Garry Workman was walking leisurely along the Saugatuck River, umbrella in hand and proudly wearing his New York Yankees baseball cap. He hadn't heard until late Tuesday night that his team's iconic owner, George Steinbrenner, had died that day at the age of 80.
"I think he was a good guy. I know he had people who didn't like him, but his thing was to win," said Workman. He's been a fan of the Yankees since Mickey Mantle used to step up to bat.?? Steinbrenner had earned a reputation for being difficult on managers, and Workman chuckled remembering how Steinbrenner had fired and rehired Billy Martin multiple times.
Westport Traffic Agent Jerry Waldron said Steinbrenner was responsible for turning baseball into the industry it is today. He said Steinbrenner took the Yankees when they were a $10 million team and turned them into a $1 billion industry. He said Steinbrenner's heirs are chips off the old block and hopes they continue the legacy. "He was a good man," said Waldron, who added that baseball would be mediocre if not for the influence of Steinbrenner.
Before continuing on his walk, Workman called Steinbrenner an asset to the sport. He said, "In a nutshell, it's too bad he's gone. Some fans might be glad he's gone, but I respected him."
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