As I'm sure many of you have heard by now, New York Yankees principle owner, George Steinbrenner, passed away at the age of 80 this morning from a massive heart attack. There's really no middle ground when it comes to sports fans' opinions of Mr. Steinbrenner, you either hated him or loved him. He was referred to as "The Boss", and rightfully so. Steinbrenner became the N.Y. Yankees principle owner in 1973 when he and a group of investors bought the storied franchise for a ridiculous $8.7 million from a desperate CBS Corporation. He told the media that he'd be a behind the scenes owner, but was anything other than behind the scenes. "Big Stein" micromanaged the Yankees franchise for more than 30 years. During that time period, the team won seven World Series Titles and 11 American League pennants.
Whether you hated Steinbrenner or loved him, his influence on the game is undeniable. From leading the way during the beginnings of free agency with James "Catfish" Hunter and Reggie Jackson to the inception of the team's own TV/Media Network called YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network), Steinbrenner changed America's pastime forever.
It's only fitting that "The Boss" would pass on the day of MLB's All-Star game as no ones star shined brighter than Mr. George Steinbrenner's. He was a sports and popular culture icon. George Steinbrenner was 80 years old: July 4, 1930 - July 13, 2010. He'll surely be missed.
I agree, he'll be missed.
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