GEORGE STEINBRENNER WAS A BUCKEYE AT HEART

Ohio State lost one of its biggest fans with the news of George Steinbrenner dying at age 80 after suffering a massive heart attack.Steinbrenner was known best as being the owner of the New York Yankees but his love for Ohio State was always an important part of who he was. Few outside of Ohio know this but he is a native Clevelander (Rocky River), and an alumnus of the Ohio State University. Steinbrenner served as a graduate assistant under Woody Hayes, winning a National Championship in 1954. He met his wife in Columbus and though he moved to greener pastures, he always remained a Buckeye at heart.The band center in Columbus, The Joan Sieg Steinbrenner Band Center, is named for his wife. Steinbrenner also received a 2002 doctorate from Ohio State(the same year Mekka and I did), and spoke at our graduation.


The first sports franchise he owned was the Cleveland Pipers, of the fledgling ABL. He famously traded a player at halftime and the Pipers signed Ohio State legend George Lucas to a contract. His first attempt at buying a baseball franchise came the year before he purchased the Yankees.... you guessed right,The Cleveland Indians. His bid was denied and the following year he purchased the Yankees for $9 million, which is now the most valuable franchise in sports @ approximately $1.026 Billion, leaving long suffering, championship starved Ohio fans wondering WHAT IF?

I was never a fan of the Yankees, in fact I'm a card carrying Evil Empire Hater, but I respected Steinbrenner for his refusal to accept second best, turning a reeling franchise into the best franchise in sports, and for constantly putting the best product out there for Yankees fans. We lost a great one an O-H-I-O salute Mr. Steinbrenner!