Joe Torres and George Steinbrenner: is it just money or do principles play a role?
The day after the New York Yankees lost their second consecutive game of the semi-final league series to the Cleveland Indians the owner of the team, Mr. George Steinbrenner, said that the job of the manager Joe Torre “was on the line” and that he would not be coming back to manage the team if the Yankees lost the series. Of course, the owner can do what he wants. It’s his money on the line. What he should not do is to humiliate his players and managers. By saying what he said he put Torre in an impossible position: if he lost he was out. If he won he did it because fear of the loss of his job had made him “try harder”. I find Steinbrenner’s attitude despicable.
But, how about Torre’s? No manager, no executive with dignity can accept this kind of ultimatum and live with it. Torre should have given Steinbrenner a piece of his mind right away. He kept silent. Probably he felt that this was what was best for the team. But I think he was wrong. The best for the team is to have a manager that acts according to principles and does not yield to authoritarianism. In keeping silent Torre might have lost the respect of his players.
The Yankees went on to defeat and were eliminated from further competition. After the Yankee’s collapse, Steinbrenner has kept silent but so has Torre. Every day that Torre keeps silent and does not give Steinbrenner the Hawaiian salute he is losing credibility and stature among the fans. He seems to be saying that his salary is more important than his self-respect.
Baseball has to do with money, of course. But much more than money it should have to do with pride, dignity and self-esteem. This unsavory business of Steinbrenner and Torre sadly deviates from the civilized standard that role models should keep.
The day after the New York Yankees lost their second consecutive game of the semi-final league series to the Cleveland Indians the owner of the team, Mr. George Steinbrenner, said that the job of the manager Joe Torre “was on the line” and that he would not be coming back to manage the team if the Yankees lost the series. Of course, the owner can do what he wants. It’s his money on the line. What he should not do is to humiliate his players and managers. By saying what he said he put Torre in an impossible position: if he lost he was out. If he won he did it because fear of the loss of his job had made him “try harder”. I find Steinbrenner’s attitude despicable.
But, how about Torre’s? No manager, no executive with dignity can accept this kind of ultimatum and live with it. Torre should have given Steinbrenner a piece of his mind right away. He kept silent. Probably he felt that this was what was best for the team. But I think he was wrong. The best for the team is to have a manager that acts according to principles and does not yield to authoritarianism. In keeping silent Torre might have lost the respect of his players.
The Yankees went on to defeat and were eliminated from further competition. After the Yankee’s collapse, Steinbrenner has kept silent but so has Torre. Every day that Torre keeps silent and does not give Steinbrenner the Hawaiian salute he is losing credibility and stature among the fans. He seems to be saying that his salary is more important than his self-respect.
Baseball has to do with money, of course. But much more than money it should have to do with pride, dignity and self-esteem. This unsavory business of Steinbrenner and Torre sadly deviates from the civilized standard that role models should keep.
1 comentario:
Sounds like "deja vu" all over again!!
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