Hank Steinbrenner Says Red Sox, Yankees Could Partner

Yankees Exec Open To Partnering With Red Sox In Business Ventures

Yankees Senior VP Hank Steinbrenner indicated that the Yankees and Red Sox “could become partners in a business venture,” according to Michael Silverman of the BOSTON HERALD. Steinbrenner: “Red Sox ownership and Yankee ownership has a lot in common and a lot of common interests. You never know, we may end up being partners outside of baseball.” Red Sox VP/Media Relations John Blake “did not know what Steinbrenner was referring to.” Blake: “To my knowledge, we have no business deals with the Yankees” (BOSTON HERALD, 3/3). When asked if they could form a possible network, Steinbrenner said, “No, no, it’s not that” (BOSTON.com, 3/2).

HEIR TODAY: The N.Y. TIMES’ PLAY magazine’s Jonathan Mahler, in an extensive look at Hank and Yankee Global Enterprises Chair Hal Steinbrenner, writes now that Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner “has chosen to retire or been forced to by his failing health, it’s not clear how the club is likely to operate, much less who’s making the decisions for the organization.” The team is now “in the hands of not one but two designated heirs, and one of the Steinbrenner sisters, Jennifer, will have a voice in the team’s operations, too, as will Felix Lopez, the second husband of the other sister, Jessica.”  Hal’s title with the team “on paper places him a rung above Hank,” but both brothers “describe themselves as equal partners.” They “say the plan is for Hal to defer to Hank on baseball-related issues and for Hal to have final say on business decisions.” Hank has been an “almost constant presence in the papers, conspicuously overshadowing -- and frequently undermining -- [GM Brian] Cashman.” And Hank’s “high profile -- and Hal’s near invisibility -- during the off-season has clearly created the perception that Hank is the one in charge.” However, “not even the team’s 20-odd limited partners … seem clear about the new distribution of power.” One of the partners: “The attitude seems to be, Let’s see how things work out before making any final judgments.” Mahler writes while Hank “kept his distance from his father for most of his adult life, Hal seems to have long taken it for granted that he was going to do whatever his father wanted him to.”  If “resentment does surface between Hank and Hal, their father will be at least partly responsible. He had years to prepare a succession plan, but like so many successful family-business leaders, who tend to feel an especially powerful sense of ownership, he had a hard time letting go” (PLAY, 3/ ’08 issue).

NATIONAL SCOPE: Hank Steinbrenner said of the Red Sox “arguably becoming a national phenomenon,” “Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of (expletive) that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order” (PLAY, 3/ ’08 issue). Hank Steinbrenner added, “You can ask any marketing expert who is the No. 1 brand of any team in any sport in the country, and it’s the Yankees.” However, he said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that about ESPN because I watch ESPN in the morning like everybody else. I like ESPN” (N.Y. POST, 3/1).

Lucchino Says Steinbrenner Will Soon See Breadth Of Red Sox Nation

NATION BUILDING: Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino, who in '02 dubbed the Yankees the “Evil Empire”: “I don’t deny there are Yankee fans everywhere. But it’s blind of him not to see the phenomenon that is Red Sox Nation. I expect he will become more aware of the passion and breadth of Red Sox Nation as long as he is actively involved in baseball. I do appreciate that he has picked up the Star Wars metaphor, though. He said he was happy to be Darth Vader and we are happy to be the Rebel Alliance.” ESPN Senior VP & Dir of News Vince Doria, when asked about Hank’s comments about the network: “My e-mail from viewers indicates that a lot of people out there think we favor the Yankees over the Red Sox” (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/1).

JOIN THE CLUB: Red Sox Owner John Henry wrote in an e-mail, “I’m a big Hank fan. Just to ensure he knows how cool Red Sox Nation is, (Saturday) we officially inducted him as a member of Red Sox Nation and we are sending him his membership card.” Hank Steinbrenner told the N.Y. Post, “I am not joining Red Sox Nation, honorary or not.” He added of Henry: “John is a great guy and my dad always loved him. I love him, Hal loves him. He has done a tremendous job with the Red Sox. My point was simple: The Yankee brand is the biggest in the country and everybody knows that” (BOSTON HERALD, 3/3).

REAX:  ESPN’s Steve Phillips: “Hank Steinbrenner is following in the footsteps of his dad, George Steinbrenner, making a very strong statement and still trying to figure out what he’s going to be as the leader of Yankee organization. It’s pretty clear he’s going to be pretty similar to his father, really throwing down the gauntlet and challenging the Boston Red Sox and their fans” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 2/29). In Orlando, David Whitley writes, “Not only does the new Boss look like the old one. He’s acting like him” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/3). Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan said of Hank Steinbrenner's comments,  “Who knew all these years that baby boss, Hank Steinbrenner, thought the old man was soft?” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 3/2). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser: “If he thinks Red Sox Nation is nonsense, he’s crazy.” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon: “I like that he says such buffoonish things that we can talk about this. ... This guy gives us material every single day” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/29). ESPN’s Jim Rome: “The ‘Budweiser Hotseat’ is an ESPN creation. The Red Sox Nation is not. That was born out of them winning it all twice in the past four years” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 2/29).