Jerry Seinfeld (played by Jerry Seinfeld): “So what's Steinbrenner gonna do if he doesn't get his calzone?”
George Costanza (played by Jason Alexander): “What's he gonna do? That's exactly the point! Nobody knows what this guy is capable of! He fires people like it's a bodily function!”—“The Calzone,” Episode 20, Season 7 of Seinfeld, written by Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, air date April 25, 1996
Just think of it—even on the day he died, the guy who put the fear of God in George Costanza stole the headlines—from the All-Star Game!
All sorts of reminiscences and commentaries (including a truly bizarre one from Rush Limbaugh) are pouring out on George Steinbrenner. Let’s stipulate right away that he won more championships than any other New York owner (even the Maras); that Yankee tradition meant a great deal to him; and that he was capable of many acts of private kindness.
I’m still bothered by the bullying that Seinfeld satirized. One of his great—and all-too-appropriate—quotes went, “I will never have a heart attack. I give them.” The first part of that statement proves that the longtime Yankee owner was no Nostradamus, but the second part was demonstrably true, or close to it.
I’m afraid that Steinbrenner’s attitude is all too symptomatic of what’s wrong with today’s business world. Daily abuse and humiliation rituals seem to be the first resort of all too many company executives—and the economy these last few years may have only worsened the situation. That produces all too much physical and psychological sickness, with all kinds of consequences in family life and the larger American society. There's a price to be had for this, and that should not be forgotten in Steinbrenner's case, even with the natural tendency not to speak ill of the dead--or, to at least present a balanced assessment of the deceased.
May The Boss know fully the peace he seldom realized in life for himself or others.
George Costanza (played by Jason Alexander): “What's he gonna do? That's exactly the point! Nobody knows what this guy is capable of! He fires people like it's a bodily function!”—“The Calzone,” Episode 20, Season 7 of Seinfeld, written by Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, air date April 25, 1996
Just think of it—even on the day he died, the guy who put the fear of God in George Costanza stole the headlines—from the All-Star Game!
All sorts of reminiscences and commentaries (including a truly bizarre one from Rush Limbaugh) are pouring out on George Steinbrenner. Let’s stipulate right away that he won more championships than any other New York owner (even the Maras); that Yankee tradition meant a great deal to him; and that he was capable of many acts of private kindness.
I’m still bothered by the bullying that Seinfeld satirized. One of his great—and all-too-appropriate—quotes went, “I will never have a heart attack. I give them.” The first part of that statement proves that the longtime Yankee owner was no Nostradamus, but the second part was demonstrably true, or close to it.
I’m afraid that Steinbrenner’s attitude is all too symptomatic of what’s wrong with today’s business world. Daily abuse and humiliation rituals seem to be the first resort of all too many company executives—and the economy these last few years may have only worsened the situation. That produces all too much physical and psychological sickness, with all kinds of consequences in family life and the larger American society. There's a price to be had for this, and that should not be forgotten in Steinbrenner's case, even with the natural tendency not to speak ill of the dead--or, to at least present a balanced assessment of the deceased.
May The Boss know fully the peace he seldom realized in life for himself or others.
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