Steinbrenner way: 'Getting it done'

GEORGE Steinbrenner never needed a Mission Statement. The Boss stands for victory. Winning is what matters. Much has changed, but nothing has changed.
Steinbrenner will be at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night for the first game of the 2009 World Series between his beloved Yankees, seeking their first championship since 2000, and the NL champion Phillies.
The torch has been passed to his children, most notably son Hal, and the flame of victory is still what matters. Sunday night, the Yankees won their 11th pennant under Steinbrenner's ownership. If they go on to beat the Phillies, this will be the seventh World Championship with The Boss in charge -- 7/11 for the owner who was born on the 4th of July. You have to like those numbers.
George Steinbrenner no longer has blustery press conferences, but he's still keeping score. Once he chalks up one victory, he moves on to the next.
He released this statement yesterday, making that clear: "The Yankees' enormous will to win, tremendous professionalism and great team spirit, backed by the best, most vocal and supportive fans have propelled us into the World Series. We're looking forward to our 27th ring."
This one is all about George, family and the Yankees' new home. Steinbrenner is at the age when his next victory could be his last. The ultimate goal is to win this one for The Boss in the first year of the new Yankee Stadium. The fans and players should give Steinbrenner a standing ovation before the game.
"He has passed the torch onto his children and he has taught his children well," general manager Brian Cashman told me yesterday. "How do you follow the greatest owner in the history of sports? How do you follow that up? Are you capable? Are you qualified? All those questions are going to come no matter what, and the kids have done him proud.
"He's still the owner of this team," noted Cashman, who has worked for Steinbrenner for 23 years, "and he's proud of that, but now, how much prouder can he be than to watch the kids run it and run it in a way that honors him, by opening up this new ballpark and with all the questions, can the history and tradition be carried over? And now being in a position to have the World Series play out in the inaugural season, it's spectacular.
"Hopefully we can find a way to pull four more wins out," Cashman said. "That would be the highest honor that we could show him."
Howard Rubenstein, Steinbrenner's publicist and friend for 27 years, said: "George is all about winning. He's followed every game to the last pitch and I must say he's very excited about this World Series. He's as excited about this as almost anything I've seen in all the years I've known him."
Jeremy Kapstein, Red Sox senior advisor and former CEO of the Padres, has known Steinbrenner since he first purchased the Yankees in 1973. "It was not about monetary profit, it's always to see his team finish No. 1," Kapstein said. "No matter how much success he had, it's never dulled that goal, emotionally or intellectually. . . . He's never lost that desire to have his team be champions."
That is the essence of George Steinbrenner. The passion to be No. 1 is not the same as it once was, but not in George Steinbrenner's world, no matter how it has changed.
Steinbrenner's goal has never wavered. Win one championship. Then win another. There's only one message. When I asked Cashman what is the biggest thing he has learned under The Boss, he didn't hesitate.
"It's about getting it done," Cashman said.
Four more wins and it's done.
Source nypost.com/