old guard getting old
It slipped out a month ago. But now that there is some more meat on the bone, the national media outlets are going crazy speculating on George Steinbrenner’s health. A Conde Nast Portfolio article hit the net this morning with a vivid description of a meeting with the writer, George, and Tom McEwen. Writer Franz Lidz says:
…he looks dreadful. His body is bloated; his jawline has slackened into a triple chin; his skin looks as if a dry-cleaner bag has been stretched over it. Steinbrenner’s face, pale and swollen, has a curiously undefined look. His features seem frozen in a permanent rictus of careworn disbelief.
A dry-cleaner bag?? Do we need to know this?
The article also refers to George’s refusal (inability?) to answer questions:
When he sees McEwen, a big, goofy grin spreads across his face. “Great to see ya, Tommy,” he exclaims.
“Great to see you, George,” McEwen says. He introduces me as a writer working on a story and asks about Steinbrenner’s wife, Joan.
“Great to see ya, Tommy,” Steinbrenner says.
McEwen asks about his sons, Hank and Hal.
“Great to see ya, Tommy,” he says.
McEwen asks about his daughters, Jennifer and Jessica.
“Great to see ya, Tommy,” he says.
McEwen asks about his health.
Steinbrenner sighs heavily and mutters, “Oh, I’m all right.”
Based on this article, he doesn’t seem all right. Of course, he’s 77 years old, and (based on his public persona as The Boss of the New York Yankees) has likely had super-high blood pressure for decades straight. It’s not a surprise if he’s not the picture of perfect health.
But get this. His supposed friend, Tom McEwen is the one that sold him out. From a Florida Trend article published two days ago:
Steinbrenner, reportedly in ill health, would not agree to be interviewed in person. He answered questions via e-mail.
He didn’t and doesn’t want anyone there. Steinbrenner didn’t want any media attention. But always the journalist, Tom McEwen was happy to ignore his friend’s wishes:
“I don’t care if George gets mad,” [McEwen] says. “At this age, what can he do to me?”
Nice guy. I guess he quit writing for his own website, but still writes for the Tribune.
With all that Mr. Steinbrenner has done for the people of Tampa Bay, we simply hope George is happy.
Tags: citizens, media, names
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August 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
For all his reputed sourness and irascibility, George Steinbrenner has given more than people realize to the Tampa Bay community. When I was writing columns for the Trib, I often wrote about people or groups in need. On more than one occasion, it was The Boss who responded. Sometimes personally. More often, it would be aide Howard Grossman who called - and always with the caveat, “Keep this to yourself. Mr. Steinbrenner wants to remain anonymous.” I hate to hear The Boss isn’t well. He deserves to go out in a blaze of glory. My best wishes to him.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Dear readers,getting alzheimer could happen to you and you and you. Thank goodness he has the money for good care,and probably does not have to be put in a normal alzheimer nursing home with a lock down unit-you should all visit nursing homes and see all the debilating ailments that cause early and older age deaths. I blame the reporters for leaking this information out. Obviously they have never heard about the HIPPA laws. Repoters must be well informed before they take stories into their own hands and the editors should not print this type of article. It is almost like the sleezy papers found in the check out stations at the grocery store. The Glazers think of their father first when they do not let anyone see their father or his condition after a stroke.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:57 am
i think it’s disgusting that someone would write something like that about another human being.
i’ve heard things unkind from mcewen before but never believed them because he is so widely loved. or so i thought.
of course NOW that i understand tampa better I DO believe that to be widely loved here one has to be … something not vaguely resembling humanity. With the obvious exception of a few.
Of course, this is coming from the most stalked woman in the city so ………
August 4th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Jeff has a *great* post relating to this article. Just avert your eyes when you pass the picture of an animal uterus.
It’s how I do it.
August 4th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Try again: http://www.sidesalad.net
August 10th, 2007 at 9:54 am
See Steve Otto’s column today, “All The Sleaze That’s Fit To Print.” This principled newspaperman is professionally embarassed by this “violation of any sense of decency or repect for anyone’s privacy.”
August 10th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Well, thank you Mariella. That set my world better.
If this story isn’t truly indicative of what the ‘new people’ will do (anyTHING) to sleaze it up a little, I don’t know what is.
And, I’m happy to know that Mr. McEwen’s reputation stands; I lived almost next door to him at one time and found him awesome so —- it certainly restored my faith in my ability to ’see’ a person.
People are destroying the health and reputation of way too many in Tampa and in many cases they are just getting away with it. I don’t intend to let them.
This did not START with Tom McEwen, it started with the Tampa Tribune and it’s former editor and then worked it’s way over to the judicial system and the top echelon of Tampa Hillsborough govmint officials were always there to provide the greased entry-way.
This is NOT an isolated incident and I’d like to thank that sleaze ball Lidz for getting some attention to this.
If you can only see the whole picture, you’ll start doing the right thing.
Read my blog. It’s all true.
I’m not the only one.
Big surprises going to pop out of the hatch when this goes to court. And then one of the sleaze-mo judges will try to toss it out. And then the games will continue … somewhere along the way it’s going to shock the hell out of these folks when the ethical people stand up and do what’s right.
Just do.
They (BELIEVE ME) are nothing to be afraid of.