Tuesday, July 13, 2010

HAPPY TRAILS....

I woke up this morning to the news of the passing of what was truly an icon in NYC sports and in Major League Baseball, GEORGE STEINBRENNER. A former Clevelander (like myself), Steinbrenner burst onto the NY sports scene when he purchased the NY Yankees from CBS in 1973 for $8.3 million dollars. At the time he said he would be busy with his shipping business and you wouldn't hear much from him. Little did we know that he would be one of the most important figures in baseball history. His meddlesome ways and colorful presence transcended sports both in NYC and in baseball. His desire to win at all costs helped propel the Yankees from the depths of the cellar to the most valuable franchise in all of sports, adding seven World Series trophies and eleven American League pennants to the coffers in the process.

He was a tough taskmaster but well loved by New Yorkers for his desire to be the best, hence his nickname, "The Boss". His battles with employees were legendary. He was a trendsetter in the way sports teams are run today with the "winning at all costs attitude", pursuing free agents and creating revenue streams such as the YES Network and cross-promotions with other teams in other countries (Yomuri Giants, Manchester United). It was this type of mindset that helped make the NY Yankees not only the most valuable sports team in the world, but an icon in pop culture. The Baseball Hall of Fame will surely hold a place for him, I'm sure of it. In a weird way, it's fitting that he should choose to leave us on All-Star Tuesday, the day of the MLB All-Star Game. This assures that he will again take center-stage for one final bow.

A larger-than-life figure in the Big Apple, that's an achievement all in itself, "The Boss" will never be forgotten and New Yorkers will always hold him close to their hearts. Rest in Peace, Big Guy.


That's It. That's All I Got.