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Win-win situation: the Yankees ... baseball's boardrooms ... the Olympics ... the Nets and Devils ... cable TV--in George Steinbrenner's sportsfolio, there's a common bottom line: victory or else. It has made him the most powerful person in sports. (The Power 100).
George Steinbrenner cares about one thing: winning. Everything about him--his checkbook, charm and formidable win--serves that goal. This is a man who peppers sports talk with quotes from Douglas MacArthur, declaring, "Victory is essential."
On the surface, therefore, this seems like a banner year for underdog rooters and Yankees haters alike: Steinbrenner's new YES Network actually meant fewer televised games for millions of Yankees fans; baseball imposed a luxury tax specifically targeting Steinbrenner; and his Yankees didn't make the World Series.
But Steinbrenner, celebrating 30 years at the helm of the Yankees, usually wins out, and here he is on top again, No. 1 on the Sporting News' 2002 Power 100, our annual list of the most powerful people in sports.
The year started with David Wells signing with the Yankees, breaking his handshake deal with the Diamondbacks after a last-minute lunch with Steinbrenner. What George wants, George gets. Wells won 19 games, leading the Yankees to yet another division title. "I believe power is important if you use it the right way," says Steinbrenner, 72.
The season ended--for the Yankees, at least--in a playoff loss. Yet the perception of that loss is revealing--finishing first has become a given and anything less than a championship is unacceptable. "This wasn't a good year," Steinbrenner says.
But the biggest sports story of 2002 came in between, with the lingering question of whether baseball would shut down again. Typically painted as a showdown between commissioner Bud Selig and union head Donald Fehr, the labor scenario actually came down to Steinbrenner's supremacy.
The owners--galvanized by Steinbrenner's brazen grabs of overpriced outfielder Raul Mondesi and sixth starter Jeff Weaver--banded together, piling a luxury tax on top of revenue sharing, all in the name of stopping Steinbrenner. "It's like they're back in some Communist nation," Steinbrenner says dismissively of their desire to share his earnings.
- WITH STEINBRENNER, IT'S YANKEES AND HORSES
- Newspaper article from: Post-Tribune (IN) February 19, 1987 700+ words
...thing is guaranteed - Steinbrenner is already putting...from the river." Steinbrenner talked about Reggie Jackson, the former Yankee who was one of the...late 70's, when the Yankees won back-to-back...is just a baby." Steinbrenner said Tuesday that he...
- Steinbrenner: Yankees can win title
- News wire article from: AP Online July 20, 2009 700+ words
Hal Steinbrenner was direct...the New York Yankees since opening...Sox come to Yankee Stadium...against the Yankees this year...in 1912. Steinbrenner met with Girardi...Halladay, the Yankees are interested...get it," Steinbrenner said, speaking...runs at new Yankee ...
- Steinbrenner May Get New Partners in YES.(George Steinbrenner)(Yankees...
- Magazine article from: Multichannel News August 21, 2006 700+ words
...Property Could Be Worth More Than Yankees George Steinbrenner next season could have new teammates at the Yankees Entertainment & Sports...other 60% is split between the Yankees, run by team owner Steinbrenner, and a group led by Ray Chambers...
- For once, Steinbrenner did things properly Much-maligned owner made Yankees a...
- Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel HAL BOCK October 20, 1996 700+ words
...boss of the New York Yankees. And certainly, Steinbrenner brought a lot of the...credit. When his Yankees charged into the World...profile season for the Yankee with the highest of...mellow style that Steinbrenner sat back and watched...
- Yankees general manager Gene Michael was summoned to the Tampa, Fla., offices...
- Newspaper article from: The Record (Bergen County, NJ) BILL PENNINGTON, Sports Columnist October 13, 1995 700+ words
...replacement may hinge on Steinbrenner's other big decision: Who is Yankees manager in 1996? Yankees manager Buck Showalter...this year, but Steinbrenner has not yet asked...half-over, for Steinbrenner's Yankees, what promises...
- Rainout leaves Steinbrenner hot Yankees owner upset because game started
- Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel JOHN GIANNONE September 18, 1996 700+ words
...will cost the New York Yankees the services of David...Baltimore Orioles. Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner, also ripped...Budig for not being at Yankee Stadium to intercede...weather conditions. Steinbrenner grew increasingly miffed...
- Steinbrenner Denies Yankees Will Relocate
- Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times January 24, 1995 700+ words
...Yankees boss George Steinbrenner met with city officials...ever discussed," Steinbrenner said when told of a...Rudolph Giuliani that the Yankees would leave the Bronx...publication Wednesday, said Steinbrenner faxed a notice of his...the creation of a new Yankee Stadium in New ...
- STEINBRENNER DRAWS BASEBALL'S IRE AGAIN YANKEE OWNER SUSPENDED FROM EXEC...
- Newspaper article from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA) May 14, 1997 700+ words
...enough.'' Steinbrenner's lawyer...the New York Yankees and Adidas are...they asked the Yankees and Adidas to...Adidas logos at Yankee Stadium and told the Yankees to stop outfitting...suing baseball. Steinbrenner angered owners...
