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Open Mouth, Insert Foot
Hank Steinbrenner has at least his father’s locquacity, if not necessarily the sense that he, like his father, has the periodic if sometimes unintentional facility for giving credit—or the devil, depending upon your partisanship—its due.
But not even his father would have gone quite so far in demonstrating a challenge to his observatory powers as did Hammering Hank (to The New York Times‘ magazine supplement, Play, in a forthcoming issue as advanced by ESPN) in denouncing Red Sox Nation as “a bunch of [four-letter euphemism for execrement]” that is nothing better than “a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN,” neither of whom formulated either the original locution or the fan base it describes.
“Go anywhere in America,” purrs Hammering Hank, “and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”
Yankee haters of the land, rejoice. The Yankee administration has become obnoxious all over again. Just when you thought time enough had passed since the dubious cashiering of Joe Torre—who, by the way, doesn’t quite have the fire in his belly that Joe Girardi has, according to Hammering Hank. (Torre also isn’t as insubordinate as Joe Girardi has been, at least in backing his insubordinate coaches, something one hopes the younger Steinbrenners don’t have to learn the hard way too soon.)
His America must have boundaries far more finite and compacted than mine. I’ve spent over a decade in the West (mostly in California, lately outside Las Vegas), and have seen a share fair enough of Red Sox haberdashery amidst even such regions as might be expected to repel them on behalf of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, to name two.
A few years ago, I took the then-seven year old under my then-jurisdiction (his mother and I have since divorced) to Dodger Stadium, on which field the Dodgers hosted the Red Sox. At least a third and perhaps more of the audience watched the performance in Red Sox fashion, including at least two fans wearing replicas of the club’s 1918 uniform caps, the white crowned-and-pinstriped, red-billed cap with the single right-angled red sock on the front.
I have lived in or visited all but eleven states in what’s left of this Union in my fifty-two years, and in not one of them did I see a distinct paucity of Red Sox gear. Indeed, a night or two ago in a Dunkin’ Donuts shop freshly minted in the Las Vegas area, there came a customer, freshly relocated from the East, flashing a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card emblazoned with the logo type of the Red Sox uniform.
Brother Hal, it turns out, has a share of Hammering Hank’s rhetorical talent. The Red Sox have “a lot of talent, and [have] done very well the past few years, but let me put it this way: I don’t think [they] wanted to play us in the ALCS,” said the second Steinbrenner brother. “So I will concede nothing. I think we’re better than [them].”
We’re taking a wild guess that Shallow Hal was sound asleep in 2004, when the Red Sox proved how little they wanted to play the Yankees in the ALCS by picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and sweeping out the Empire Emeritus in four straight after losing the first three.
The impression here is that Shallow Hal and Hammering Hank wouldn’t be half as gracious as their father was, in 2004, when Ruben Sierra’s pinch ground out went second to first for game, set, and pennant, the Red Sox whooped it up on the hallowed Yankee Stadium grounds, and Steinbrenner the Elder refused to turn out the lights and throw out, yes, Red Sox Nation’s representatives from the House That Ruthless Rebuilt.
“They earned it,” The Boss pronounced. “Let them celebrate.”
Shallow Hal must have missed the wakeup call from the hotel operator when the Cleveland Indians bumped the Yankees rudely enough to one side, in last fall’s division series, that any question as to whether the Red Sox—who’d shown just how little they wanted the Yankees four years earlier—did or didn’t want another Yankee showdown on their October 2007 schedule is unanswerable forever.
The Red Sox since 2004: 277-209. The Empire Emeritus: 286-200. The distinction between the two isn’t as vast as Hammering Hank would prefer to believe. (Nine games either way, if you’re scoring at home.) But in Steinbrennerian terms it means nothing. Because in those terms you’re nothing without a World Series win.
In this century (two gentle readers remind me it began in 2001, not 2000, an error common enough), on those terms, the Yankees are nothing. They have one World Series less than the Arizona Diamondbacks, the (then) Anaheim Angels, the Florida Marlins, the Chicago White Sox, and the St. Louis Cardinals. They have two less World Series win than the Red Sox, who have far less soap operaticism in their front office and offseason doings or undoings, these days, than the Yankees have had since, oh, the Carter Administration.
An ancient admonition enjoins against the sons paying for the sins of their father. George Steinbrenner may wonder whether his problem this week is the precise opposite.
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on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 6:59 pm and is filed under Hank Steinbrenner, Red Sox Nation, Catbird, Hal Steinbrenner, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox.
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23 Responses to “Open Mouth, Insert Foot”
February 29th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
With a metropolitan fan base of about 8,000,000 vs. 600,000 , you would think the NY logo would exceed the Beantown “B” at least 10 to 1. In places I visit, this # is, in reality, often reversed.
What the SB. kids fail to realize is that the world loved the OLD Yankees (DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Stengle, Ford, etc.) who, as Yankees, played with pride in the House That Babe Built.
Part of the breaking of the curse of the bambino must be that the NEW Yankees, who created this free agent madness, are tearing down Babe’s House. For more $$$. Shame on them.
This, from a member of Red Sox Nation from Jacksonville, Florida.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Gerry—Disregarding about “free agent madness” (it wasn’t created by the Yankees, it isn’t “madness,” and it was created when an arbitrator ruled—rightly—in favour of Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally), I’d suspect that it’s about 50-50 between Yankee fans who cling to the vintage Bombers and Yankee fans who hew to the contemporary club.
Keep in mind, too, that the size of the actual or purported metro home base is often deceptive—the Red Sox home base isn’t limited strictly to metro Boston but fans at core throughout New England. You could then augment the true Red Sox base to at least an equivalent of the metro New York Yankee base.
As for tearing down Babe’s House, Yankee Stadium hasn’t really been Babe’s House since the 1974-75 remaking/remodeling of the Stadium. Say what you will about the motivation behind it, but the Yankees may well have been somewhat overdue for a new ballpark. The House That Ruthless Rebuilt, original and remodel together, is almost as old as the span between Red Sox World Series championships of 1918 and 2004 . . .
—Jeff
February 29th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Actually, technically the century began in 2001 (there was no year zero right?).
So in this century, Yankees World Series wins = 0.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:21 am
Thank you Amy. The 21st Century began on January 1, 2001.
World Series Scoreboard for the 21st Century:
Red Sox 2, Evil Empire zilch.
March 1st, 2008 at 3:35 am
Amy, Q—Works for me! —Jeff
March 1st, 2008 at 11:47 am
heh. Hanks a nutty one. though truth be told.at least so far he hasn’t pulled some of his old man’s insanity on the team itself like…
random FA signings that makes 0 sense
firing the manager on a whim
Still though, the team is commited to winning, can’t really say the same about some other owners. *cough* Pohland *cough* Loria*
March 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
This is a pathetic, childish, biased and uninformative article. Pretty much at the level of what comes out of a Steinbrenner’s mouth.
Gerry, “shame on them”? I’d agree with that. Shame this article can’t be any better than bar banter.
March 1st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hank will be ok. So will the Yankees. The Yankees are the premier organization in sports and people should recognize that. I think that’s his point.
YankeesDaily
March 1st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
How does “open mouth, insert foot” apply to what Hank said? That implies that he said something he didn’t mean to or that he wishes he could have back. He probably shouldn’t have said what he said, simply because of the position he’s in, but he does make a legitimate point.
“Red Sox Nation” is nothing more than casual baseball “fans” and fans of bad teams who jumped on the Red Sox bandwagon when they finally beat the Yankees. Even Bill Simmons has admitted that RSN is just as bad, if not worse, than collective Yankee fans.
Regarding the numbers, we have no way of telling who has more fans. I would say that the Red Sox likely have more fans over all, but a much higher majority of them are those bandwagon fans who root for them because its cool. If you were to measure the numbers of people who actually care and actively root for a team, the Yankees would have more.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Interesting to experience the latter day defensiveness of Yankee fans. The New Yorkers I work with reflect the same false bravado of some of these posts. I like history as much as anyone, but we are talking 2008 here, and the Yankees are now just another good team.
Sean. The premier organization in sports? Don’t you think, historically, that such heights would be shared by teams like the Canadiens, Celtics, Lakers, Cowboys, Red Sox? Although they certainly belong in this group, don’t you think they may have recently become among the most dysfunctional in baseball?
It’s OK. The Yanks will be back. Look at the Celtics. Look at the Packers. This may come as a shock, but If the Sox don’t win the next few years, the Tigers or Indians (remember them?) or Angels or Phillies or Mets or Rockies or maybe Tampa will. The win at any cost dynasty which bullied baseball to win no matter the cost, creating a black hole of talent for smaller market teams, is no longer the only big-spender on the block. Parity has arrived. Now to get this FA madness under control so ALL players can get payed well for being the best in the game . . . on a par with NBA or NFL.
After my earlier comment about the relative size of the Red Sox and Yankee fan bases, I went shopping for today’s Charity Chile Cookoff. In each of 3 stores were Red Sox Hats, one 2004 Championship Shirt, and one light Jacket. Not a single NY logo. I asked a couple of shoppers do they actually follow the games, and got emphatic yes! And consider, Eric, why would America rejoice that the bully on the block finally, and with finality, got knocked on his behind? In most places, that’s considered a good thing.
By the way, Jeff, good information. The Boston Red Sox are certainly embraced by most of New England, with their AA club in Maine, and AAA in RI. Nevertheless, you have to remember that New England includes Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire which, despite development, still have more cows and tourists than residents; little Rhode Island; and Connecticut, the southern part of which is a bedroom community for NYC and has many NYY fans. In fact, New York, New Jersey and southern Ct are far more populated than all New England. Yet, Red Sox Nation exists everywhere.
And someone please tell Hank, Red Sox Nation doesn’t mean that the Nation belongs to the Red Sox; and tell him it never belonged to the Yankees, either. And what is wrong with taking about sports in a bar anyway?
Also, the Red Sox had exactly the same discussion about whether to save run-down and much older Fenway Park. Their choice was to find new revenue streams while preserving the heritage. I look forward to showing my grand-kids where my grandparents and parents used to sit, behind the Sox dugout, when Fenway first opened. Silly, isn’t it, how New England treasures its past and learns to live within its borders and limitations. And wasn’t the Boston and NY Babe the greatest?
Sorry Sean, the Yankees were certainly, at one time, among the premier sports organization in sport. Outside of New York, they were never “the” premier organization. They shared that distinction with the Canadiens, Celtics, Lakers, Cowboys, Patriots, and now the Red Sox and perhaps the Mets. You can claim it all you want, but no one will believe you.
March 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Gerry, you cannot claim someone is biased and wrong by using biased arguments. No one expects you to like the Yankees, their fans or their owners.
But by arguing that the Yankees were never “the” premier organization, you lose a load of credibility.
The New York Yankees are a fabled franchise, unmatched in baseball history. Sure the Red Sox also have had a great history too, and recently have been more successful. But saying the Yankees are has beens is pretty silly.
That’s what I mean by bar arguments. This column usually has some very well thought out and well written articles about genuine issues. There are many better platforms for Red Sox fans to diss Yankee fans and vice versa.
March 1st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Gerry - I have no problem with people rooting for the underdog. I often do it myself when my team is not involved.
But by definition, and underdog is a product of a situation, not an organization. That’s why I say that within a few years, most of these bandwagon fans that jumped on RSN in 2004 will be gone. They are fans of the novelty and bandwagoners, not fans of the actual Red Sox.
That’s why “Red Sox Nation” is a joke.
March 1st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
*an underdog
March 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
Eric and Mike, you will notice that Sean claimed that the “Yankees are the premier organization in sports and that people should recognize that”. Go back and read it. That’s quite a claim, and quite a demand.
My point is that this statement is not only arrogant as hell, it is not now, and has never been, true. This does not discredit their wonderful past accomplishments and exploits. But this statement insults every team, every organization, in every sport.
It is also fact that, despite winning the $$ wars, the Yankees haven’t won the Series since the 20th century, while other fine organizations have. It’s time for some honesty, patience and humility.
And demeaning this article? Please, this article is one of many reflecting the pompous comments of yet another bully Steinbrunner; and is articulate about ramifications of this latest gaffe.
You agree with Hank, so it must be the article which is beneath you? Consider, if RSN is merely the result of universal joy about Yankee troubles, what does that say about this “premier organization in sports”?
March 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 am
“Consider, if RSN is merely the result of universal joy about Yankee troubles, what does that say about this “premier organization in sports”?”
It says that they must be pretty good if that many people care.
Regarding the Yankees being the “premier” team in all of sports, you can certainly argue that they are not, but don’t act like its a ridiculous statement. A lot of people would say that they are.
March 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 am
By the way, when did any of us “demean” the article? You can disagree with someone’s point without demeaning it. At least most people can.
It’s a fine article, I just happen to disagree with it. There is nothing demeaning about that.
March 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
“Consider, if RSN is merely the result of universal joy about Yankee troubles, what does that say about this “premier organization in sports”?”
It says that they must be pretty good if that many people care.
No, sir, it means that Red Sox fans, like me, who took BS from arrogant, idiotic Yankee fans who thought it was their damned birthright to win the World Series every year, enjoying seeing them finally getting their commuppence for decades and decades of truly obnoxious behaviour towards us.
And we’ll NEVER forget it.
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
“A lot of people would say that they are” the premier organization in sports.
Agreed, about 8,000,000 Yankee fans, and New York sports writers. That’s a lot. But they represent only a small fraction of the universe of fans for baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, rugby, golf, tennis, gymnastics, etc., etc. who just might like the operation, success and efficiencies of their own sports organizations better, making this statement both egocentric and ridiculous.
Why can’t the New York Yankees rejoice in its storied history, and its continuing status as one of baseball’s (many) elite teams. Why the urge to kill?
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
So, it’s okay to use championships as a barometer of success in order to rank the Red Sox ahead of the Yankees in the 21st century, right? But it’s egocentric, ridiculous, and indicative of the Yankees urge to kill to use the Yankees 26 World Series championships as evidence that they are the premier organization in sports? Whatever you say…
Also, the Yankees have more championships than any other team in the last 10 years. Citing the fact that they haven’t won this century is pretty arbitrary and ignores the fact that they’ve been the odds on favorite to win every single season and won their division the first 6 years of the decade. This adds to the disappointing nature of their failure to win but it also points out the absurdity of calling them the most dysfunctional in baseball.
Also, I’m sick of the NFL being held up as some kind of perfect business model. It’s a great system for the owners. The players don’t even have guaranteed contracts and make far less over the course of their careers than baseball players. Stop repeating everything you hear on television as though it’s gospel.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 am
You’re just being ignorant if you think that only .13% of the world believes the Yankees are the premier organization in sports (8mill / 6billion = .13%).
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:32 am
Well, now. It isn’t often that a fellow inspires such a bristling debate. I’ve probably been enjoying it more than you folk have been enjoying taking part in it.
But for The Most Felonious Vocalist in the Wide World of Show Business (gee whiz, I didn’t know Fabian was a fan of this journal!) . . . say you: So, it’s okay to use championships as a barometer of success in order to rank the Red Sox ahead of the Yankees in the 21st century, right? Say I: Remember—those are the Steinbrennerian terms of the thing. We’ve heard George Steinbrenner enunciate the terms often enough: you don’t win the World Series, you’re nothing. So it is on those terms that it is fair enough to say the Yankees in the 21st Century are . . . well, you know.
Say you: [T]he Yankees have more championships than any other team in the last 10 years. Say I: Not on the Yankees’ terms, as enunciated by George (and, perhaps, believed well enough by Yammering Hank and Shallow Hal), they don’t. In the past ten years (presuming you mean 1998-2007), the Yankees have—on their terms, World Series championship terms—two such championships. Precisely as many such championships as have the Red Sox and the Florida Marlins in the same span.
Eric: “It’s a fine article, I just happen to disagree with it. There is nothing demeaning about that.” Demeaning was perfectly clear to me. No worries, friend.
Gerry: “Why can’t the New York Yankees rejoice in its storied history, and its continuing status as one of baseball’s (many) elite teams. Why the urge to kill?” Because shedding said urge would probably prompt an investigation into who kidnapped the Steinbrenners when, where, and for how much ransom.
Eric, again: “[B]y definition, and underdog is a product of a situation, not an organization.” I can think of a small boatload of fans who’d challenge that definition, and they’d only begin with those of the Chicago Cubs . . .
Mike P: Nobody’s saying the Yankees are has-beens, exactly. (Not now, anyway, though you might have heard it a lot from 1967-1974, and during much of the 1980s and a year or two of the 1990s.) Refer again to my isolation of the Steinbrennerian credo that without a World Series win you’re nothing, which is what the Yankees are without in the 21st Century thus far. The Steinbrenners set the terms. I didn’t. (And wouldn’t.)
Now, back to my popcorn . . .
—Jeff
March 4th, 2008 at 12:10 am
OK, guys, i hate to fight dirty, but let’s ask Joe Torre what he thinks about “the premier organization in (all of) sports”. Let’s ask Yankee Nation . . . is there such a thing? . . . how it feels about how young SB treated Joe or, for that matter, how old SB treated Billy and a dozen other abused young players. Is “You’re Fired” really the NY definition of functional?
Where are Casey and Yogi when we need them? We could use their wonderful words of wisdom to lighten this up. If this were political, we would be sliming from the bottom of the barrel by now. Perhaps we are. Isn’t it ironic that Boston and New York are so alke politically, intellectually, spiritually, philosophically, and so damned cold in winter?
BTW, felonius, although the NFL is not a perfect model for business or role-modeling, the best players in football are lucky to make $10M per year, despite a shorter span of play and greater risk of career ending injury, and awful post-career aches and pains. Average starters earn more than the MLB minimum. If the Santanas of baseball didn’t get $20M, and MLB owners decided to spread that money around to younger players, the goal in baseball would no longer be skewed towards the madnesss of “the big payday”, payrolls would come down, and more young athletes would see baseball as good as the NFL and NBA to “make it”. We can thank George for this trend. Let’s see if Hal or Hank exacerbate this trend, or reverse it.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Gerry—Maybe we should wait until Yammering Hank throws out the first manager of the season?—Jeff
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