I'm an LA guy. If you take anything away from my rants and articles, you'd know I'm a home town sports loyalist. I've never been a Yankee fan, except when they play the Red Sox then I'm a huge Yankee supporter.
More than anything I'm a sports lover. I recognize what the Yankees are. They're either the ultimate villain or the ultimate winner; or perhaps BOTH. You can't have great rivalries without good guys and bad guys. You can't have great teams unless they beat other great teams. You can't have magical moments without history that create environments where tensions can grow and pressure mounts and players break through.
The greatest baseball moment ever is Kirk Gibson's home-run in the '88 World Series. I won't go on about that because frankly I don't need to and it's just an example of what sports can mean and what magical moments and unforgettable games or plays can do to change people's lives.
With all that being said, George Steinbrenner was a maverick, a monster, a tyrant, a control freak, a unique character the likes we'll not see very soon and a winner. The man wanted to win every year. He made all the right moves when it came to generating money. He had no fear of spending the money to get a championship team. For good or bad, all he wanted was for the Yankees to win. And to win every year. Unlike most owners (by choice or by lack of funds) he pushed his players, coaches and fans to expect to win the World Series every single year. I can do nothing but admire him.
Sure there where times where he was banished from baseball twice. Or would fire a coach seemingly every six months. I truly believe he'd slit the throat of every Red Sox player if it meant one more championship. But what more do you want from your owner?
I love the Dodgers but they're not going to win. They're close. They have great young players and one of the best run minor leagues in baseball. The Dodgers are always turning out great young prospects. The one thing that they've lacked is the money and balls to go after those few sought after, high paid free agents. A big bat here or a ace #1 starter there. They never do it. When they try, they usually end up with a hurt arm or a washed up steroid-ed former all star.
The Yankees really didn't care if they got Cliff Lee this year, why? Because they're going to get him over the summer in free agency and not have to give up their young prospects to do it.
In his older age, when I believe he appreciated life and winning even more he let go. When coming back from his second suspension he saw that growing young talent was just as important as buying all stars. He was still willing to spend the money and that's how you've got a hall of fame infield of Jeter / Cano and A-Rod / Texeria. Two home grown stars and two superstar free agents. Name me another baseball team that can even come close to doing what the Yankees do year in and year out. I'd love for the owner of any of my favorite teams to be like this.
We have a taste of this in the Lakers. It's not quite the same because of salary cap rules. Like the Yankees, the Lakers always try to put the best product out there. Ask fans of the Royals, or the Indians or the Cavaliers or the Clippers. Ask them how it would feel if their owners where truly about winning a championship rather than just banking their multi-millions each year. Never breaking the bank to win, always playing it safe, trading their most valued players halfway before the season ends because they know they can't or won't sign them so they'd rather cripple the team to get some minor league player who may be something in 5 years.
Steinbrenner was a winner. He'll be remembered that way forever. For bringing the most historic franchise back to greatness and raising the playing field of every team in their division and possibly the league, if they wanted to contend of course.
I wish there where more owners like Steinbrenner and Dr. Buss in the sporting world. Steinbrenner had his flaws but from all accounts off the field he was a good man. On the field what was his greatest flaw, that he wanted to win every year. Not a bad flaw when it comes from the owner of a sports team.
George Steinbrenner 1930 - 2010
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