Hank Steinbrenner: Putting the "Evil Empire" Back Into the Yankees

"Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of s--- that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."

With that one quote, Hank Steinbrenner heated a dormant rivalry. He summed up every Yankee fan's thoughts in 66 ball-busting, jackknifing words.

He called out the Red Sox in a moment of passion. It's almost like Hank wants to be the reincarnation of his father, the hands-on owner of the ’70s Yankees, when it was common for an owner in the rivalry to call out the other team. 

With the words, "We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order." he acknowledges the team has been dormant for a while, but they are ready to once again become the "Evil Empire.” 

I don't agree that  ESPN is biased towards the Red Sox, if anything they report on the Yankees much more than any team, including Boston. But by saying that "Red Sox Country" is a made up term, he's telling everyone that it is the Yankees’ turn to take back what is theirs.

After George Steinbrenner announced that his two sons, Hank and Hal, would take control of the Yankees, many questioned what kind of ownership the Steinbrenner sons would have while they were in control.

It's clear that they are looking to follow the same Sox-hating blueprint that their father laid out. 

His belief is the fan base, the Yankees' paying customers, has a right to know what the club is doing and thinking behind closed doors.

This is absolutely great. He's showing the human side to the fans without flaunting his status like other owners. Any Yankee fan is thrilled by these comments, while every other team fan base in America is disgusted.

Hank Steinbrenner has no interest in retracting or apologizing for his statement either.

"You can't create any controversy with fact," Steinbrenner said last night when reached for his reaction to an upcoming magazine story. "You can ask any marketing expert who is the No. 1 brand of any team in any sport in the country, and it's the Yankees. We are the No. 1 brand in the country."

Who knows what else Hank Steinbrenner will do by the end of the season.

One thing is for sure though; the Evil Empire is back in business.