I Miss George Steinbrenner

George, George, George of the Jungle, strong as he can be.  George, George, George of the Jungle, watch out for that tree.  -George of the Jungle

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Once again the Red Sox and Yankees are in a penant race.  Once again, the oldest and fiercest rivalry in American professional sports are in a penant race.  There’s no rivalry in sports that comes close.  It’s an embedded part of our culture.  In my lifetime, throughout this rivalry, from Bucky Bleepin’ Dent to Aaron Bleepin’ Boone, there has always one been constant.  The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been George Steinbrenner.  The Boss.  King George.  Phineas T. Bluster.  This rivalry has rolled by like an army of steamrollers.  It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again.  But the Boss has marked the time.  Without him, this rivalry now lacks a certain vim.  It now lacks a certain vigor.  It now lacks a certain spirit, a certain je ne sais quoi.  Steinbrenner:  “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing.  Breathing first, winning next.”

The trade deadline has come and gone and while Boston made a splash with Victor Martinez, the Yankees went out and got themselves….Jerry Hairston Jr.  Jerry Hairston Jr?  George must be rolling over in his grave.  Here is a man, who in days of trade deadline past, went out and got David Cone.  Here is a man who went out and got David Justice.  A man who went out and got Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Aaron Boone, Bobby Abreu, Cliff Johnson, Ruben Sierra and Cecil Fielder.  Like Travis Bickle, here is a man who would not take it anymore.  A man who stood up against the scum, the dogs, the filth, here is someone who stood up.  No one stood up more, paid more or demanded more than George Steinbrenner.

George stood up to everybody.  Right or wrong.  Weak or strong.  Sure he made some bonehead moves.  Sure he signed Steve Trout.  Sure he said to Sweet Lou Pinella aftewards, “I just won you the pennant,” only to have Trout go 0-4 with a 6.60 ERA.  But that braggadocio is what it made it all so fun.  Fun in the sun.  He would not be outdone.  Like George said himself, “I will never have a heart attack … I give them.”  He gave plenty.  Yes sports fans, I miss George Steinbrenner.  I still hate the Yankees, but it’s just not the same without the Boss behind the Darth Vader mask. 

Public Spectacle: 

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

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