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Sunday, January 19, 2003

By Steve Ziants, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

It's quite possible you failed to realize what day it was. Skipped right over it in all the hubbub surrounding Christmas and New Year's, the return of "Star Search," Anna's tattoo, LeBron's Hummer and what those goozed-up Miller Lite lovelies actually said.

But Jan. 3 marked the 30th anniversary of George Steinbrenner's purchase of the New York Yankees for $8.8 million (or less than what it cost him to re-sign Roger Clemens last month).

The Guy In The Stands mentions this not for nostalgia's stake. Far from it. He's not exactly the sentimental sort when it comes to wealthy, obsessive, schizophrenic, bombastic, egomaniacal refugees from Cleveland who admit they'd have hired (and fired) Billy Martin a sixth time if he hadn't been killed in a car accident first. But rather, because after 30 years, 21 managerial changes, nine American League pennants, six world championships, two suspensions and enough free agent contracts to pay down the budget deficits for 2002 and '03, Steinbrenner, at age 72, still has It. And proved it (thankfully) again this off-season.

While other teams have been as interesting as "Celebrity Mole", Steinbrenner -- with Larry Lucchino and the Boston Red Sox in the role of most worthy foil -- has kept the hot stoves burning. With heavy water. Even as you read this, Hans Blix is probably receiving an anonymous call in greater Baghdad from the 617 area code.

Steinbrenner signed Hideki Matsui and Jose Contreras for a combined $53 million. He OK'd a working agreement with the Yomuiri Giants that could turn Tokyo into New York's sixth borough (Can you say YES?). He somehow ratcheted up what already was a blood-feud with the Red Sox while also ratcheting up team payroll despite a faux vow to slash. He even brought Godzilla to the Bronx. And when there was nothing else to do, he was simply himself. George being George.

While the Angels set their sights on a repeat with the imaginative signing of Brad Fullmer ...

George, in a lengthy Q&A with the New York Daily News, recalled his first Yankees team. "When I first saw the team picture, it looked like a poster for birth control," he said.

While the Marlins cracked Page E-12 with their blockbuster deal for Mark Redman ...

The Boss openly challenged star shortstop Derek Jeter's commitment and focus: "The charities are tremendous. He does more good that way than you could ever hope." But? "But the other activities? I was young once, too. I know how it can slow you down. Believe me. ... I think his mother would agree with me."

While the Red Sox electrified their fans with the acquisition of Bartolo, er sorry, Bill Mueller ...

Steinbrenner, named the most powerful person in sports by The Sporting News earlier this month, took the opportunity to lecture The Gang of 29 that rammed through increased revenue sharing with him in mind: "You reward your fans. You don't put the money in your pockets like 90 percent of the rest of the owners may do."

And while the Brewers teased their fans with October by the double ex-Pirate signings of Todd Ritchie and Keith Osik ...

King George, or Lord Vader of the "evil empire" as dubbed by Lucchino after the Yankees outgunned Boston for the services of Contreras, fired back at the Boston prez and his attempt at literary allusion: "That's b.s. That's how a sick person thinks. I've learned this about Lucchino: he's baseball's foremost chameleon of all time. ... When he was in San Diego, he was a big man for the small markets. Now he's in Boston and he's for the big markets. He's not the kind of guy you want to have in your foxhole. He's running the team behind [owner] John Henry's back. I warned John it would happen, told him, 'Just be careful. He talks out of both sides of his mouth. He has trouble talking out of the front of it.'"

Ah, don't you just love him. Or hate him. No neutrality allowed.

What would we have done this off-season without him? Ruminate upon Matt Stairs' weight? Try to explain to Livan Hernandez why giving strokes in golf is not always the generous thing to do?

So Happy Anniversary, George. Speaking for everyone -- those who love you and those who hate you -- we're glad you're in New York. It's right where you belong. You and the Evil Empire State Building.

Equal time

So what does Lucchino think of Steinbrenner making him out to be some sort of Elmer Gantry (see previous)? Gordon Edes of The Boston Globe caught up with Lucchino upon his return from a New Year's vacation:

"I'm in a mellow mood because of our vacation, but I also made it a New Year's resolution not to respond to George's petty personal attacks and gross mischaracterization of my record," Lucchino said. "But I may underline those dates when the Empire visits Fenway Park."

For the record: The Yankees and Red Sox meet for the first of their 19 games May 19 at Fenway.

Exposure

Here's a question Expos players may be asking themselves this season: Pack extra underwear or just buy more on the road? The approval of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a second home in 2003 sets up the following 22-day trip for the Expos beginning in late May: Montreal to Miami to Philadelphia to San Juan to Seattle to Oakland to Pittsburgh to Montreal.

On the subject of playing only 59 games rather than the full 81 at Olympic Stadium this season, Expos executive VP Claude Delorme had this cheery spin to inspire ticket buyers last month: "The positive for fans, if there is one, is that it will be less costly for a season ticket." Proof again that no one likes a smart-ass.

Creative accounting

Even though he signed a $10.1 million contract for 2003, the Yankees won't actually pay Roger Clemens this season. All the money in the deal is deferred, beginning with a $600,000 payment in 2004, followed by payments of $700,000, $900,000 and $950,000 for six years and checks for $1.1 million in 2013 and 2014. But don't worry that The Rocket will have to apply for emergency assistance to pay the gas bill. He still has $10.3 million in deferred money rolling in this year from his previous contract.

Good news, bad news

The election of Eddie Murray to the Hall of Fame earlier this month means that Locke High School in Los Angeles, which also claims Ozzie Smith as an alum, will have produced Hall of Famers in consecutive years. What are the odds? Pretty incredible. Even moreso when you realize how fleeting was the program at this inner city high school. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote that on the day of Murray's announcement, the Locke team had exactly two usable bats in its equipment bag and at least one player who thought a batter got four strikes.

This 'n' that

If there wasn't a "left-handed" theorem in 10th-grade geometry, there should've been. Asked why he gave pitcher Terry Mulholland, 39, a major-league contract and pitcher Dave Burba, 36, only a minor-league deal, Indians GM Mark Shapiro's answer was a simple one: "He's left-handed." ... David Lee (Langley) has been invited to camp by the Dodgers. ... Former Pirates second baseman Warren Morris will go to camp on a minor-league deal with the Tigers. ... Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Elmer Dessens(???): The Big Three in Arizona. Unbelievable as it sounds for those who remember Dessens here (2-8, 6.11 ERA from 1996-98), believe it. ... More Steinbrenner. In the 30 years that the Yankees have had one owner, the other 29 clubs have had a combined 94 owners or ownership groups. ... The Brewers' signing of Todd Ritchie means their top three starters -- Ben Sheets, Glendon Rusch and Ritchie lost 16, 16 and 15 games in 2002. ...

The Pirates' season opener March 31 in Cincinnati's new Great American Ballpark has been pushed back to a 4:10 p.m. first pitch to accommodate ESPN. ... The '90s gave us the bench coach. Will the '00s give us the clubhouse adviser? The Mets are presently interviewing candidates. ... New Braves first baseman Robert Fick, upon signing with the club Jan. 6, couldn't contain himself. "I'm pumped up," he exclaimed. "I'm ready to rock 'n' roll." Excited, is he? "You've got to remember, he spent the past five seasons in Detroit," said agent Joe Longo. ...

The Padres may open the season without closer Trevor Hoffman. His rehab from shoulder surgery to repair slight tearing of the rotator cuff is going slower than expected. ... Supporters of putting a team (the Expos?) in Washington found a surprising voice joining their chorus -- new Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich. "There are 5 million people between Baltimore and Washington. The area can support two teams," Ehrlich said in a meeting with Washington Post editors and reporters. The Guy can only guess that Orioles owner Peter Angelos did not back the winner in November? ... Because of hepped-up scrutiny by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Padres performed their own in-house investigation and found that 11 players in their system not only were playing with false ages, but also false names. One even adopted his sister's identity. You'd have thought the name Isabel would've been a dead giveaway. But then, he didn't throw like a girl.

Shot and a jeer

Give the winning league in the All-Star Game home-field advantage in the World Series. Great idea.

Except in the event of another tie, whereby all seven games shall be awarded to Akron.