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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2007 > October > 18 > Entry
The New York Yankees have no class
Manager Joe Torre was the class of the New York Yankees. He parted ways today with the ball club. Now that Torre is gone, the Yankees officially have no class.
Yankee owner George Steinbrenner hung Torre out to dry right before the Yankees were eliminated by Cleveland in the American League playoffs. Torre had roused his team from their early season doldrums. They came charging back with a push that had secured the American League wild card berth.
For George Steinbrenner, that wasn’t enough. For the past week he had left Torre dangling in the breeze. No class.
Today the Yankees made Torre an “offer” for a one year contract-with a pay cut. They attached lots of conditions to the offer. He could earn more but he had to win. Torre has too much class to grovel. He told Yankee management what they could do with their offer.
That’s class. Torre has it. The Yankees don’t. He will be missed. I say that as a Red Sox fan. The Red Sox are their arch-rivals. At least the Red Sox respected Joe Torre. Apparently, most of his Yankee players wanted him back. Too bad. Poor decisions are made easily by fools. Torre walked.
I wish him well. Here’s the report from the New York Times blog called BATS.
Yankee ownership can claim that Torre rejected their “offer.” But their offer was an insult. Yankee ownership will pay a high price for their disrespect of Joe Torre. They wanted to humiliate him. Make him crawl. Pound wise-penny foolish, the Yankees just made a U-turn. Torre is a mensch. The Yankees are sorely lacking many of those. Spineless. Arrogant. Greedy. Steinbrenner and his cadre won’t see another world championship during George’s lifetime, that’s for sure.
Scott Miller over at CBS Sports. com agrees with my view on this situation, right down to the terminology he uses. Here’s a snippet from his piece:
“Granted, failing to win the World Series is a mortal sin for any manager in pinstripes. But for the Yankees to leave Torre twisting in the wind, cavalierly putting him on hold for as long as they did, was a no-class move that only served to amplify the grace, dignity and class that Torre himself brought to the organization for 12 years.”
Good luck, Joe.
What do you think??
Vick Mickunas
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