George Steinbrenner is a Fucking Loser

Let's face it--no one really likes George Steinbrenner. Yankees fans offer up all these half-defenses for his absurd behavior and greedy worldview, but I think 100% would swap owners in a heartbeat if they could be assured of the same level of financial commitment to the team. Everyone else who likes baseball hates the man. Some sports fans who secretly despise the sport of baseball like Steinbrenner because he embodies the inequities that are ripping the sport in two. Others find him, "funny." That's his support, and its tepid to be sure.

I don't think I've ever mentioned George on this site before. Probably because he is too easy a target. However, last night George shat the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back on to the isle of Manhattan.

I know most people don't watch the World Baseball Classic, however its their loss. Most of the games have been awesome, and there's not going to be fun, intense baseball like this for 3 months at least. Plus, the U.S. is doing horribly, which is kind of awesome. In order for the U.S. team to advance, Korea had to beat Japan last night (or Japan had to win after letting up more than 8 runs, but that's another story). Even without the U.S. team interest, the Korea/Japan game promised to be a classic...I can't think of two nations that hate eachother more or who take sports as seriously. There's an argument to be made that various Scandinavian countries hate eachother more, but that's kind of a friendly squabble among Aryan brothers....Korea/Japan is a knock-down battle ripe with historical intrigue and genocide.

So, great game, huge implications for the U.S. team....of course it will be on TV live, right? Well, in MOST parts of the country that is the case. However, in Manhattan (where Will&Grace is on channels 19 and 20 at the same time EVERY single fucking night) there was no Korea/Japan game. Why? Well, most of the games are carried live on ESPN and the other 14 are broadcast live in syndication via Disney affiliate Buena Vista Television (I guess ESPN had too much invested in yet another boring ass poker show to commit to the whole deal). ESPN Deportes also carries a lot of games, but Time Warner is too cheap/racist for that. Japan/Korea fell under syndication. Unfortunately, Yankees broadcast partner WWOR, which is the local syndication outlet for the WBC was only carrying six games. Remember, of course, that Steinbrenner did everything in his power to stop his players from competing in the WBC. Coincidence, i think not.

Point being, Steinbrenner is a manipulative, conniving, bastard who throws money around to get his way like a petulant 16 year old rich girl. Grow up George.

Korea won 2-1 in the ninth inning after a nail biter of a great game. The U.S. has to win tonight to advance. Funny how people get apoplectic about poor Bode Miller, but when our roided up superstars can't even win at our own game everybody just shrugs.