REPORT: "FROZEN IN A PERMANENT RICTUS OF CAREWORN DISBELIEF"
This article is so shocking--and so darkly funny--that I thought I'd just post the whole thing. Sounds like the Boss is failing, and fast. And check out Rubenstein's rebuttal.
TRAGIC MADNESS OF KING GEORGE
BABBLING BOSS 'SHOCKS' PAL
By DAN MANGAN, NY POST
George Steinbrenner kept answering, "Great to see ya."
August 3, 2007 -- A new report paints a disturbing portrait of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner as a befuddled, bloated old man in "dreadful" shape who bears little resemblance to the once-feared Boss.
An apparently addled Steinbrenner, 77, repeatedly said, "Great to see ya," to nearly every question, no matter what was being asked by a longtime friend during a recent visit, according to an upcoming article in Condé Nast Portfolio magazine.
"I'm shocked," the friend, Tom McEwen, said later. "George doesn't even seem like the same person. I figured he might be in a bad way, but I never expected this."
Since purchasing the Bronx Bombers in 1973, Steinbrenner has made headlines and enemies because of his often mercurial management of the Yankees front office and his bombastic pro- nouncements.
In recent years, however, Steinbrenner has lost much of his thunder as his physical health and mental capacity has appeared to decline.
Last month, Post sports columnist Phil Mushnick wrote that, "All reasonable signs indicate that his dementia . . . is now so profound that he is being carefully hidden from public view."
Condé Nast Portfolio writer Franz Lidz's new story focuses on possible successors to the Boss, including eldest son Hank.
Lidz recently gained entry to George Steinbrenner's home in Tampa, Fla., by tagging along with McEwen, a wheelchair-bound former Tampa Tribune sports editor.
"A solitary figure emerges out of the shadows, limping towards us," wearing silk pajamas and a terry-cloth robe, Lidz writes.
"Great to see ya, Tommy," Steinbrenner says to McEwen.
Steinbrenner says "Great to see ya," each time McEwen, 84, asks about the Boss' wife, sons and daughters in separate questions.
Lidz writes that "he looks dreadful."
"His body is bloated; his jawline has slackened into a triple chin; his skin looks as if a dry-cleaner bag has been stretched over it . . . His features seem frozen in a permanent rictus of careworn disbelief."
After snarling at Lidz that the then-struggling Yankees will "come around," Steinbrenner ignores the writer's question about whom he wants to succeed him.
"A few minutes later, Steinbrenner starts repeating himself again. 'Great to see ya, Tommy,' he says in response to every question. 'Great to see ya.' "
Steinbrenner's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, yesterday said the repetition "might be a defensive mechanism."
"He doesn't want to give any interviews, and it's better to say, 'It's great to see you,' as opposed to 'Get lost,' " Rubenstein said. "I think George is in a good way. And it isn't right for someone to come in under false pretenses."
TRAGIC MADNESS OF KING GEORGE
BABBLING BOSS 'SHOCKS' PAL
By DAN MANGAN, NY POST
George Steinbrenner kept answering, "Great to see ya."
August 3, 2007 -- A new report paints a disturbing portrait of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner as a befuddled, bloated old man in "dreadful" shape who bears little resemblance to the once-feared Boss.
An apparently addled Steinbrenner, 77, repeatedly said, "Great to see ya," to nearly every question, no matter what was being asked by a longtime friend during a recent visit, according to an upcoming article in Condé Nast Portfolio magazine.
"I'm shocked," the friend, Tom McEwen, said later. "George doesn't even seem like the same person. I figured he might be in a bad way, but I never expected this."
Since purchasing the Bronx Bombers in 1973, Steinbrenner has made headlines and enemies because of his often mercurial management of the Yankees front office and his bombastic pro- nouncements.
In recent years, however, Steinbrenner has lost much of his thunder as his physical health and mental capacity has appeared to decline.
Last month, Post sports columnist Phil Mushnick wrote that, "All reasonable signs indicate that his dementia . . . is now so profound that he is being carefully hidden from public view."
Condé Nast Portfolio writer Franz Lidz's new story focuses on possible successors to the Boss, including eldest son Hank.
Lidz recently gained entry to George Steinbrenner's home in Tampa, Fla., by tagging along with McEwen, a wheelchair-bound former Tampa Tribune sports editor.
"A solitary figure emerges out of the shadows, limping towards us," wearing silk pajamas and a terry-cloth robe, Lidz writes.
"Great to see ya, Tommy," Steinbrenner says to McEwen.
Steinbrenner says "Great to see ya," each time McEwen, 84, asks about the Boss' wife, sons and daughters in separate questions.
Lidz writes that "he looks dreadful."
"His body is bloated; his jawline has slackened into a triple chin; his skin looks as if a dry-cleaner bag has been stretched over it . . . His features seem frozen in a permanent rictus of careworn disbelief."
After snarling at Lidz that the then-struggling Yankees will "come around," Steinbrenner ignores the writer's question about whom he wants to succeed him.
"A few minutes later, Steinbrenner starts repeating himself again. 'Great to see ya, Tommy,' he says in response to every question. 'Great to see ya.' "
Steinbrenner's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, yesterday said the repetition "might be a defensive mechanism."
"He doesn't want to give any interviews, and it's better to say, 'It's great to see you,' as opposed to 'Get lost,' " Rubenstein said. "I think George is in a good way. And it isn't right for someone to come in under false pretenses."
posted by Anthony at 9:55 AM
7 Comments:
It's funny, but I saw this CNN/Money article yesterday and was going to post it. It also addresses the failing boss as well as the possible sale of the YES network, the emergence of son Hal, and even the possible sale of the team. I know it seems hard to believe but we may have a Steinbrenner-free Yankees in the very near future.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/01/news/companies/yes_sale.fortune/index.htm
Hey, it sucks to get old.
But he got to own the Yankees and sail boats. He had a full, good life.
Yeah, but if this is true, he hasn't aged with any grace whatsoever. Torre and Cashman are fortunate that the Boss is out of lunch, or I'm sure they would have been fired after last season.
Does Steinbrenner think he's Hugh Hefner? "wearing silk pajamas and a terry-cloth robe."
When was the last time anyone's seen him? It has to be some time ago.
That former son-in-law must be kicking himself now.
Critch Doggy Dog, be on the lookout, Giambi's in town. He hit a home run earlier in the first game of a double header.
He was interviewed by a local tv station about Matsui being the DH now.
In a Rambo voice he said, "Matsui.... I'm coming to get you!" Then the grabbed the microphone and hit the reporter with it. He grabbed the camera man and threw him on electrified bed springs.
Giambi was asked if the Yankees will go to the World Series. He replied, "Sir, Do we get to win this time?"
NY Reporter: Jason where are you going?
Giambi: I don't know.
NY Reporter: You get a second comeback of the year award for this.
[Giambi looks over at the AAA team]
Giambi: You should give it to them. They deserve it more.
NY Reporter: You don't belong here (in AAA) why don't you come back with me?
Giambi: Back to what? My friends got traded, let me die here.
NY Reporter: The (Yankee-Red Sox) war, the whole conflict may have been wrong but damn it don't hate your country for it.
Giambi: Hate? I'd die for it.
NY Reporter: Then what is it you want?
Giambi: I want, what they want, and every other guy who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants! For our country to love us as much as we love it! That's what I want!
NY Reporter: How will you live, Jason?
Giambi: Day by day.
You're unleashed.
What is that from?
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Get with it, ya pinko liberal!
Post a Comment
<< Home