Is the reported rift between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez a key reason why the New York Yankees haven't won a World Series since A-Rod's arrival? Maybe, maybe not, but former Yankee Darryl Strawberry told Ronald Blum of the Associated Press that the New York clubhouse is beset by bad chemistry that can be cured only one way: Jeter needs to "embrace" A-Rod. The story goes that Jeter has been cool to Rodriguez since his arrival, largely because of comments made by A-Rod in a 2001 Esquire feature. "Jeter's been blessed with great talent around him," Rodriguez was quoted as saying in the magazine. "He's never had to lead. He can just go and play and have fun. And he hits second -- that's totally different than third and fourth in a lineup. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie (Williams) and (Paul) O'Neill. You never say, 'Don't let Derek beat you.' He's never your concern." If that's the obstacle to peace in the clubhouse, yes, it's a slight, one that's been read by tens of thousands of sports fans. Still, many of us are slighted or dissed by a supervisor or a colleague from time to time. Although the ones we experience aren't magnified by having the rest of the world in on them, they hurt just the same and we learn to get over them. A lesson taught me by an overly cynical stepfather was that getting through life often involves dealing with people we prefer not to deal with and doing things we don't want to do. We common folk have to face those realities regularly. Players who are paid millions of dollars are able to avoid many of the nuisances of daily life, but getting along in a major league clubhouse isn't one of them. Those millions of dollars should make it easier, however, to tolerate a slight or co-exist with a teammate you'd rather not have. Strawberry said it's time to get over it. "I think the Yankees' problem is that they just don't support each other enough," he told Blum. "Back when I played in those years we were winning, we all supported each other, we all cared for each other. I think they need to get back to that, because the talent is there, but everybody seems like they're going their separate ways." This writer isn't certain team chemistry is all that important -- the terrific but bickering Oakland clubs of the 1970s proved that -- but it seems small-minded that Jeter and A-Rod can't find a way to mend fences and improve the atmosphere in the clubhouse. "I hope Jeter would embrace him this year in spring training, and bring him into the full circle as a part of the Yankee family," Strawberry said. "If Jeter does it, I think everybody else will respond."