the Columbia Broadcasting System known as the New York Yankees...
This new owner forced life into a team that had floundered rudderless for a period of years. He demanded, no that's not right, he absolutely required perfection, and if he didn't get what he wanted, heads would roll. George Steinbrenner consolidated his ownership of the team and then was responsible for implementing the era of free agency in professional baseball by signing several high profile players away from other teams. Charlie Finley's Oakland Athletics were hit time and again as Steinbrenner made his first major acquisition by luring All Star pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter and then a power hitting outfielder named Reggie Jackson away from the A's to join the Yankees. These occurences coupled with the managerial talents of former Yankee second baseman Billy Martin led the team to winning two world champsionships in Steinbrenner's first five years as the Yankee owner. Then, much to his chagrin, the team went through thirteen consecutive seasons without qualifying for the playoffs. It was unbearable for George as he continually tinkered with the team's management and tested his coach's and player's sanity in the process. Finally the years of misery came to an end in 1993 when the Yankees were once again participating in the playoffs. Joe Torre came onto the scene in the early 1990s and led George's teams to four World Series championships from 1996 through 2000. It was through these successful years that the term "Evil Empire" was laid on the organization by a Boston Red Sox part owner, John Henry. With Steinbrenner's meddling ownership and free wheeling money spending ways, the name has stuck ever since...
Today, George Steinbrenner, also known as the Emperor and as King George, is approaching 80 years of age. Many said that his allowing Joe Torre to stay on for six seasons without winning another World Series championship was testiment to the fact that George was quietly getting soft in his old age. As the 2008 baseball season gets underway, George Steinbrenner has publicly relinquished control of the Yankees to a consortium led by his two sons, Hank (in charge of baseball operations), and Hal (in charge of business operations). Both sons willingly acknowledge that although they have taken on expanded roles within the organization now valued by Forbes to be in excess of 1.2 billion dollars, George continues to be "The Boss"
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Hank Steinbrenner began his time as Baseball Operations Manager by quietly overseeing a delicate situation releaving the team of former Field Manager Joe Torre, hiring Joe Girardi over Yankee icon Don Mattingly, and by keeping Andy Pettite in the fold even as his elicit performance enhancing drug (PHD) use came to light. The Pettite resolution was very important as pitching continues to be the Yankee's prime concern. Pundits in New York's oppressive print media were so pleasantly surprised with the ease displayed by Hank Steinbrenner's handling of these potential hot buttons that several glowing articles were written in praise of Hank. Since then, almost as if to prove that he is still a chip off the old block, Hank has publicly opened his mouth and placed his foot firmly in it...
Late last month, at a time when Andy Pettite and former Yankee Roger Clemens were headline news throughout the country concerning PHDs, Hank, in what I'm sure was an effort to deflect attention away from baseball in general and the Yankees in particular, commented: "I don't like baseball being singled out," the Yankees' senior vice president said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press Monday night. "Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players." And then the following was said about the Yankee's primary competitor, the Boston Red Sox: 'Red Sox Nation?' Hank says. 'What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order." And as if that wasn't enough, Hank was then quoted as saying a couple of days later: "I don't think they would want to be hollering too loud at Andy (about his PED use) up in Fenway. They had plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report."
In addition, "Boss Steinbrenner, Jr." has assumed his father's old role as the Yankee's great second guesser when it comes to the deals the Yankees have made as well as the deals they haven't. Reports are that Hank has displayed buyer's remorse after opening the team's purse to new multi-year, multi-million dollar deals with Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera. While on the other hand, he has lamented allowing Johan Santana to sign with their in-town rival Mets. Hank has let it be known that if Santana turns out to be as productive as another player the Yankees let get away, the Red Sox "Big Papi" David Ortiz, it will not be his fault. The fault has already been assigned to Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman.
Yes, it appears the Yankees are in good hands with Hank. The Steinbrenner tradition lives on and the New York media is having a difficult time hiding their gleeful anticipation...
Hi friend,
As a Red Sox fan I always find Steibrenner and his comments anusing especially since the Red Sox currently have the upper hand here. The rivalry will go on Steibrenner and the Evil Empire against Red Sox management. Once again it should be fun. Thanks for you comments in my blog. Best wishes. fenfan
My daddy loved the Yankees because of Mantle.
I liked the A's because they had moustaches and every young boy knows that's cool.
Daddy also explained the amateur draft. It started some time in the mid 1960's, before my time. This stopped the Yankees from cherry picking all the prospects. Add the CBS mis-management and poof! Steinbrenner comes in and creates a cash cow. CBS, you fools.
How about George's ex-son-in-law. He had the background and experience to run the Yanks one day. Then the next day he didn't. One little divorce and you're no longer qualified to run the richest team in baseball? What's up with that?
Reggie didn't go from the A's to the Yanks. He was an Oriole for a year in between those two teams.
Hey there Dwindy, great minds. I just posted something more or less on the same subject, althougnfrom a biased Sox fan's point of view....
I have to admit, though, embedding avideo onyour post is way cool, much more than I could ever handle. Nice job, and I have to admit, I enjoy the Sox-Yankees thing so it's kind of fun to see the seemingly unstable Hank running things in the Bronx. Now all we need is George Costanza back in the front office....
I kinda figured you were a Bosox fan... Something about that name of yours... lol
Yes, the evil empire is alive and trying to get well... It certainly draws the fan's interest. Sounds like Hank will keep the fires burning in New England!
Don't bogard that corn silk, my friend! Pass it on over to me...
The A's were way cool. White shoes, an elephant with a bat in his trunk standing on a baseball! The old showman Charlie Finley figuring out ways to keep fans in the stands... Then along comes free agency and the Steinbrenners of the world literally driving the small market owners to the brink of extinction...
I watched the race. Ford got the win but not Biffle... Heck of a deal for Jeff Gordon...
Thanks for remembering the Jackson circumstances. I think he was traded to Baltimore one season before he become a free agent and then the Yanks signed him... The A's had won three straight championships with those guys then the team was broken apart...
I checked you out before commenting here. Excellent job as usual. Funny how news grabs a couple of people hundreds of miles apart and they write essentially the same pieces... Hank will keep the flames of discontent between the Red Sox and Yankees burning brightly!
As I said on Half's post, the mixing of the genes don't always work as intended. Sometimes one winds up nuttier or saner. In case of "young" Henry Eugene, nuttier. Gimme the silver spoon, poppa.
Good post Dwindy.
Dwindy! To show my age (only 9 yrs older than you), I was at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Whole company was listening to the radio after chow. Had more than a few New Yorkers in the company. Good thing we had become friends. That was a miracle (even to get to the 7th game).About 30 of us from Pgh area, there was some gloating that night! Fuzz
I'll bet you've got some stories tucked away that we'd all like to hear. I've been posting some of my exploits in the world of sports and it's a lot of fun! I for one would like to hear about your days growing up and participating in sports...
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
best slot
Mattingly, and by keeping Andy Pettite in the fold even as his elicit performance enhancing drug (PHD) use came to light. The Pettite resolution was very important as pitching continues to be the Yankee's prime concern. Pundits in New York's oppressive print media were so pleasantly surprised with the ease displayed by Hank Steinbrenner's handling of these potential hot buttons that several glowing articles were written in praise of Hank. Since then, almost as if to prove that he is still a chip off the old block, Hank has publicly opened his mouth and placed his foot firmly in it...
from baseball in general and the Yankees in particular, commented: "I don't like baseball being singled out," the Yankees' senior vice president said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press Monday night. "Everybody that knows sports knows football is tailor-made for performance-enhancing drugs. I don't know how they managed to skate by. It irritates me. Don't tell me it's not more prevalent. The number in football is at least twice as many. Look at the speed and size of those players." And then the following was said about the Yankee's primary competitor, the Boston Red Sox: 'Red 
Sox Nation?' Hank says. 'What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order." And as if that wasn't enough, Hank was then quoted as saying a couple of days later: "I don't think they would want to be hollering too loud at Andy (about his PED use) up in Fenway. They had plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report." 
