The Two Faces Of New York

As I reflected on both men today, I thought in some ways it was fitting that they died so close together.  For nearly 40 years, these two men have been as much a part of New York as the Empire State Building.  I grew up in upstate New York and was a Yankees fan for most of my youth and all of my adult life.  I can remember vividly my first trip to Yankees Stadium when I was twelve years old.  After having watched the Yankees on black and white TV because we could not afford a color one, I could not believe how green and blue everything was.  As much as I remember the field and the players, it was the legendary voice of Bob Sheppard that I remembered just as much or more.  He had a way of simplicity in all that he did, and when you heard his voice there was no doubt who was talking.  I was listening to stories on Sunday where everyone was remembering how generous Bob Sheppard was.  It was a little known fact that he also did public address at St. Johns football games in addition to his duties at the Yankees and New York Giants.

George Steinbrenner, for my money, is the quintessential New Yorker.  He was Donald Trump before Donald Trump was.  He cared only about one thing, winning.  He fired managers if they did not win, and sometimes even when they did.  He made no bones about the fact that the Yankees were his team, and he was the public face of the franchise as much as any player ever was.  I never really cared for him as a fan.  I always thought he ruined a lot of good teams because of his ego.  But, as a businessman, you would have a hard time arguing with his success.  He bought the Yankees for $10 million, and they are now worth over a billion dollars.  He started a TV network.  He was fearless about spending money to win, and is responsible for the luxury tax that exists in baseball today.

The reason I find it fitting that these two men died together is that they represent, to me, the complete New Yorker.  New Yorkers have a reputation for being overbearing, arrogant, flamboyant, hard-nosed and downright rude.  They are George Steinbrenner.  And those things can be and are true.  But, if you spend any time in New York, you will also meet those that are the nicest people you could ever want to know.  They are generous, helpful, and even sometimes pleasant.  They can be Bob Sheppard.

For very different reasons, I am glad I lived in the time of both men.  Rest in peace, Bob and George.