The Boss Is Dead

You won’t find a glowing tribute to the late George Steinbrenner in this blog.

And that’s not because I am a Red Sox fan.

While I won’t begrudge Steinbrenner the many successes of his long and tumultuous career, I will take issue with the way it was all done. In my view, it DOES matter HOW you accomplish the goals you set. And Steinbrenner’s single-minded focus on winning at all costs left a trail of broken relationships, betrayals and unscrupulous business dealings in its wake.

Was it all worth it?Ask The Boss—and he would undoubtedly say “Yes!” Ask those around him—maybe his family, but certainly his business associates—and you might get a different picture.

He was largely a self-made man—and his purchase of the struggling New York Yankees in 1973 for what was then a fortune--$8.8 million dollars—turned out to be a stroke of genius. That franchise is valued at over 1 billion today by some estimates—and it’s success can be tied directly to Steinbrenner’s iron-fist control over the years.

Born in Rocky River, Ohio, he was a track and field standout—and former Ohio State assistant football coach under Woody Hayes ( I knew there was SOMETHING I liked about George!) He was there the year the Buckeyes won a National Championship, culminating with a win in the Rose Bowl.

Joining his father’s struggling shipping company, Steinbrenner revitalized the firm. Against his Dad’s wishes, he entered the sports world first by purchasing the Cleveland Pipers of The American Basketball Association. Even though the Pipers won the ABL Championship in 1961-62, the league folded and Steinbrenner and his partners lost a considerable amount of money.

After dabbling in theatre, producing a Broadway show, Steinbrenner learned that Yankees owner CBS was looking to sell the team. Although the reported price was $10 million, that included a couple of parking garages that CBS later bought back for $1.2 million, making the net investment in the Yankees a total of $8.8 million.

Not bad.

Steinbrenner may be best known for his explosive temper and his penchant for firing Yankee managers routinely, but his foray into the free agent market may be his lasting “contribution” to baseball. His spent BIG for players like Reggie Jackson, earning the rap for “buying” American League pennants and World Series titles.

Whether he “bought” them or not, there is no question he got them. In the 37 years he owned the team, the Yankees won 11 Pennants and 7 World Series championships.

Here is a short video retrospect on the controversial life of The Boss:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEIJKzbebf8

From his ban on facial hair to the Dave Winfield controversy to his removal for a time from active involvement with the team, George Steinbrenner was nothing if not…interesting. Few sports franchise owners have elevated themselves to celebrity status, something that The Boss most certainly achieved. His cameos on “Seinfeld” as himself cemented his place in American pop culture—as did his stint as host on “Saturday Night Live”

In short, his volatile temper, abusive behavior and lack of conscience in business was rewarded—with fortune—and fame.

His sons now run the Yankees—and while it’s true that they will never creep out from underneath their father’s shadow, my hope is that their legacy will be one of honesty and fair business deals that don’t trample people in the process.

I also wish for the Yankees to lose---and a lot.

R.I.P. George Steinbrenner. Hopefully, you’ll be in a place where they play the harp—and where no one keeps score.


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