I know this is contoversial, but since I am no stranger to controversy...Here goes..Lots of non new york fans love to hate this man, but you never really knew the good side of him..Yes, he has done some unsavory things and got banned from baseball for awhile..Yes, he started the big money free agency that literally destroyed some historic franchise..Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, etc, etc..

I first Met George Steinbrenner when I was a young homicide detective in the Bronx in the early eighties..and I must admit, I did not like George then( I was a Cincinnati Reds fans, left over from the Big Red Machine) and became a Yankee Fan immediatley.  I made a big arrest closing out a homicide closing out 7 homicides and George had invited me to Yankee staduim..  I got to sit with him and met the Yanks!  Don Mattingley, Ricky Henderson, etc, etc and George himself donated monies all over the city to help the poor and disadvantaged..He also helped out with strangers who had big medical bills..This is the man that most people love to hate, but he was a great man.

I feel blessed that the two sport teams that I root for are both the baet in the business and the best owners( eventhough I disagee with the Rooneys about BB ) in all of sports!

Goodbye George, we will miss you!