George Steinbrenner died this morning of a heart attack. He was eighty years old.

I have been nearly a life time New York Yankee fan and so when I read on the Internet that George Steinbrenner, the guiding influence behind the team since 1973, died this morning about 6:30 am, I had to stop and pause.

George Steinbrenner born George Michael Steinbrenner III, on the 4th of July in 1930, made the legendary New York Yankees better, by keeping expectations high. In doing this he was not just Mr. New York Yankee, of the world famous baseball organization, he was the Mr American Yankee of our times. He wanted everything to be the best. To him, the best was the biggest -- big was best. Everything had to be the best..Everything had to be big. He thought big and spent big..He built big things, whether they were a shipping fleet or a sports media empire. He was full of energy, was a do-er, got things done, expected those on his team to get things done. He had his critics, builders who build big things do.

George Michael Steinbrenner III, R.I.P