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By MURRAY CHASS, The New York Times
TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 28) - George Steinbrenner's profane remark about Jason Giambi's agent can be viewed in one of two ways: It demonstrates that he is losing control of his public behavior, or that he has lost nothing and is the same Steinbrenner we have known for 32 years.
Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, uncharacteristically used a four-letter verb Saturday in speaking to reporters about Arn Tellem, whose management team represents Hideki Matsui, Mariano Rivera, Mike Mussina as well as Giambi. Steinbrenner later said he should not have used the word, but it escaped his lips and joined other memorable, more printable Steinbrennerisms:
"We've seen enough of Tucker Ashford."
"Mike Griffin has fooled us long enough."
"He looked scared stiff" (Jim Beattie).
"Columbus, here I come" (Dennis Rasmussen).
"He spit the bit" (Ken Clay).
"We need a Mr. October or a Mr. September. Winfield is Mr. May."
He also famously called Hideki Irabu a fat toad.
All of those comments were about player performance. What prompted the profane remark about Tellem?
"George speaks his mind, and yesterday he did," General Manager Brian Cashman said yesterday.
A combination of factors and events was most likely behind his remarks. For one thing, Steinbrenner had just seen Tellem speaking to reporters near the Yankees' clubhouse at Legends Field.
Tellem was having a joint news conference with Cashman about their meeting on a contract extension for Matsui, but Steinbrenner didn't see Cashman and apparently was incensed that an agent, especially that agent, would have the audacity to hold a news conference on hallowed Yankees ground.
That agent especially bothered Steinbrenner because of the Giambi steroids episode. First there was Giambi's refusal to discuss with reporters and Yankees officials his use of steroids. Then there was the report that the Yankees, at Tellem's request, had removed all references to steroids from the list of prohibited activities in Giambi's $120 million contract.
The Yankees believed other contract language would protect them if steroids use prevented Giambi from playing, but they were presumably embarrassed by the implication that Tellem's request did not raise questions in their minds about Giambi's possible use of steroids.
Steinbrenner apparently suspected that Tellem was the source of the contract story. He also believed that Tellem had told Giambi not to talk about steroids use. Giambi received that advice, but not from Tellem.
"I told Jason he might be a witness," Brian O'Neill, Giambi's criminal lawyer, said in a telephone interview two weeks ago. "I told him not to say anything about the case."
O'Neill referred to a pending trial for four men who have been indicted in a federal grand jury investigation of steroids distribution in the San Francisco area. Giambi testified before the grand jury.
Steinbrenner should understand about advice a criminal lawyer gives a client who is involved in a federal investigation. He had that experience more than 30 years ago. He might have received a presidential pardon, but that couldn't have wiped out the memory of his pleading guilty to making illegal campaign contributions.
Steinbrenner's outburst was foolish for two reasons. For one thing, the Yankees want to retain Matsui, who can be a free agent next November and who has been one of their best clutch hitters the past two seasons. Some agents might be insulted and guide a client away from signing an extension, taking him elsewhere the next season.
But Tellem said yesterday that Steinbrenner's comments would have no impact on his future dealings with the Yankees. He added, by telephone from Los Angeles: "I'm not in a business where friendship and being liked is the goal. Being a successful lawyer or agent is not a popularity contest."
Cashman also said he didn't expect any fallout from his boss's remarks. "Arn is a professional," Cashman said. "He told me that although the Boss feels that way about him, his job is to represent Hideki Matsui and his interests."
Cashman's view of Tellem echoed Steinbrenner's view of Tellem before this recent flap. Each time the Yankees signed a Tellem client the past few years, Steinbrenner complimented Tellem on his professionalism.
Steinbrenner was also foolish because he was intruding in a sensitive situation that had begun positively for the Yankees. They might not like Giambi's legal posture but are looking for big offensive production from him. In the first days of spring training, teammates and fans alike have received Giambi warmly.
"It's been incredible, unbelievable," Giambi said of his teammates' initial show of support. "I know they're in a tough position, and for them to come forward, especially a guy like Derek Jeter stepping into the forefront like he did, leaves me speechless. It's very humbling."
The fans' reaction has also been humbling, he said. "The first day I came out there was a standing ovation and they wanted autographs," he said. "They have been very vocal and supportive. I don't know a better word but humbling. It's pretty unbelievable."
Steinbrenner's outburst risked jeopardizing the dual support for Giambi by focusing even greater attention on him, if that's possible. Giambi has enough pressure on him without Steinbrenner creating more.
"I shouldn't have said it, but that's how I feel," Cashman said Steinbrenner told him. Maybe Steinbrenner has withdrawn so far into the background in the past year or two that he has forgotten the impact his words can have. Or, as always, he doesn't care what impact his words have.
This time at least, he did not direct the words at one of his players. That left some room for humor. "Matsui said he wished he could speak better English," Tellem said. "If he did, he could act as a marriage counselor for George and me."
TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 28) - George Steinbrenner's profane remark about Jason Giambi's agent can be viewed in one of two ways: It demonstrates that he is losing control of his public behavior, or that he has lost nothing and is the same Steinbrenner we have known for 32 years.
Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, uncharacteristically used a four-letter verb Saturday in speaking to reporters about Arn Tellem, whose management team represents Hideki Matsui, Mariano Rivera, Mike Mussina as well as Giambi. Steinbrenner later said he should not have used the word, but it escaped his lips and joined other memorable, more printable Steinbrennerisms:
"We've seen enough of Tucker Ashford."
"Mike Griffin has fooled us long enough."
"He looked scared stiff" (Jim Beattie).
"Columbus, here I come" (Dennis Rasmussen).
"He spit the bit" (Ken Clay).
"We need a Mr. October or a Mr. September. Winfield is Mr. May."
He also famously called Hideki Irabu a fat toad.
All of those comments were about player performance. What prompted the profane remark about Tellem?
"George speaks his mind, and yesterday he did," General Manager Brian Cashman said yesterday.
A combination of factors and events was most likely behind his remarks. For one thing, Steinbrenner had just seen Tellem speaking to reporters near the Yankees' clubhouse at Legends Field.
Tellem was having a joint news conference with Cashman about their meeting on a contract extension for Matsui, but Steinbrenner didn't see Cashman and apparently was incensed that an agent, especially that agent, would have the audacity to hold a news conference on hallowed Yankees ground.
That agent especially bothered Steinbrenner because of the Giambi steroids episode. First there was Giambi's refusal to discuss with reporters and Yankees officials his use of steroids. Then there was the report that the Yankees, at Tellem's request, had removed all references to steroids from the list of prohibited activities in Giambi's $120 million contract.
The Yankees believed other contract language would protect them if steroids use prevented Giambi from playing, but they were presumably embarrassed by the implication that Tellem's request did not raise questions in their minds about Giambi's possible use of steroids.
Steinbrenner apparently suspected that Tellem was the source of the contract story. He also believed that Tellem had told Giambi not to talk about steroids use. Giambi received that advice, but not from Tellem.
"I told Jason he might be a witness," Brian O'Neill, Giambi's criminal lawyer, said in a telephone interview two weeks ago. "I told him not to say anything about the case."
O'Neill referred to a pending trial for four men who have been indicted in a federal grand jury investigation of steroids distribution in the San Francisco area. Giambi testified before the grand jury.
Steinbrenner should understand about advice a criminal lawyer gives a client who is involved in a federal investigation. He had that experience more than 30 years ago. He might have received a presidential pardon, but that couldn't have wiped out the memory of his pleading guilty to making illegal campaign contributions.
Steinbrenner's outburst was foolish for two reasons. For one thing, the Yankees want to retain Matsui, who can be a free agent next November and who has been one of their best clutch hitters the past two seasons. Some agents might be insulted and guide a client away from signing an extension, taking him elsewhere the next season.
But Tellem said yesterday that Steinbrenner's comments would have no impact on his future dealings with the Yankees. He added, by telephone from Los Angeles: "I'm not in a business where friendship and being liked is the goal. Being a successful lawyer or agent is not a popularity contest."
Cashman also said he didn't expect any fallout from his boss's remarks. "Arn is a professional," Cashman said. "He told me that although the Boss feels that way about him, his job is to represent Hideki Matsui and his interests."
Cashman's view of Tellem echoed Steinbrenner's view of Tellem before this recent flap. Each time the Yankees signed a Tellem client the past few years, Steinbrenner complimented Tellem on his professionalism.
Steinbrenner was also foolish because he was intruding in a sensitive situation that had begun positively for the Yankees. They might not like Giambi's legal posture but are looking for big offensive production from him. In the first days of spring training, teammates and fans alike have received Giambi warmly.
"It's been incredible, unbelievable," Giambi said of his teammates' initial show of support. "I know they're in a tough position, and for them to come forward, especially a guy like Derek Jeter stepping into the forefront like he did, leaves me speechless. It's very humbling."
The fans' reaction has also been humbling, he said. "The first day I came out there was a standing ovation and they wanted autographs," he said. "They have been very vocal and supportive. I don't know a better word but humbling. It's pretty unbelievable."
Steinbrenner's outburst risked jeopardizing the dual support for Giambi by focusing even greater attention on him, if that's possible. Giambi has enough pressure on him without Steinbrenner creating more.
"I shouldn't have said it, but that's how I feel," Cashman said Steinbrenner told him. Maybe Steinbrenner has withdrawn so far into the background in the past year or two that he has forgotten the impact his words can have. Or, as always, he doesn't care what impact his words have.
This time at least, he did not direct the words at one of his players. That left some room for humor. "Matsui said he wished he could speak better English," Tellem said. "If he did, he could act as a marriage counselor for George and me."