STEINBRENNER'S EMOTIONAL STATE LEADS TO SPECULATION OF SALE

          Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner yesterday "declined
     to answer questions about a possible sale; but he did not
     sound ready to cede his ownership" of the team in a
     telephone interview with Jack Curry of the N.Y. TIMES. 
     Steinbrenner: "I will tell you this, I'm never going to be
     in a situation where I have a token role.  Like having
     someone say, 'Sell it to me and you can do a little.'  I am
     going to contribute by being in majority ownership.  I am
     very happy with all of my people and everything that is
     happening now."  More Steinbrenner: "Let me say this, I want
     to put my family in a position where they can be sure that
     they can take over this team.  There are different rumors
     and different prices.  I've just told people I won't deal
     with that right now" (Jack Curry, N.Y. TIMES, 10/22). 
          AFTER THE GAME: Steinbrenner was visibly emotional
     during last night's World Series trophy presentation (Fox,
     10/21).  Steinbrenner, asked by Michael Kay on "Fox Sports
     News," if this was his last Yankees team: "No, no.  OK? 
     This is not my last Yankee team. ... I've got people who are
     very capable of running it. A son Hal, a son-in-law Steve
     Swindle who want to be part of it ... So why sell? ... Right
     now, the plan is not to sell the whole team" ("FSN," 10/21).