and fan interest and fan love.

A guy who owns all three or four of the pro franchises doesn’t really have to go “all-in” on any of them to get that title.

Steinbrenner was more motivated by what the METS were doing than any team in his own division. People that worked for him have written that he took losses to the Mets in spring training harder than other losses.

And he had a point. When he bought the Yankees, the Mets were coming off a World Series appearance and had won the title a few years before. The Jets still had Broadway Joe. The Knicks were a power and the Nets had Dr. J. (Some puckhead can tell me what the NY hockey teams were doing)

Steinbrenner had to win the city.

It isn’t like a guy owning an Arby’s, a Taco Bell and a KFC, all competing for the food dollar for his benefit. The cost of tickets and the time involved in watching a game mean most people can only put their money toward one franchise.

I could be wrong. I’m sure someone with an MBA can explain to me how it is exactly like a guy owning a Ford dealership and a Chevy dealership and a Subaru dealership and it all being OK.

But from a competitive point of view, I think the games and the fans are best served when there are four egotistical rich guys all competing for dollars.