03/02: Hank: I'm Not Joining Red Sox Nation, No Matter What Former Yankees Minority Owner Says
Posted by: Patrick
The New York Post and boston.com report on Hank Steinbrenner's response to John Henry's induction of him into Red Sox Nation. Here's what Henry had said:
Steinbrenner's response:
He also went on to say:
Friends? Errrr.... you've gone too far!
"I'm a big Hank fan. Just to ensure he knows how cool Red Sox Nation is, [Saturday] we officially inducted him as a member of Red Sox Nation and we are sending him his membership card giving him access to an array of options including our newsletter, bumper stickers, pins, Green Monster seats and a hat personally autographed by David Ortiz."
Steinbrenner's response:
"I am not joining Red Sox Nation, honorary or not. I'll respond to that later. Trust me, I am not joining Red Sox Nation."
He also went on to say:
"John used to be an owner of the Yankees and he's a great guy. My dad always loved the guy. I love him. Hal loves him. And he's done a tremendous job with the Red Sox. My only point was simple and that is that the Yankees brand is the biggest in the country. And everybody knows that. Obviously it's Yankees Nation. That's not meant as a cut to the Red Sox. In truth. I'm just not saying that to be nice - but John Henry has done an unbelievable job with the Red Sox brand. ...
Every Red Sox fan is and Yankee fan is. I can tell you this, we've got a lot in common, too. The Yankees ownership and Red Sox ownership have a lot in common and have a lot of common interests. God, I hate to scare Red Sox or Yankee fans, but you never know we might end up being partners in the future outside of baseball. We have a lot in common. We have a lot in common. In baseball and outside of baseball. Even though the rivalry will always be the greatest rivalry in American sports, you can say that the Yankees and Red sox ownerships are definitely friends. No question."
Every Red Sox fan is and Yankee fan is. I can tell you this, we've got a lot in common, too. The Yankees ownership and Red Sox ownership have a lot in common and have a lot of common interests. God, I hate to scare Red Sox or Yankee fans, but you never know we might end up being partners in the future outside of baseball. We have a lot in common. We have a lot in common. In baseball and outside of baseball. Even though the rivalry will always be the greatest rivalry in American sports, you can say that the Yankees and Red sox ownerships are definitely friends. No question."
Friends? Errrr.... you've gone too far!