Visit Reveals Grim State of The Boss

Portrait.com writer Franz Lidz, formerly of Sports Illustrated, recently paid a visit to George Steinbrenner at his Tampa home in an attempt to find out who will be the heir to the Yankee throne. Steinbrenner's son-in-law Steve Swindal had been the favorite until he divorced The Boss's daughter. Now, the Yankees appear to be up for grabs after Steinbrenner's reign ends. Judging by Lidz's account of his visit, that time may come sooner rather than later.

He doesn’t look all right. In fact, he looks dreadful. His body is bloated; his jawline has slackened into a triple chin; his skin looks as if a dry-cleaner bag has been stretched over it. Steinbrenner’s face, pale and swollen, has a curiously undefined look. His features seem frozen in a permanent rictus of careworn disbelief.

Lidz also notes that the 77-year-old Steinbrenner often repeats himself and is seldom responsive to questions. He has not made a public appearance since opening day on Apr. 2 (pictured). If this is indeed the end of the road for The Boss, he leaves behind a fanchise that he single-handedly resurrected. He purchased the club in 1973 at a price of $10 million. They are currently worth more than $1.2 billion. During the CBS ownership from 1965-1972, the Yanks had 0 division titles, 4 sub-.500 seasons and a dwindling fan base. Steinbrenner guided them to an AL pennant in his fourth season of ownership followed by back-to-back World Series titles in his fifth and sixth. All told, the Yankees have won 15 division titles (not including the strike-shortened 1994 season), 10 pennants, and 6 World Series under the watchful eye of George Steinbrenner.

Ryan Maloney