And in This Corner … George vs. Hank

By Paulie Knep
Love of Sports Correspondent

Last week, Yankee owner Hank Steinbrenner ruffled feathers once again when he publicly questioned his team’s effort, stating that they’re “being paid a lot of money, and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money.”

These comments were followed by the popular refrain among Yankee fans and Yankee haters alike, with lines such as, “Hank’s a moron,” “He’s out of control,” “He’s the new James Dolan” (the owner of the Knicks and Rangers who inherited his pot of gold from his entrepreneurial father).

“He’s certainly not his father.”

I can’t help but laugh when I hear this chorus of comments, especially the last one.

It’s amazing how people’s perceptions are distorted over time. After years of silence from George Steinbrenner, the maniacal dictator’s been magically transformed into a benevolent owner who was occasionally compelled to show his employees some tough love.

Let me refresh your memories. George was a volatile tyrant for the first 25 years of his rule after purchasing the Yankees in 1973. Employees up and down the organization were terrified of him. Over his first 23 seasons as owner, he changed managers 20 times, including hiring and firing Billy Martin five times alone.

He was suspended by Major League Baseball twice, once in 1974 after being convicted of making illegal campaign contributions to President Nixon; and a second time in 1990 for paying a gambler to dig up dirt on his own player, Dave Winfield.

Steinbrenner often berated his coaches and players publicly. He once called Hideki Irabu a “fat toad” and famously referred to Winfield as “Mr. May” after his poor showing in the 1981 World Series.

He openly questioned his managers’ moves and meddled with player personnel decisions, often overruling the opinions of his baseball experts to sign or trade for players he wanted. He notoriously ravaged the Yankee farm system, trading future stars for veterans on the downside of their careers.

For many years, George was despised by Yankee fans and non-Yankee fans alike. When word of his banishment from baseball in 1990 was spread through Yankee Stadium fans responded with a standing ovation.

Over the last dozen years of his reign, George grew increasingly quiet. Fans interpreted his silence as a sign that he’d mellowed, become kinder and more trusting of his employees in his old age.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. George grew quiet, because there was nothing to complain about when the Yankees won four World Series in five years (due in large part to his suspension in the early ‘90s enabling the team to develop prospects like Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte).

And over the past several years he’s suffered from dementia.

For the better part of this decade, George made statements through his publicist, Howard Rubenstein. His ego was way too big to allow other people to speak on his behalf. He didn’t mellow. He was sick.

Any questions about George’s health were put to rest by his cessation of power last fall. Dictators don’t step aside unless they’re completely incapable of ruling any longer. Do you think Fidel Castro woke up one day and thought, “I’m tired of calling the shots. Let me given my little brother Raul a chance?”

Last fall, it was out with George III and in with Hank I. The younger Steinbrenner called attention to himself immediately by taking shots at the beloved Joe Torre on Torre’s way out the door. Hank said Torre should be grateful to the Steinbrenners, because he didn’t have a career before George brought him to the Bronx.

Next, Hank interfered with the Yankees’ trade negotiations with the Twins for Johan Santana by publicly giving the Twins an ultimatum.

This spring, he appeared delusional when he declared that there’s no such thing as “Red Sox Nation.”

A couple of weeks ago, he threw a not-so-subtle jab at Yankee manager Joe Girardi, stating “You have to be an idiot” to use Joba Chamberlain as a set-up man as opposed to putting him in the rotation.

Most recently, Hank questioned his players’ effort and said they need to play more like the Tampa Bay Rays.

The response to these statements by many commentators and fans has been …“He’s no George.”

WHAT?!?!?!

Taking shots at his managers … interfering with personnel moves … making delusional comments about his rivals.

He’s a carbon copy of King George.

Ultimately, Yankee fans came to appreciate George, as winning heals all wounds. In spite of himself, he’s remembered as an owner who was willing to do whatever it took to win and delivered 10 pennants and six World Series during his 35-year reign.

Some Hank detractors say “He has all of George’s bad qualities and none of his good ones.” They claim Hank was handed the throne by his father and that his projected sense of entitlement is unwarranted.

They’re correct that Hank didn’t earn his new-found power, but George wasn’t exactly a rags to riches story himself. He was born into money and had a massive shipping business bestowed upon him by his father.

He proved himself to be a savvy businessman and was achieved tremendous success as the owner of the Yankees, both financially and in the standings. There’s no telling if Hank will do the same.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Hank should keep his mouth shut. The Yankees could do without the meddlesome, stupid and sometimes delusional ravings of an egomaniacal tyrant.

I’m just saying that, so far, Hank seems a whole lot like his old man, and that may be a good thing.