Hank Steinbrenner, Another Bad Seed
Published February 25, 2008
The other thing Steinbrenner seems to be forgetting is that baseball, under the so-called leadership of Commissioner Bud Selig, purposely singled itself out by ordering the Mitchell Report in the first place. Having placed itself in that white-hot spotlight, it's a little disingenuous for the likes of Steinbrenner to now complain.
But that won't stop him of course. It's a Steinbrenner trait. In comments to the New York Post last week, Steinbrenner said that Red Sox fans shouldn't jeer Pettitte too loudly because "they [the Red Sox] had plenty of players doing this stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report." On the one hand, he's probably right. Given the pervasive use of steroids in baseball, it's rather doubtful that some members of the Red Sox didn't have their own version of McNamee somewhere.
On the other hand, why would Steinbrenner think that Red Sox fans should act any differently than, say, Yankees fans? It's not as if his hometown faithful are known for treating the opposition with respect and dignity. And it's not as if the Yankees, along with their cross-town counterparts, the Mets, aren't ground zero in this latest scandal. But in what is looking to be a Steinbrenner family trait, it's better to attack than fix, deny rather than acknowledge.
At some point, hopefully before it's too late, Selig and the rest of the thumb suckers that run baseball will speak in one credible voice on all the ills that infect their game. It's the path to salvation for a sport in desperate need of some good news. But it looks like it won't happen soon. Given the rather fast start Hank Steinbrenner has gotten himself off to, it looks like Selig and his cronies would have a better chance of nailing Jell-O to a tree.
- Hank Steinbrenner, Another Bad Seed
- Published: February 25, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Baseball
- Writer: Gary D. Benz
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- Gary D. Benz's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I have a few problems with your analysis here:
1. People do care less about steroids in the NFL. Shawn Merrian took them and was comeback player of the year. Not a peep was uttered about Rodney Harrison's use during this year's Superbowl. That doesn't even begin to touch on Romanowski, the allegations that the Steelers team from 70's was all roided up, ect. Where is the outrage?
His claims that nfl is tailored made for steroids, beyond the evidence of everyone that has used them (many admitting it from the 70's)the game is a strength on strength situation. You can get by being smaller in baseball is you can do certain things well. In football, if you're too small, or weaker then you're opponent, you are out of job.
2. The Yankees not blowing the bank on Santana is a major change. First you accuse the Yanks of spending like crazy and then they get no credit for not going over board on him.
3. This idea that the Yankees spending has ruined baseball is a total joke. Fans pay good money to go watch a baseball game and you're honestly going to complain about an owner putting his money, that he made off of the fans, back into the product on the field?
For years I watched as multi-millionaire Mike Illitch spent nothing on the Tigers and turned a once proud franchise into total garbage.
Then he realized his error and brought in Pudge, Magglio, and the others and now they had to cut off season ticket sales so the general fans still could get tickets.
Every owner of a major league team is either a multi millionaire or a major corporation. Them not spending on their teams is a direct insult to the fans. They want people to pay $50 for a ticket, spend $30 on concessions, buy a $120 jersey, and then they won't put any of that money back into the team? It's robbery.
Small market teams do it to themselves. When the Royals wanted to pay Brett, White, and the others they were good. When the Brewers paid Yount and Molitor they too were good.
It's all about whether the owner is willing to invest in their team. The Steinbrenners should be applauded for their commitment to their fans and their good business sense to generate the revenue to be able to pay out to put a good team on the field.
It's a basic business principle. You produce a good product, people come, and you make money. Very simple. You put a worthless product on the field, people don't come, and you do not make money. These rules apply in all facets of business.
Tony, hhhmmm... regarding steroids in the NFL. they work against you in the end result. Remember Brian Bosworth here in Seattle? Hurts his shoulder. Steroids remove your body's ability to heal. He became permanently broken and had to reire.
One of my high school football coaches (Jim Norton, UW Huskies, Washington Redskins) warned us about seroids back in the early 70s. He was right. Glad I listened. Well, anything that messes with the penis is automatically out of the question in my book...
Gary, I love your analogy about the neglected kid finally getting the keys to the car... what is this I hear about the new Yankee Stadium having $2500 seats? Well if they keep beer at $30 it balances out....hehe
Anyway, interesting points in your article.
DM
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