From the NY Daily News’ Michael O’Keefe :

Gary Sheffield has news for Yankee fans: Derek Jeter ain’t the leader of this pack. “I know who the leader is on the team,” Sheffield said in an explosive New York magazine interview set to hit newsstands Monday.

“I ain’t going to say who it is, but I know who it is. I know who the team feeds off. I know who the opposing team comes in knowing they have to defend to stop the Yankees.”

The 17-year veteran blasts the media for hyping team captain Jeter and third baseman Alex Rodriguez over every other player on the team – and says the Yankees lack family values, chemistry and trust. “Why shouldn’t I tell the truth?” Sheffield told writer Stephen Rodrick. “I ain’t trying to get no Pepsi commercial.”

He says other players look at the Yankees as a first-class organization, but he believes the team lacks respect for family.

“It’s not a family-oriented team. In L.A., wives can fly on the plane; with the Yankees they can’t,” the former Dodger said. “With other teams, the wives always have functions to bring them together. Not here.”

Sheffield, 36, also concedes he’s not willing to pull a Jeter and dive into the stands after a ball. “That’s not happening. I tore up my shoulder, I tore up a knee. I’m not doing that again,” he said.

It is a shame the Yankees have no one on the payroll who can organize something to bring the wives together. Maybe R. Kelly would like the job?