The Steinbrenner Moment

[broadway joe]

It was sad to see how much his condition has deteriorated, but that made it all the more poignant. Even the golf cart, though inelegant, was kind of appropriate since he used to ride them all the time around the Yanks' spring training complex. That may be why it was chosen instead of, say, a convertible. It was kind of awkwardly staged, but I didn't think it was a whiff at all, and for most Yankee fans, I'm sure it was quite touching.

 

[cranberry]

I have a lot of mixed emotions about George but I'd be hard-pressed to name a better sports owner from a fan's perspective.

Arte Moreno's in the mix.

Absolutely and to my knowledge he doesn't have the kind of tyrannical (and criminal) downside that Steinbrenner has, either.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I don't know ... based on all the rumors I'd heard and read, Steinbrenner actually looked better last night than I thought he would.

He'd gone really gray, which was a surprise, but it's not like he was Ali at the 1996 Olympics ...

Of course, he was sitting down the whole time and didn't speak, so it was hard to tell.

 

[Boom_70]

He has staged the multi-decade textbook labaratory case for fantasy-baseball lineup construction under the direction of those with a football mentality.

And excepting (and, yes, these are big exceptions) the Reggie and Mariano eras, it hasn't worked. . .
in that, you can make the playoffs, by spending a zillion dollars on hitting . . . but you need better pitching to wrap your arms around all of it.

What do you mean "it has not worked"? By almost any metric he has run a highly successful business.

His attendance has doubled in past 10 year and the value of franchise has tripled.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I have a lot of mixed emotions about George but I'd be hard-pressed to name a better sports owner from a fan's perspective.

Arte Moreno's in the mix.

Absolutely and to my knowledge he doesn't have the kind of tyrannical (and criminal) downside that Steinbrenner has, either.

Half of the big duo . . . Born Liar and Convict . . . we'll be here, through Thursday.

 

[Grimace]

He has staged the multi-decade textbook labaratory case for fantasy-baseball lineup construction under the direction of those with a football mentality.

And excepting (and, yes, these are big exceptions) the Reggie and Mariano eras, it hasn't worked. . .
in that, you can make the playoffs, by spending a zillion dollars on hitting . . . but you need better pitching to wrap your arms around all of it.

What do you mean "it has not worked"? By almost any metric he has run a highly successful business.

His attendance has doubled in past 10 year and the value of franchise has tripled.

I assume he was talking about on the field success. Business-wise, there's no argument.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

He has staged the multi-decade textbook labaratory case for fantasy-baseball lineup construction under the direction of those with a football mentality.

And excepting (and, yes, these are big exceptions) the Reggie and Mariano eras, it hasn't worked. . .
in that, you can make the playoffs, by spending a zillion dollars on hitting . . . but you need better pitching to wrap your arms around all of it.

What do you mean "it has not worked"? By almost any metric he has run a highly successful business.

His attendance has doubled in past 10 year and the value of franchise has tripled.

But of course, business model's worked great. You keep making October, and the Big Apple will keep coming back for more.

But, artistically? They're blocked. They're not winning the WS this year, which leaves them another year older, and fatally-flawed at multiple positions.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Meant to mention this in my last post, but to me, Willie McCovey being confined to a wheelchair at age 69 due to diabetes is far sadder than Steinbrenner's condition.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

why why why did they send him out in that golf cart??

Because he's George Steinbrenner and he wanted to go and nobody wanted to tell him he couldn't?

Yeah, I'd guess it was his idea. And even if it wasn't, the moment was for him, not for the fans.

 

[Write-brained]

He looked old, but I don't know how you can ascertain he has deteriorated just by watching him being driven around in a golf cart.

If anything, he looked like he was crying behind those dark sunglasses. Must have been an emotional moment for him.

 

[casty33]

From what I understand, George wanted that moment. It was the first time he has been seen in public in a long time and, while we've known he was ailing, no one knew how bad. It was probably his swan song in public and it apparently was the way he wanted it.

And Steak, I also felt bad watching McCovey. I am glad he was able to stand and wave, however.

 

[cranberry]

I think he learned the "dark glasses to hide the tears" trick from Billy Martin.

 

[JR]

I found it a tad surreal. Maybe it was the sunglasses or maybe the scarf but it had a distinct Godfather feel to it. I was waiting for Whitey Ford or Yogi to kiss George's ring.

 

[goalmouth]

What's Howie Spira up to these days?

 

[Steak Snabler]

I found it a tad surreal. Maybe it was the sunglasses or maybe the scarf but it had a distinct Godfather feel to it. I was waiting for Whitey Ford or Yogi to kiss George's ring.

I also found it odd that Buck/McCarver totally glossed over Yogi hugging and kissing Steinbrenner. Yogi wouldn't step foot in Yankee Stadium for almost 15 years because of George.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Is Girardi Fredo? Tune in, tomorrow . . .

 

[playthrough]

I have a lot of mixed emotions about George but I'd be hard-pressed to name a better sports owner from a fan's perspective.

Strictly from a fan's perspective, Marge Schott is up there. If you had to work for her or in the press box, or had to hear her racist blather, not so much. But she insisted on keeping fan costs down and the teams under her watch were mostly very good.

As for George last night, that was powerful but peculiar at the same time.

Marge was a complete disgrace who got lucky. George made winning an obsession and backed it up with huge investment.

I knew my post would go over like a lead balloon...but the question was about owners from a fan's perspective. If you were in Cincinnati and a baseball fan at the time she was an owner, you had it pretty good.

 

[Beaker]

I can only dream someone like Steinbrenner would buy the Boston Bruins....

AGREED.

Thirded. Jacobs is a mess.

 

[21]

I found it a tad surreal. Maybe it was the sunglasses or maybe the scarf but it had a distinct Godfather feel to it. I was waiting for Whitey Ford or Yogi to kiss George's ring.

I also found it odd that Buck/McCarver totally glossed over Yogi hugging and kissing Steinbrenner. Yogi wouldn't step foot in Yankee Stadium for almost 15 years because of George.

That was my reaction as well....the kissing was bizarre. Yogi and Goose, kissing The Boss? Like something from the Godfather, all the old Yankees kissing their former enemy now that he's too old and frail to hurt them any more.

 

[Boom_70]

I

I found it a tad surreal. Maybe it was the sunglasses or maybe the scarf but it had a distinct Godfather feel to it. I was waiting for Whitey Ford or Yogi to kiss George's ring.

I also found it odd that Buck/McCarver totally glossed over Yogi hugging and kissing Steinbrenner. Yogi wouldn't step foot in Yankee Stadium for almost 15 years because of George.

That was my reaction as well....the kissing was bizarre. Yogi and Goose, kissing The Boss? Like something from the Godfather, all the old Yankees kissing their former enemy now that he's too old and frail to hurt them any more.

I did get a chuckle that the driver of golf cart was former Steinbrenner gardner and now son and law - Felix Lopez.