RIP: Bob Sheppard, 1910-2010

   The Yankees also lost another great one, long time PA announcer Bob Sheppard, who passed away on Sunday just a few months short of his 100th birthday.  He was affectionately known as "The voice of God".

   The new guy, who's name escapes me, does every batter who steps to the plate - all except Derek Jeter.  There is a taped recording of Sheppard announcing Jeter as he walks to the plate.

   PA announcers rarely get their due respect, but Sheppard sure is getting his.  A New Yorker through and through - born in Richmond Hill, Queens, worked in the Bronx (Yankees) and New Jersey (NY Giants), educated in Brooklyn (St. John's Prep) and Manhattan (Master's at Columbia), and passing away at his home in Long Island (Baldwin).

   Bob Sheppard - "Now batting for the Yankees, number 2, Derek Jeter, number two."

   May you rest in peace.  Alongside The Boss.

RIP Bob Sheppard, "The voice of God" (1910-2010)

RIP: George Steinbrenner, 1930-2010

   The world lost an outstanding human being yesterday.  RIP George "The Boss" Steinbrenner.

   NY Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 80.  He was a lightning rod of criticism as well as a pillar of strength for an organization that was going nowhere when he acquired it.  He could have had the Indians, and quite possibly turned them into a perennial powerhouse, but was outbid in his efforts to purchase the club back in 1973. He is, and I know it's been said before (like 1,000 times yesterday), solely responsible for the outrageous salaries that athletes make today.  He was never afraid to spend his money, so long as he believed in the individual.  He put a lot of pressure on his players, and ultimately on himself.  When you have the highest payroll in sports every year, there is an extreme pressure to succeed.  And succeed he did.

   During his time as owner of the Yankees, they won 7 World Series Titles, 11 American League Pennants, 16 AL East Titles, and 3 Wild Card berths.  Not a bad body of work.  And from what people say, he was a hell of a man off the field as well - community service, charity work, donations, giving a guy who he found spray painting Yankee Stadium a job.  The list goes on and on.

   Had he not won 7 World Series', we may not have celebrated his life as you've seen in the past day or so.  But he did, and people of all walks of life speak only great things of The Boss.

   He was a character on 13 Seinfeld episodes and never physically appeared on the show.  George Costanza worked for him (if you can call it work) and was one of the most hilarious parts of the show.  He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1990.  He was a huge fan of General George S. Patton.  He signed Hideki Irabu to a huuuuuge contract - and it backfired, the guy sucked.  He also signed Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.  He gave Joe Torre a chance when he was hardly established as a manager.  The Yankees are the Yankees because of him.  The old Stadium was "the house that Ruth built" and the new Stadium is "the house that George built".  Pretty amazing stuff. 

   Jerry Jones even looked up to him.  Donald Trump looked up to him.  Bobby Knight, for Christs sake, looked up to this man.  Why?  Because to George Steinbrenner, winning was second to breathing.

   Thanks George.  You will always be "The Boss" to Yankee fans worldwide.  Rest In Peace.

RIP George Steinbrenner, "The Boss" (1930-2010)