A 'Hank'ering For Controversy

New England Sports

By: Chris Brodeur

Posted: 3/5/08

Whatever mystery expletive it was that Hank Steinbrenner uttered in reference to Red Sox Nation last week, it hasn't exactly endeared him to Boston fans. They've probably got some choice words for him that can't be printed, either.

The censored rant he unleashed in The New York Times Play Magazine may have even irked some Yankees fans, as many seem less than thrilled with the notion of a second helping of Steinbrenner hanging over their team from the owner's box.

While I think I have a pretty good idea of the word the papers have shielded me from, I can't say it bothers me too much. In fact, Hank's tirade has had the opposite effect. It got me amped up for April 11, when the two teams start their season series at Fenway Park and the annual divisional dogfight begins.

In suggesting that Red Sox Nation is some kind of cheesy media movement concocted by ESPN and that it lacks the substance of what he calls "Yankee country," the son of "The Boss" officially asserted himself as the new nemesis of "the nation" and joined the ever-changing cast of characters in baseball's best drama.

Red Sox versus Yankees is undoubtedly the best rivalry the sports world has to offer, but lately, a serious shortage of theatrics and controversy have made the last couple of installments of the saga somewhat disappointing. There's been no exchanging of barbs in clubhouse interviews. No bench-clearing brawls. And without a playoff meeting since their epic ALCS duel in 2004, a lack of meaningful games to be played. I actually like what Steinbrenner's doing to stir things up, intentionally or not, and I hope it ignites both sides as the season approaches.

Whether you see him as a courageous leader or as the newest villain to enter the fray, Steinbrenner is doing his part to reinvigorate a rusty rivalry. And if you've been monitoring his antics since he took over for his father in 2005, his outspoken brand of bravado is nothing new. The eldest son of legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has been spouting off from the moment he stepped in for his dad, giving us a glimpse of the vintage New York boss we haven't seen in years. The only way to find that kind of enthusiasm from the owner of the Yankees in recent seasons was to watch Oliver Platt's portrayal of Steinbrenner on ESPN's "The Bronx is Burning."

In an off-season where current and former Yankees have occupied the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Steinbrenner has been anything but a source of stability. Fans cringed at the laughable A-Rod ultimatum he issued shortly after the World Series, and his latest jabs at Boston are not the first time he's targeted the defending champs and their fans. In response to the inevitable steroid chants that await his team when they visit Fenway this year, Steinbrenner elected to launch a preemptive strike, hurling over a baseless claim that the Sox themselves are full of juicers and shouldn't talk. As outlandish as some of his statements may be, you have to love the passion he's injecting into the rivalry.

What is it I like best about Steinbrenner's frequent zingers? They're getting responses, both from Red Sox management and players. Sox owner John Henry mockingly offered Steinbrenner membership to Red Sox Nation, complete with a membership card, an open invite to sit in the famed green monster seats and an autographed David Ortiz hat. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon suggested the businessman "stick to pencil-pushing" while the players do battle on the field. So far the comments have been light-hearted and comical, but who knows? Maybe some harmless quotes now will translate into some heat on the diamond in the future.

The two franchises are in somewhat unfamiliar territory in 2008. The Yankees are the underdogs within the division, with a lot of young talent, a good mix of veterans, and of course, Rodriguez as their centerpiece. The Red Sox have the team in place to defend their World Series title and contend for years to come with elite starting pitching as their foundation.

With his words it seems Steinbrenner is determined to fire up his team or instigate their most storied opponent, whichever comes first. With both sets of fans clamoring for an exciting new chapter to be added to the great rivalry this year, I for one am thankful for Steinbrenner and his mouth. I hope the cameras find him somewhere in a Fenway luxury box in April, spewing more expletives as he witnesses Red Sox Nation in full force.

Chris Brodeur's New England column runs every Wednesday. He can be contacted at Christopher.Brodeur@UConn.edu.