Fantastic Steve Jacobson column on George Steinbrenner.

sadly, this is very true.

 

The fan base is clearly appreciative that the front office is willing to spend the money IN AN ATTEMPT (emphasis mine) to put a top-quality product on the field.

Too bad for George that he never could figure out they don't play Fantasy Baseball on the field.

And it obviously speaks volumes that the franchise's last great run was primarily
engineered while Georgie Porgie wasn't allowed to fully participate in personnel
decisionmaking. For THAT, Yankee fans should be profoundly grateful.

 

So, what, when Yankee fans stood and applauded and chanted "George sucks!" when Steinbrenner was suspended for the second time was just a goof?

 

Jacobson has to come out of retirement to write that? Because he's holding a 30-year grudge and, God forbid, Steinbrenner might croak before he gets a chance to skewer him?

An embarassment to himself and the paper.

 

Why is this an embarrassment? Is he factually incorrect on anything he wrote?

 

I don't think Steinbrenner croaking would stop Jacobson or change his take on the man.

But he might have been worried that he, Jacobson, might croak before getting to skewer The Boss one more time.

I thought the column was fine. I've read meaner obits.

 

All I'm going to say is that a number of George III's so-called personal generosities
appear to have been motivated in significant part by his gaining a feeling of indebtedness on the part of the recipient, as part and parcel of the bargain.
Nobody said George hasn't been markedly shrewd at times, in terms of what he can get for his dollars. But I'll be damned if I'm going to nominate him for Humanitarian of the Year, now or ever.

And George should kneel by the side of his bed every evening, and thank his
personal God for Rivera.

 

OK, here's what I wondered reading all the George pieces, pro and con.

Why does everybody come back to him? Why would you ever set foot in Yankee Stadium ever again if you were Dave Winfield? Why did Yogi forgive him? Why didn't Goose say go fuck yourself for good when he left for San Diego? Why does Righetti still speak fondly of the Yankees? Why does Reggie come back there after...OK I know why Reggie came back, b/c he's got a bigger ego than George.

Still though. If I worked for a guy who treated me in such rotten fashion, I'd badmouth him at every turn and never turn back, no matter how he was acting long after the fact.

 

Because Yogi's a better man? That's a solid place to start.

Like Goose a lot, and glad he got where he wanted to go.

George provided Reggie the stage Reggie felt he deserved.

I can't explain Mr. May or Rags. Personalitywise, have never been able to
gain a solid grip on either.

 

Oh, I agree Yogi is the better man, by a country mile. But he went 14 years without setting foot in YS and doesn't seem driven by the ego of being The Greatest Living Yankee, which he became following Joe D's death. I just don't understand why he went back.

 

Money

 

Didn't Steinbrenner help bankroll the museum that was opened in Yogi's name? I thought that was the basis for the reconciliation.

Beyond that, Yogi's friends had been working on him for years to let go of the grudge.