2008 Woodie Awards
Steinbrenner: He's just playing by the rules
Josh Iannuzzi
Issue date: 3/4/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Ok, so you are the owner of a major league sports franchise. What is your main task?
You would think it would be to doing anything in your power to improve your ball club, right?
Well if this is the case, then how come George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees have been getting so much heat over the recent acquisition of All-Star short stop (now third baseman), Alex Rodriguez?
Time and time again, the Yankees are scrutinized for going out and purchasing the best ball players money can buy. But, can you really blame the Yankees?
Yes, there is a huge problem with the economics in baseball, but there is no way you can point a finger at the Yankees. It is not Steinbrenner's responsibility to govern how much teams should be spending. The Yankees simply play within the rules, and do what every team should be doing, which is to try and better their ball club.
Another thing many people do not realize is how much Major League Baseball and all of its franchises benefit from the New York Yankees.
First of all, the Yankees would not have obtained a number of their stars if it were not for the opposing teams that traded them. Secondly, ticket sales/television ratings almost always increase for opposing ball clubs when the Yankees are in town.
So what is all the fuss about? The thing that probably agitates me the most is when fans or officials, from teams like the Boston Red Sox or the New York Mets, complain about the Yankees exorbitant expenses. Both ball clubs are within the five highest salary teams in the major leagues, so this pathetic outcry is obviously a deep-rooted sign of envy.
Besides, money does not guarantee a championship. This is evident due to the fact that the Yankees have not won a World Series since 2000, even though they have had the highest salary in the majors throughout the past several seasons.
I understand that something needs to be done to help out lower salary teams like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or Kansas City Royals, but the fact remains that it's not the Yankees' responsibility nor their fault.
If you want to complain then cry to Bud Selig, but do not blame George Steinbrenner for playing by the rules. He is simply doing his job.
You would think it would be to doing anything in your power to improve your ball club, right?
Well if this is the case, then how come George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees have been getting so much heat over the recent acquisition of All-Star short stop (now third baseman), Alex Rodriguez?
Time and time again, the Yankees are scrutinized for going out and purchasing the best ball players money can buy. But, can you really blame the Yankees?
Yes, there is a huge problem with the economics in baseball, but there is no way you can point a finger at the Yankees. It is not Steinbrenner's responsibility to govern how much teams should be spending. The Yankees simply play within the rules, and do what every team should be doing, which is to try and better their ball club.
Another thing many people do not realize is how much Major League Baseball and all of its franchises benefit from the New York Yankees.
First of all, the Yankees would not have obtained a number of their stars if it were not for the opposing teams that traded them. Secondly, ticket sales/television ratings almost always increase for opposing ball clubs when the Yankees are in town.
So what is all the fuss about? The thing that probably agitates me the most is when fans or officials, from teams like the Boston Red Sox or the New York Mets, complain about the Yankees exorbitant expenses. Both ball clubs are within the five highest salary teams in the major leagues, so this pathetic outcry is obviously a deep-rooted sign of envy.
Besides, money does not guarantee a championship. This is evident due to the fact that the Yankees have not won a World Series since 2000, even though they have had the highest salary in the majors throughout the past several seasons.
I understand that something needs to be done to help out lower salary teams like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or Kansas City Royals, but the fact remains that it's not the Yankees' responsibility nor their fault.
If you want to complain then cry to Bud Selig, but do not blame George Steinbrenner for playing by the rules. He is simply doing his job.