Lupica is a small minded little man who has never had an original idea. He is old school in the way that controversy sells papers. The positve thing here is that with that advent of the internet. No one has to pay to read his small witted remarks. His kind is outdated and the timing of his column is horrid. He reeks with jealousy over the Yankee fans and the fact that Big Stein came out on top.

Anyone that has run or known someone that has run a sucessful business knows that in order to be sucessful and hands on you have to be a little off center. It is an all consuming labor of love and a lifetime of growing. Mr. Steinbrenner came around in a different age and didnt know all that much about baseball when he took over the Yankees. In three years he took the Yankees from the gutter to the World Series. In five years he had 3 pennants and two championships. Some people say he bought it and maybe he did but as a fan im happy to have an owner who spends his money on his team instead of lining his pockets and complaining about why his team cant compete.

With success comes many perils and George was not immune from them. His association with Howard Spira will remain a black mark. However it is worth mentioning that  Mr. Spira came to him, not vice versa. Thus there was a third party association that sent Spira to George and that remains overlooked. It was also worth mentioning that while his motives were suspect, the concern was that the Winfield Foundation was not actually perfoming any charitable works and that all donations were being eaten up by administrative costs. Something that happens quite frequently these days. It must also be noted that The Dave Winfield Foundation was the first of its kind in sports and was run by administrators and not Mr. Winfield who assumed community work were being done. It was the result of this investigation that led to wholesale changes within the Foundation and a more "hands on approach" by Dave Winfield.

With relation to Spira being a gambler. Any association Mr. Steinbrenner had with him was in relation to his motives with Dave Winfield and by no means meant to portray the Boss as having any association with gaming illeagal or otherwise. His suspension for "having ties to a known gambler" is akin to saying Derek Jeter should be suspended because he knows people who play poker on Saturday nights. The gambling association is used widely at the discretion of the commissioners office and has motives of its own. A classic example was Willie mays being suspended from baseball because he represented a casino. What no one told anyone was that Mickey Mantle was essentially his boss. Granted all of that has since passed under the bridge but it is a case in point. In subtext

A. Mr. Steinbrenner provided the money for the first ever charitable foundation in sports. Which has inspired many other atletes to do the same, providing countless good works for the coummuntiy in several different countries.

b.Mr. Steinbrenner never sought third party blame and accepted his punishment as a man.

With relation to his involvement in player signings etc. I would beg to ask "what owner of any business would not be in on the day to day operation of his business?" I've been reading about Matt Nokes and mullets yet it isnt written anywhere that Matt Nokes was the best available catcher atht he time. The Boss ahs always considered his team to be a "product" and as the owner of said product has always made the best product available. How amn times have you seen new and improved on a label? Its because they found a way to make it better. George's decisons were not always right or farsighted but his intentions were always the best. He put the best team on the field money could buy and what more can you ask as a fan?

It is also under repoted that he the Steinbrenners provide employment for hundreds and subsequently thousands of people. Players and plain people who would have not found employment elsewhere in the game came to Mr. Steinbrenner for jobs and were trained and given a chance. He hired one of the first African American GMs in baseball ( a poor choice) but a chance nontheless. He treated people firmly yet fairly. His realationship with Martin i look at as a classic example. Billy ran himself out of every job he had, including his ballplaying days. He had demons and troubles, yet George never gave up on him.

When Guidry went bankrupt with oil deals in the 80s. It was the Boss who rescued him. he got Rivers out of constant gambling debts. He overpaid Pinella and gave him extra time on the last two years of his contract so he could have financial stability. Did the Mets go out and rescue Stawberry and Gooden? No it was the Yankees.

George never let go of anyone and always gave you chances. He believed in the human spirit and what could be accomplished by mankind. He worked hard and rewarded loyalty and even forgave his detractors. He had thick skin and could take a hit.

Like it or not, we are all going to miss him