notes from a photographer

George, RIP

George Steinbrenner, Yankees’ Owner, Dies at 80.

I had hoped I would never see this headline in the New York Times.

Although growing up in Boston, my brother and I sat in front of a black and white tv the 1950's and became New York Yankee fans; My father grew up a rabid baseball fan, but rejected suffering through bad Red Sox teams and became a Yankee fan.

So as we gazed at Yankee Stadium through this tv,  whose screen was no bigger than a netbook, my father narrated stories of Mantle, Berra, Maris, Ford, Lopez, Howard et al.  Like the modern Day Super Teams, the Yankees of 1950's-early 60"s were stacked and won;

We loved it; As fans nothing is greater than winning; and better than winning is winning alot;

So, as a young fan from 7 years, we were winning all the time;

And then 1964 came; The Beatles came to New York; Started hearing groups like the Rolling Stones, the Kinks on the radio.

It was also the last year the Yankees won the World Series for 13 years; Yes, the Yankee drought was on;

So, as a 13 year old, I had to wait another 13 years, until the fall of 1977, when Reggie, Goose, Munson et al brought the Yankees back and ruled Baseball.

George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973. From the first day he demanded not only winning, but championships. And if not, public humiliation and the wims of a dictator; and on top of that illegal activities.

So he was a benevolant dictator, like the demanding father, who threatens you with beheading and then kisses you when you succeed.

He was a fan's dream; Spend as much as possible, fire at will if you think it will help the team and respect the traditions of what is one of the world's greatest sports teams.

He surrounded himself with brilliant, but fragile people like Billy Martin and then manipulated them over and over again; he knew people and certainly pulled the puppet strings to his advantage; but he was an enabler when it came to people.

Instead of sending Martin to anger management and rehab, he would manipulate him enough to get what he needed, but throw Billy the person under the bus.

Is that really being a father? or a friend? no, it is taking and not really giving.

But, with him on the job, the ultimate yankee fan, I could sleep at night knowing he was looking under rocks to make them better.

He and the Yankees won big throughout his rein, with some Drought where he was suspended from baseball and decided to make baseball decisions himself; He finally let baseball people control things in the early 90's and starting in 1996 the Yankees went on another Championship spree, winning 3 in a row.

Besides my own selfish feelings, I am happy the Yankees won last year 2010, in the new Yankee Stadium that George built.

I am lucky to have had one owner of my favorite sports team throughout my adult life.

So at 59, I want to thank George for all the memories. I could not have had a better Father-Owner than you.

George, RIP.