Staten Island Little League Exec Not Happy About Donations

Little League Team Upset Over Level Of Financial Support From Steinbrenner

Staten Island Little League President Bob Johnson “ripped” Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner “for not giving enough ... to help pay travel expenses” for the team’s trip to the Little League World Series, and he also “slammed Yankees and Mets players, namely [Yankees 3B] Alex Rodriguez, for not offering up money or a phone call,” according to Marc Berman of the N.Y. POST. Steinbrenner gave the team $5,000, but Staten Island Little League officials claim the Yankees gave $300,000 to the Rolando Paulino South Bronx-based team that made the ’01 tournament. That team had to forfeit after breaking the age limit with P Danny Almonte. Johnson said, “For Steinbrenner, $5,000 is throwing dollar bills in the air. Everything counts, don’t get me wrong, but it’s disappointing. And A-Rod, he plays $1,000 a hand in poker, he might as well throw $1,000 in our dugout. I don’t want Steinbrenner’s money. I want A-Rod’s money. He’s making $20[M] a year.” Berman noted Johnson “also was peeved at the Mets’ front office for its lack of financial support.” Howard Rubenstein, Steinbrenner’s spokesperson, did not comment. Staten Island manager Nick Doscher said that the team “received one congratulatory call” from an MLBer, Cardinals P and Staten Island native Jason Marquis (N.Y. POST, 8/19).