Steinbrenner, then serving his second suspension from baseball, spent two days on the witness stand in the extortion trial of Howie Spira, a small-time gambler who maintained he received $40,000 from Steinbrenner to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield, one of his own Yankee players.
On his first day on the stand, Steinbrenner openly wept while fighting defense attorney David Greenfield every step of the way. The next day, he continued to dance around questions until the judge, Louis L. Stanton, finally had had enough.
Muffled giggles filled the room as the judge spoke to Steinbrenner as if addressing a 5-year-old with a learning disability. “Listen to the words and answer the question that is formed by the words,” Stanton instructed ever so slowly.
Later, on the courthouse steps, Greenfield characterized Steinbrenner as evasive. “I think he was being himself,” Greenfield said. “But this is not a press conference.”
The lights were on, though. And when the lights were on, so was George.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author