Honoring the Boss in Tampa, One Day in Cooperstown?

For our first ‘official' item of business: The Yankees did a nice thing this week by re-naming Legends Field in Tampa to Steinbrenner Field, after owner George Steinbrenner. Over his 35 years, ‘The Boss' has brought 6 titles and glory back to the Bronx. It got me thinking Yankee fans: Should Steinbrenner get a bust in Cooperstown? My immediate reaction: No. That goes for any owner of say, the last 60 years or so. Here's my take:

A sports owner is no different than any other investor. You buy a house and hopefully watch the investment grow. You landscape your lawn, remodel the den, so that the value goes UP. The value goes up, and you or your family earns a large profit when the house is sold.

Steinbrenner is no exception. He turned a laughingstock of a franchise into a perennial power—nearly abandoning his ship building business to do it. How? George threw lots of cash into the team. There are owners that don't—just like the guy on your block who doesn't paint his fence or mow his lawn. The decision to spend or not spend cash is a choice at the individual and corporate level. There are fans in Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Minnesota who wish Fred Wilpon, George Steinbrenner or John Henry signed the checks.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Remember: Owners DON'T play. They invest. Even if they are VERY involved, like Steinbrenner, the results of his decisions are out of his hands—like the stock market. Do you see Dave Collins and Jesse Barfield cavorting with Reggie Jackson and Dave Winfield every Old Timer's Day? I didn't think so.

The Boss' case isn't helped by his two suspensions—the illegal campaign contributions during the Nixon/Watergate mess. Years later, the Howie Spira/Winfield episode. Steinbrenner was heavily involved in owner collusion with free agents in the late 80's. If a player is supposed to play by the rules, than more so the owners that run the game. Yankee fans have already forgiven him. Winning helps heal all wounds.

But forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. Accountability must be upheld, and consequences dealt with. If Steinbrenner and Pete Rose are inducted into the Hall of Fame, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson should run as a ticket in 2012.

The ARE exceptions to every rule. A few years back, Effa Manley, owner of the Negro League team in Newark was rightly inducted. The Eagles were a premier team in the Negro Leagues—much of that time during the 30's-‘40's when the Depression and World War II strained every American physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Manley, like Homestead Grays owner and Hall of Famer Cumberland Posey, used her influence to push for integration. Removing the color barrier from the big leagues made it much easier for Steinbrenner to toss his money around some 30 years later—and changed our country for the better. Manley and Posey did more than invest in a business. Baseball was NEVER the same because of their efforts.

Now, you could say, "Steinbrenner spent a boatload of money on free agents. The other owners had to step up or suffer." True. But if Steinbrenner hadn't existed, the history of the YANKEES would have changed, not necessarily the game. Some other millionaire would have helped drive up baseball salaries. Take away Dodger GM Branch Rickey, Effa Manley or Cumberland Posey, and God only knows when baseball would have gotten around to righting the wrong of racial injustice. That's why they—and not Steinbrenner—are and should be in the Hall of Fame.

But hey, this is my opinion—like a zipper on a pair of pants—everybody has one. Feel free to share your thoughts on the Boss by clicking here:

Stay tuned: In the next few days I'll share the Mets chances of winning the NL East. Why Andy Pettitte needs better friends, and can Dr. Phil save the Dolan/Thomas marriage?