by Jessica Shambora

“He is a role model not only for how to play baseball but also for how to remain atop the wobbly pedestal of fame.”

– Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci, who wrote this week’s cover story about Derek Jeter, captain of the world-champion New York Yankees and SI’s 2009 Sportsman of the Year.

Kudos to Jeter. He stands in stark contrast to the only athlete in history who has received SI’s highest honor twice. That would be Tiger Woods, Sportsman of the Year in 1996 and in 2000.

Until this week, it seemed that Tiger and Jeter have a lot in common. They’re both sponsored by Procter & Gamble’s (PG) Gillette and Pepsico’s (PEP) Gatorade. Both have lavish Florida homes. Now we learn that they even share friends: The New York Post reported today that Tiger met Rachel Uchitel–the woman who sparked the controversy over his extramarital liaisons–at Jeter’s Trump World Plaza apartment in Manhattan.

I’ve taken particular interest in TigerGate (more than most people, I bet) because I interviewed Tiger last fall in Asheville, North Carolina, near the site of his first North American course design. It was a thrill. Especially since I had recently left a post at Travel+Leisure Golf magazine to join Fortune. I grew up playing golf.  I also went to high school across the street from Stanford when Tiger was a student there and on the verge of becoming a phenomenon.

Am I surprised by the stories about Tiger? Yes. Not that he was capable of the behavior that’s been reported, but that he acted that way and got caught. Tiger, after all, is all about control. He doesn’t use Twitter. He doesn’t get involved in politics. He guards his privacy and his image so fiercely that he wouldn’t even tell me which business greats he most admires.

Now the stories swirling around him deprive him of his precious control.

Back to Jeter, another paragon of discipline and focus–as Pattie wrote in a recent post about “situational awareness.” As SI crowns the Yankee shortstop this year’s model sportsman and we hold him up as one of our earthly gods, let’s not forget that he’s human too.

And let’s recognize that one of the reasons we like Jeter so much is because he too seems to know that he’s human. He tells SI: “What makes me angry is when people don’t care–not when they fail; everybody fails–or when people act like they don’t care.” He’s not perfect, and he understands the responsibility he carries. “You have one opportunity to do something,” he says, “and you never know if you’re going to get that opportunity again.”

Situational awareness: being aware of what’s happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will impact your goals and objectives.

This is how Wikipedia defines this concept that’s been bandied about a lot lately, since those Northwest (DAL) pilots got distracted on their laptops and flew wayyyy beyond Minneapolis, their destination. Whatever the rogue navigators were viewing or doing on their mini computer screens, they were oblivious to the world and to their job.

So situational unawareness can be dangerous these days.

I’ve thought about the concept a lot, actually, even before it came into vogue. Walking down Broadway to work each morning, I stare at my BlackBerry, thumb poised on my rollerball. I’m oblivious to traffic, at my peril.

Others around me are oblivious, but immobile. The New York Times recently published a rant on cellphone users who stand in the middle of sidewalks and subway stairways. “This new brand of boor,” the writer called these people. The blog post drew an avalanche of comments from readers.

Situational awareness is a challenge for every leader, from President Obama on down. “The hardest thing about my job is staying focused,” the President told 60 Minutes. And as I pointed out in a Postcard called “How the best bosses find focus,” former CEOs Meg Whitman of EBAY (EBAY), Anne Mulcahy of Xerox (XRX) and A.G. Lafley of Procter & Gamble (PG) are just a few of the corporate leaders who say that knowing what not to do is as key to success as knowing what to do.

Avon (AVP) chairman and CEO Andrea Jung, who is on the boards of Apple (AAPL) and General Electric (GE), made this same point to me last week. We were talking about Steve Jobs, actually, and Jung noted that “tightness of vision” has been one of the many reasons Apple consistently stays on course and rarely falters.

And then there’s the master of situational awareness in sports: Derek Jeter, who we’ll see tonight when the Yankees meet the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series. In a fascinating story about the Yankee captain in the New York Times today, Jeter contends that his success is based on “simplifying things.” He’s better than almost anyone–in baseball, at least–at reducing the clutter that can overwhelm players, especially All-Stars in the spotlight. The story offers lessons for any leader–or anybody aspiring to stay in a job.

“It would put an exclamation point on my recovery.”

– Kyle Garlett, the first triathlete to compete in the Ironman World Championship with someone else’s heart. Tomorrow is a special day: Garlett will be among 1,800 triathletes attempting to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles (a marathon) in Kona, Hawaii. It’s also three years to the day when Garlett, 38, received his heart transplant. Garlett’s own heart was damaged by treatments after he was diagnosed with leukemia four times. “I really want to finish the race, but it won’t define anything about me,” he said.

Clearly, he’s already defined himself: Kyle Garlett, fighter.

I have my own special relationship with the Ironman in Kona. As a volunteer at the race four years ago, I handed a water bottle to the winner. And recently, I left the sidelines, completing my first Olympic distance tri (.9-mile swim, 25-mile bike, 6.2-mile run) on a rain-drenched Sunday in September, when I crashed my bike…and I’m hooked. A contingent from my triathlon club, Terrier Tri, is racing in Kona this week. Best of luck, Terriers–and if you’re seeking inspiration, think of Kyle! –Jessica Shambora

“The N.F.L. is more of a guarantee of success than if you got Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Angelina Jolie to do an hour drama series for the network. You can’t guarantee that it will be a ratings success.”

– Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal (GE) Sports, today in a New York Times story about Sunday Night Football’s stellar ratings–one of the few bright spots for the woe-begotten broadcast network.

While Jay Leno was supposed to be NBC’s ratings savior, that role apparently is going to Ebersol, whom I profiled three years ago–in an exclusive story called “Playing With Pain,” about his recovery from a devastating plane crash (he lost his 14-year-old son, Teddy) and his bold $3.6 billion bid for NFL broadcast rights. Most people were skeptical of Ebersol’s big bet back then, and not even outlandish optimists predicted that Sunday Night Football, his grand concoction, would transform TV’s most popular night into a sports bonanza. “We should be in the top ten or 12 shows every week,” he told me cautiously back then, noting that Monday Night Football, then on ABC (DIS) and now on ESPN, had ranked tenth in total households the previous season.

Turns out, even Ebersol low-balled the opportunity. Last season, Sunday Night Football was No. 4 in households and, more importantly, No. 3 among adults ages 18-49. That’s the audience that advertisers–and NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker–care most about. Only American Idol on Fox (NWS) performed better. This season, Sunday Night Football’s viewership is way up, averaging over 20 million viewers. Nice for a guy who has been running NBC Sports for 20 years and never, ever gives up. –Patricia Sellers

“It’s a stage. I’m a performer and I love to perform and being in front of the crowds and hearing them cheer for me.”

– Tennis star Serena Williams in today’s Wall Street Journal story about her and sister Venus’ renewed commitment to the game. Last year, hours after losing to a pair of little-known Chinese players in the doubles quarterfinals at the Banglaore Open in March, the sisters decided they’d had enough. They knew they weren’t playing to their potential. What was holding them back? A lack of drive and discipline. Serena admits to loving the attention of competition–but not the practice it requires.

Venus too has had her share of distractions, including a side career as a fashion designer. Now the two women have rededicated themselves to the sport, adopting strict conditioning routines and more strategic play. With the U.S. Open beginning Monday in New York, the sisters–and spectators too–are hoping that the new discipline translates on the court. –Jessica Shambora

“I’d love to play for the rugby team — that would be great.”

–Tiger Woods, joking in response to the IOC executive board’s recommendation to include rugby sevens and golf in the 2016 Olympics.

I’m giving Pattie a much-needed day off today and just thought I’d share the story I published today on golf and the Olympics.
–Jessica Shambora

“If I were him, I’d drop this drivel and start thanking his team. Without them, he doesn’t win.”

–Lance Armstrong, responding to Astana teammate and 2009 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador. On Monday, the day after the race ended, the Spanish champion told reporters that he “never had great admiration” for Armstrong and “never will.” The two battled for the role of team leader during the three-week race, and when Contador pulled ahead in the mountain stages, Armstrong retreated to a support role and finished third. Now that Armstrong has announced he will be leaving  Khazakstan-based Astana to form his own squad backed by Radio Shack (RSH), the rival teammates are coming clean with their true feelings. Contador has yet to sign with a new squad, and although clearly talented, he seems to have forgotten there’s no “I” in “team.” –Jessica Shambora

“It was just, it was just problem after problem.”

– Tiger Woods, who missed the cut by one stroke on Friday at the British Open, a tournament he has won three times. This is only the second time Woods has missed a cut in a major; the first was at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in 2006. Scotland’s famous weather didn’t disappoint, delivering rain and high winds on the Turnberry course, but Woods’s wayward drives were to blame for his demise. Meanwhile, 59-year-old Tom Watson, himself a five-time winner of the British Open, held on to the the lead for the second-day, sharing the top spot on Friday with 29-year-old Steve Marino (who just learned on Sunday that he’d be playing in the Open). Which will rule the day–youth or experience? –Jessica Shambora

“The only thing that means a lot to me is winning.”

– Tiger Woods, after missing just the fourth tournament cut of his career back in October, 2005. All was not lost though. Since fellow golfer Vijay Singh also missed the cut that weekend, Woods stole the PGA Tour money title back from him. The quote reveals the mindset that makes Woods, four years later, the $100 Million Man, landing him at No.1 on Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Fortunate 50 List. That’s down from his total last year of nearly $128 million but if it’s any consolation, SI also predicted that Woods would become the first athlete in history to clear $1 billion, probably by 2011. After losing General Motors (GM) as a sponsor, that may take a little longer. But according to Woods, he doesn’t need anyone to show him the money. “If money titles meant anything, I’d play more tournaments.” For more on what makes Woods great, check out our Best Advice package in the current issue of Fortune. –Jessica Shambora

“It’s not just about talent, it’s about character.”

– Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who became the most winning coach in NBA history Sunday night when his team beat the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the Championship series.

Jackson, who now has 10 NBA Championships, was talking about starting point guard Derek Fisher, who’s been knocked for being too old, too short, and too slow. But Fisher makes ‘em when it really counts. Last Thursday Fisher made a three-pointer with seconds remaining to force overtime against the Magic and put the Lakers within one win of the national title. Last night, Fisher and Kobe Bryant both nabbed their fourth national title, while Jackson surpassed the Celtics’ Red Auerbach for the coaching record. Fisher, president of the NBA players association, credits Jackson for being “willing to stick with certain people that he believes can help get the job done.”  –Jessica Shambora