R_of_G
July 13th, 2010, 08:32 AM
One of the most divisive figures in American professional sports, George M. Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, died today at the age of 80 as the result of a heart attack.
There seems to be little middle ground as to opinion on Steinbrenner. People either love him or hate him. I am very firmly in the former camp and on this news of his passing, I feel obligated to pass along this story, as it's one of the things that helped me form my opinion of the man.
I worked for Mr. Steinbrenner for two years in a hotel/restaurant/sports bar he owned here in Tampa. He would come in all the time, and aside from his niece who worked there, I was the only person not afraid to wait on him as his reputation precedes him wherever he goes. They may have been scared of him, but I’m a lifelong Yankees’ fan and to meet The Boss seemed the opportunity of a lifetime for me. He could not have been a kinder, more generous man with a wonderfully self-effacing sense of humor.
During the 1994 season, the one interrupted by the strike, the All-Star Game was on the T.V.s in the sports bar. The announcers were discussing the impending strike and began talking about issues of the owners versus players union. They put up a picture of Steinbrenner and some guys in the restaurant started booing and shouting at the tv that it was all Steinbrenner’s fault for being so greedy and on and on and on. Unbeknownst to these gentlemen, Steinbrenner was in the restaurant himself and witnessed the whole thing. Some of my co-workers gathered to watch the fireworks as Steinbrenner got up from his table. He walked right up to the guys at the other table and extended his hand and said “Hi, I’m George Steinbrenner. Nice to meet you.” These guys were in shock. They apologized profusely, which Steinbrenner told them was unnecessary. He then proceeded to take some photos with them so their friends would believe their story the next day. He bought drinks for them and handled the entire situation with class and good humor.
This was one singular event, but in my time working for him, I saw many others that showed me who the real George Steinbrenner was. Upon finding out I grew up in NY/NJ as a Yankees' fan, he would delight in bringing in former and present Yankee greats to meet me. He loved me because he never had to introduce them as I always knew who they were.
In the business world, he may very well have been all of the things people say he was, but in person, he was a genuine human being, and quite a good one.
I have said many times that as hilarious as Larry David was a Steinbrenner on “Seinfeld,” the producers should have tried to get the actual Steinbrenner to do the part because he’d likely have agreed and he’d have been very very funny.
RIP Mr. Steinbrenner.
Thanks for everything.
There seems to be little middle ground as to opinion on Steinbrenner. People either love him or hate him. I am very firmly in the former camp and on this news of his passing, I feel obligated to pass along this story, as it's one of the things that helped me form my opinion of the man.
I worked for Mr. Steinbrenner for two years in a hotel/restaurant/sports bar he owned here in Tampa. He would come in all the time, and aside from his niece who worked there, I was the only person not afraid to wait on him as his reputation precedes him wherever he goes. They may have been scared of him, but I’m a lifelong Yankees’ fan and to meet The Boss seemed the opportunity of a lifetime for me. He could not have been a kinder, more generous man with a wonderfully self-effacing sense of humor.
During the 1994 season, the one interrupted by the strike, the All-Star Game was on the T.V.s in the sports bar. The announcers were discussing the impending strike and began talking about issues of the owners versus players union. They put up a picture of Steinbrenner and some guys in the restaurant started booing and shouting at the tv that it was all Steinbrenner’s fault for being so greedy and on and on and on. Unbeknownst to these gentlemen, Steinbrenner was in the restaurant himself and witnessed the whole thing. Some of my co-workers gathered to watch the fireworks as Steinbrenner got up from his table. He walked right up to the guys at the other table and extended his hand and said “Hi, I’m George Steinbrenner. Nice to meet you.” These guys were in shock. They apologized profusely, which Steinbrenner told them was unnecessary. He then proceeded to take some photos with them so their friends would believe their story the next day. He bought drinks for them and handled the entire situation with class and good humor.
This was one singular event, but in my time working for him, I saw many others that showed me who the real George Steinbrenner was. Upon finding out I grew up in NY/NJ as a Yankees' fan, he would delight in bringing in former and present Yankee greats to meet me. He loved me because he never had to introduce them as I always knew who they were.
In the business world, he may very well have been all of the things people say he was, but in person, he was a genuine human being, and quite a good one.
I have said many times that as hilarious as Larry David was a Steinbrenner on “Seinfeld,” the producers should have tried to get the actual Steinbrenner to do the part because he’d likely have agreed and he’d have been very very funny.
RIP Mr. Steinbrenner.
Thanks for everything.