Call him George Fonzbrenner.

George Steinbrenner is about to panic. Any day now. Wait and see.

This is about the fiftieth time I've read this during the season, starting with game two in Japan.

He's going to panic if the Yankees lose in Japan, if the Red Sox sweep them, if the Mets sweep them, if Contreras pitches poorly, if Kevin Brown goes on the DL, etc., etc. Just watch, he's about to panic.

This is a very common nonsensical theme with many writers who cover the Yankees. There is completely no evidence to back this up.

The Red Sox were willing to trade Nomar and Manny in order to get ARod and spent two months trying to get it done. Unbelievably, much of the negotiations process was done in the public eye. Smooth move, Potsy.

Fonzbrenner had a third basemen who broke his leg playing basketball. In one weekend, he quietly had ARod signed.

Gee, how panicky!

The George is probably an egotistical blowhard who's tough to work for and likes to make press releases comparing baseball players to soldiers. He also has a history of making dumb moves, probably as a result of short-term emotion. In other words, "panicking." Like firing Dick Howser after losing in the playoffs. Thing is, that was 24 years ago.

Seriously, when is the last time Fonzbrenner made a panic move? Maybe Dave Collins in 1982, maybe Ken Phelps in 1988. He was very angry at Bobby Murcer for bunting poorly in the World Series in 1981. Even if that indicates a history of panic moves, it's all ancient history.

The current panic move would be trading Posada for Randy Johnson (it's a rumor, believe it or not). But Fonzbrenner knows better than that. A 9 1/2 game lead only makes the George say, "Ayyyyyyyy!"

The other weird thing is that Olney somehow tries to put the pressure on the Yankees.

"With Lieber, Sturtze and Contreras to pitch in Fenway, the Yankees will see how much another starter is needed."

The Yankees? What about the Red Sox? "With Schilling, Arroyo and Lowe ... "

Pedro just gave up 8 runs, Schilling just gave up 7. Those are the only starters they've got in Boston with even the potential to be effective down the stretch. Lowe, Wakefield, and Arroyo are reasons to panic.

Oh, and Boston is 9 1/2 games back. In case nobody noticed.

But Olney doesn't think the Red Sox are in panic mode. Maybe they should be.