Weepy Boss Makes Lovey Dovey With Bleacher Creatures



Newsday's Jim Baumbach reports on the man who put the SOB into sobbing, George Steinbrenner.

In a scene that was as touching as it was stunning, while talking with three CBS broadcasters on a makeshift set in left-centerfield, Steinbrenner broke down several times as fans in the bleachers repeatedly chanted, "Thank you, George."

Asked about the incident outside his Yankee Stadium suite during the fourth inning, Steinbrenner, 73, seemed proud to have shown the metropolitan area his emotional side.

"The fans in the bleachers were calling out to me," The Boss said. "I've known them for a long time, you know."

But never have they reacted to him as they did during the live interview, a response in line with the positive vibes that have dominated since the trade for Alex Rodriguez.

Before a question was even asked of Steinbrenner, WCBS anchor Ernie Anastos pointed out the chants from the crowd. Steinbrenner instantly appeared to fight back tears behind those large, dark sunglasses he always seems to wear.

He was short with his first few answers before again being overcome with emotion. A question from Warner Wolf brought back memories of 1973, when he bought the team. Asked if anyone discouraged him from making the deal, a clearly choked-up Steinbrenner hesitated before saying, "Nope, not the Yankees."

Dressed in a dark blue suit and tie and standing between Wolf and Dana Tyler, Steinbrenner was asked why he never hesitates to bring in top players regardless of the cost. "The desire to win was instilled in me by the people, like those people out there," said Steinbrenner, who briefly turned to look at the fans and was overcome again.

This is the second time in a year he has cried publicly. Last July 7, the tears flowed down his face in front of reporters during the late innings of a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, and he explained how touched he was by the Yankees' fight.

Steinbrenner has been in an unusually upbeat mood, even going so far as to say he is "happier than I've ever been" and that he appreciates life much more after fainting at the funeral service for Otto Graham last December. But he denied that the health scare was the reason he was crying, instead pointing to the fans chanting his name. "It's New York's team, and it's a very important thing that we hold the strings to it," he said. "This is the people's team."

Even the Yankees' 1-2 start, which in previous seasons might have sent him on a wild rampage, didn't seem to bother him. "We are paying $80 million next year to help all the other teams, including Tampa Bay, who almost whipped us," he said.

Steinbrenner endorsed the impending contract extension for manager Joe Torre, saying, "Joe deserves it. He's been through a lot as a manager, plus he's a New Yorker. You know he never was successful anywhere else he was, but when he got to New York, he felt right at home and he did a great job for me. I owe him that."

The interview ended in bizarre fashion, which is saying something, considering all the crying that was taking place.

Steinbrenner was reminded of a phone call he received Wednesday afternoon from Roger Clemens, who was about to pitch his first game for the Houston Astros after leaving the Yankees. Asked what Clemens said to him, Steinbrenner couldn't contain himself.

"Thank you for making me a Yankee," he said through sobs. "That meant a lot to me. I said, 'You were a great player.'"

This all makes perfect sense. Every time I see Fred Wilpon being interviewed, I start chanting, too.


Posted: Fri - April 9, 2004 at 07:13 AM      

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