News

June 25, 2007

By George, it’s a new ballgame in Columbus

There’s feelings of betrayal in the Ohio city, especially animosity toward owner Steinbrenner, over loss of N.Y. farm club.

DAVE KONOPKI dkonopki@timesleader.com

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Waiting in line for a couple of hot dogs and a beverage in the concourse of vintage Cooper Stadium, Joe Thompson was laughing and having a good time with his son.

But the smile on the face of the 34-year-old quickly disappeared when he heard two words:

George Steinbrenner.

“He betrayed us,” the claims adjuster said emphatically, referring to the New York Yankees owner. “He betrayed the people of Columbus. I grew up as a Yankees fan because of the Clippers’ association with the Yankees. I’m still a Yankees fan, but I’m no longer a fan of George Steinbrenner.”

Those are strong words, especially considering Steinbrenner’s longtime relationship with the Columbus community.

He coached high school football in the city. His mother, Rita (Haley) Steinbrenner, lived in Columbus and his wife, Joan Zieg Steinbrenner, graduated from Ohio State. The university’s band room bears Steinbrenner’s name, the result of one of many financial donations Steinbrenner has made to the school and city.

But strong feelings were stirred up after the Yankees severed their 28-year ties with Columbus after last season and moved the Triple-A franchise to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market. The move came as Columbus prepares to break ground on a new $55 million stadium for the Clippers, who are now affiliated with the Washington Nationals. And it didn’t sit well with many of the city’s citizens, said Mike Brown, communications director for Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman.

“George Steinbrenner had a long history with the city of Columbus – a looooong history,” he said. “I think people took it personal. George Steinbrenner was a local guy who did a lot of really good things in the community. He could have been a part of a state-of-the-art stadium. His reputation really took a hit.”

Despite the move, there wasn’t an outcry from the mayor’s constituents, said Brown.

“For a few hard-core fans, it was disappointing,” he said. “For the rest of the people it was, ‘What, the Yankees were here?’”

Craig Merz, a longtime sports writer for the Columbus Dispatch newspaper, has covered the Clippers for four seasons and was shocked by the apparent apathy.

“I got one e-mail opposing the Yankees’ move out of town,” said the 25-year Dispatch veteran. “That surprised me, it really did. They were here for so many years. The Yankees have a worldwide name and the Clippers were associated with them. The people liked that. I think they felt a little betrayal from Steinbrenner. I was a little surprised there wasn’t more of a backlash.”

The Yankees front office did not respond to several requests for interviews, including a written request.

A huge Yankee fan base in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region and the area’s close proximity to New York City led to longtime speculation the Yankees could someday move their Triple-A franchise out of Columbus.

Still, the move caught many baseball fans off-guard, says longtime Columbus sports broadcaster Randy Rhinehart.

“I saw surprise from people more than anything else,” he said. “You expect the sun to come up every day and you don’t expect to see the moon instead. That’s pretty much what they got when they heard the move was going to take place. So I think it was the element of surprise and shock.”

Yankees prospect Andy Phillips says between Ohio State, the NHL’s Blue Jackets and the MLS’ Crew, the Clippers can sometimes get “lost in the shuffle” in Columbus.

“In essence, you’re competing with Ohio State, first of all. This is a huge football town,” said the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees first baseman. “Scranton is a smaller town and there’s a huge Yankee fan base. Sometimes in a larger town, such as Columbus, the fan base might be just as big, but it doesn’t get noticed because there are so many things going on.”

Harold Winters has seen a lot of baseball during his 22 years as an usher at Cooper Stadium. Although attendance this year so far is about the same as it was last season – about 5,000 fans a game – Winters says some season ticket holders have decided not to return.

“We lost a lot of fans in my section because they were Yankee fans,” said Winters, who has lived in Columbus since 1953. “But a lot of people love the Clippers. It’s been a different situation. The crowd doesn’t know the players, yet. It’s going to take some time.”

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees pitcher Colter Bean became a fan favorite during his four seasons in Columbus. When the two teams faced each other last weekend, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound right-hander received a loud ovation and was serenaded with Hank Williams Jr.’s “Dixie On My Mind” – a song played for him during his playing days as a Clipper.

“I guess I laughed inside because it was pretty funny,” said the Birmingham, Ala. native. “I like the song. You want people to remember good things about you. It was a nice feeling getting a good reaction from the fans and hearing the song. It was pretty neat.

“I have a lot of great memories of Columbus. I love this city. It almost reminds me of back home. It’s very easygoing and there’s not a lot of hustle and bustle.”

The Lackawanna County Multipurpose Stadium Authority and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre LLC – a partnership between Mandalay Entertainment and the New York Yankees – recently signed a management agreement and option agreement. The signing of the option agreement increases the player agreement from two years to four years, meaning the Yankees are committed to staying in the area a minimum of four years.

During a recent visit to Northeastern Pennsylvania, New York Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman made it very clear the Yankees intend for this to be a long-term relationship.

Thompson says don’t believe it.

“As long as Steinbrenner is involved, anything can happen,” said the Columbus resident. “Look at what they did to us.”

“George Steinbrenner had a long history with the city of Columbus. I think people took it personal”

Mike Brown Communications manager Columbus mayor’s office

Dave Konopki is sports editor of The Times Leader. He can be reached at 829-7248.

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