurry up and leave this earth so you could move on and have a normal childhood … while you’re still young enough.

That’s why you’re in your bedroom, on your knees, with your elbows on the edge of your bed, hands pressed together, eyes closed, praying to God above.

Praying that your mother will die.

And meaning it.

Click here to read the rest.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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