Why The Yankees Rule The World

George Steinbrenner.

Thats it. Thats the only reason. George (Mr. Steinbrenner to you) should be a hero to all fans of baseball. Sure he spends like Imelda Marcos in a shoe store - but so what? His only goal is to win, and for that we should all be happy. Bill Plaschke in the LA Times calls him simply the "Greatest Owner in Baseball History!" I'll go along with that.

He is bolder than Bill Veeck, more dogged than Tom Yawkey and, yes, more willing to spend big money than Walter O'Malley.

He can be a jerk, but he tries. He can be a bully, but he cares.

As his A-mazing-Rod acquisition of baseball's best and most expensive player proved again this week, Steinbrenner answers to but one master.

It is not the commissioner's office, nor other baseball owners, nor the union, nor the local politicians, nor the media.

It is the people forgotten by most other owners in this age of Selig sycophants, peer-pressured weaklings and empty-pocketed charlatans.

Steinbrenner answers only to his fans.

Should anyone else matter?