Murray-- Still Searching for George

It seems like many are placing too much on the first 20 years of ownership and not enough on the last 16 where he became likable George.

 

A true history of George includes the good & the bad.

To tell only one side of the story -- regardless of which side -- is to tell an incomplete story.

George was both good and bad.

I think he'd probably even admit to that.

Hell, it's the reason his kids resisted working for the Yankees.

 

Very good article by Lisa Olson. Thanks.

 

They had their greatest run of success when George faded into the woodwork and stopped making irrational changes and ridiculous "Win one for the Gipper" speeches.

He was a fucking tyrant who made the lives of good and honorable employees miserable strictly for his own ego gratification.

 

I thought the Sherman piece was outstanding, especially compared to some of the more sycophantic coverage spread elsewhere within the section.

 

Would their late 90s dynasty even have happened if not for his early 90s ban?

George's pre-ban MO had been to trade promising young prospects for overpaid aging big name vets. Is there any doubt that the 80s George would've been willing to deal unproven prospects like Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada in search of a Jose Canseco quick fix?

I suspect the only reason that group stayed together is that they joined the organization and came up during the period when the Boss was banned.

 

It would have been really good minus about 100 words: The last graph and the line reading "No one else who was there that day continues to write about baseball actively." Fine. We get it. You've been around forever and have more institutional knowledge than anyone else. Everyone else sucks. We get it.

And that last graph is really offensive. If anything, Steinbrenner's death should confirm WHY he didn't get that interview. He was a very sick man who was a shell of his former self. Who the hell is Murray Chass to be offended he didn't get one last interview with the man?

 

Exactly - It was offensive from the first column Murray wrote in The Times about trying to get this interview. He treated it like it was some sort of cover up that affected our national security. Too bad Murray did not cover the FDR Presidency.

Murray started this quest back on opening day 2006 :

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/sports/baseball/12chass.html?scp=18&sq=George+Steinbrenner&st=nyt

 

You suspect correctly -- though those who wear pinstriped glasses will never get it.

One of the best things about Madden's book is the literally-endless chapter-and-verse renditions of George lying through
his teeth, putting employees' names on actions so that he could second-guess them if the moves went wrong, et al.

Jesus, what a creep.

 

Good stuff, as per usual.

 

Chass and Steinbrenner (baseball Steinbrenner, not generous soft-touch charity Steinbrenner) deserved each other.