R.I.P. George Steinbrenner

Sorry, I thought, well, what one would think seeing it. My bad

 

It always makes me even more sad, for some reason. I think it is because I'm reminded of the passage of time when a once energetic, vital celebrity succumbs to old age, whereas I don't have to think about that when someone like Michael Jackson or Kurt Cobain or Heath Ledger dies young.

End of an era today. RIP.

 

RIP. One of the great characters in the history of the game. Eventually learned to let his baseball people do the work and his team took off.

Hopefully, he had no encounters with the fans in the elevator on the way up.

 

Gotta figure that's two canned obits that got used this week by Yankees beat writers.

 

Plowed his fortune back into his club (are you listening, David Glass?) Maybe not so wisely at times, but he did set up an enduring system by leaving Cashman alone. Re-established a franchise that CBS let go to pot. R.I.P.

 

Did Bob Sheppard pass over the weekend so he could announce Steinbrenner's arrival at the Pearly Gates?

 

Or Willie McGee for Bob Sykes
Or Fred McGriff, Dave Collins and Mike Morgan for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd
Or Doug Drabek, Brian Fisher and Logan Easley for Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements
Or Steve Balboni and Roger Erickson for Duane Dewey and Mike Armstrong
Or Rickey Henderson for Greg Cadaret, Eric Plunk and Luis Polonia
Or Dave Winfield for Mike Witt

 

RIP to a stalwart of sports and a man who never allowed money concerns to hinder attempts to win it all, but . . . the media lovefest is already tiresome.

Olney just said Trump's "You're Fired!" is "based on Steinbrenner. What, he invented firing people?

Olney also said Steinbrenner was the greatest owner in sports history. Well, greatest who won while treating many of those around him like crap, sure.

(And no, I don't think he was the greatest. He won a bunch of Series with the NY Yankees. Stop the presses. Great owner, sure. Others have been more impactful overall).

Not every L.A. area outlet had a quality Wooden obit ready, so good for the New Yorkers on being prepared.

 

Born on the 4th of July, dies on the day of the All-Star game. The man knew how to grab the spotlight.

RIP to one of the greatest figures in the history of American sports.

 

A friend of mine who is a Yankees fan put it well ... "I never thought I'd be sad to see that man go."

 

Rickey and Veeck, perhaps. I can't think of any in any other sport, tho.