Steinbrenner was kind of an unreasonable prick.

For decades, Lupica relentlessly assaulted George Steinbrenner because of Steinbrenner's absurd mission statement that the Yankees should win the World Series every year.

Of course, anybody who pays attention knows that Steinbrenner was really primarily interested in making profits, and that's what he did:

"You would compare the Yankees of the past decade to the Atlanta Braves of the decade right before it in baseball except for one thing:

The Braves went to the World Series more."

Well, the Yankees are far more profitable and popular.

Also, the Braves' manager is going right to the Hall of Fame for winning one World Series. Is the comparison to the Braves supposed to be an insult?


"Since Mike Piazza hit one into Bernie Williams' glove at the end of the 2000 Subway Series, the Yankees have spent more than $2 billion in payroll and luxury taxes. On average, they have spent $50 million more per season than the next biggest baseball payroll."

You're counting luxury tax again and that makes no sense.

Luxury tax is not part of payroll.

It's a tax.

It's sort of the opposite of payroll.


"The Braves of the 90s were known as the Buffalo Bills of baseball. They went to the Series five times between 1991 and 1999, winning once, in 1995. The Yankees have been to three World Series since the ball was in Bernie's glove that night at old Shea."

I didn't know that the Braves were known as the Buffalo Bills of baseball. I also think any reasonable person would praise the Braves and Bills compared to their peers who were playing golf. Which is why all the important people involved with those teams are going to their respective Halls of Fame.


"George Steinbrenner's mission was pretty simple: Win it all. Or else. It is almost unfathomable that with this kind of financial advantage over the field, in a sport without a salary cap, the Yankees have only won it all once in 10 years."

It's fathomable, especially with three rounds of the playoffs.


"The Yankees are still covered like they're the dynasty of the late 90s. They're not. People still act as if it's some kind of aberration when it's the Giants and Rangers in the World Series. It's not."

What people?

I think almost every person on Earth knows that four titles in five years was the aberration.

If Lupica is changing his tune and now adopting Steinbrenner's mission statement as his own, then Lupica is ... well, he's a hack and a liar and a hypocrite.

But you already knew that.


I actually think 2010 was a fun year for the Yankees. An exciting team with a good blend of speed and power. Burnett and Joba tanked and the team shut it down in September. But, other than those disappointments, nobody was complaining after four playoffs games, that's for sure.