By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

It's at times like these, with the Yankees in freefall, in crisis mode, and in need of a good swift kick in the pants, that we sportswriters turn to owner George Steinbrenner for his wonderful word of wisdom, inspiration, and motivation that quickly fills up the backpages of the newspapers and that we can post on the web. It used to be that when the sporting news was slow (like it is now) with the Bombers bombing and the Mets maintaining their lead in the NL East, you could call up the Boss  to get a quote, a story, and a rant that would keep you going for the rest of the week. The truth is, he probably enjoyed the publicity.

He can't be happy with this team, nor about the $200-plus million being spent on a team languishing in third place in its respective division, and falling even further behind in the wild card. And to top it all off, Wednesday's his birthday. I don't think that there's any present in the world that can make up for a season that's gone this wrong for his team. Carefully sequestered either in the upper offices of Yankee Stadium or tucked away at his home in Tampa, who can he possibly vent to? PR people who will just clean everything he says right up and make it bland and non-threatening?

Where is Steinbrenner when GM Brian Cashman has run up the proverbial white flag by saying that trades won't help at all? Where are you to play the emotional lead opposite Joe Torre's steady hand? Where are you to fill up the front and back pages? Can't somebody please do something to keep my vested interest instead of continuing to be mired in mediocrity? Come on George, where's that blustery, boisterous, bombastic, blaring, boastful, berating Boss we all know and love?

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!