‘Seinfeld’ character made Big Stein lovable, even to most Dodgers fans

Through all the tributes, the stories and memories and tales of philanthropic deeds known to few, through all the video clips of him addressing the Yankees one spring training long ago or sharing a few private words with Joe Torre or watching the flight of Reggie Jackson's third home run against the Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series, through all the analysis about how time made him a softer version of his once barbaric self, through that moment of silence before another All-Star Game, one vision of George Steinbrenner stuck with me Tuesday.

''What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for! He had 30 home runs and over 100 RBIs last year. He's got a rocket for an arm! You don't know what the hell you're doing!

"Well, Buhner was a good prospect, no question about it. But my baseball people loved Ken Phelps' bat. They kept saying, 'Ken Phelps! Ken Phelps!'

Yep. When trying to form an opinion about one of the most influential and polarizing figures in sports history, I thought first of "Seinfeld."

There can't be one defining moment or remembrance or reaction of love or hate when someone the magnitude of Steinbrenner passes.

He was ringmaster of a near-four decade circus even P.T. Barnum would have struggled to match.

Ruth. Gehrig. DiMaggio. Mantle.

None was bigger than Steinbrenner in New York.

No. Not even Costanza.

If his legacy changed baseball forever, then Steinbrenner's place in pop culture explains how in many eyes he wasn't the tyrant others thought or assumed him to be.

His character on "Seinfeld" offered a more lovable, laughable side. It softened him to many, particularly Dodger fans who in 1977 and '78 would have paid large sums of money to see Steinbrenner drowned in champagne showers while being beaten over the head with those World Series trophies he so proudly hoisted.

I know. I was one who wanted to see it.

I never knew until now he made a cameo on "Seinfeld" during the seventh season, only to have the scenes cut. It's a good thing. What made the character -- the body of Lee Bear, the voice of Larry David -- so endearing was its flaws.

Buffoons have this way of growing on you, and while the role of Steinbrenner certainly wasn't written in a flattering manner, it was presented in a way that made you like the man, or at least not loathe him as much. That's tough for a Dodgers lunatic like myself to admit. But it did.

People saw the Steinbrenner they wanted to see. Some will credit him for growing the financial side of baseball through creative business deals. Others will blame him for being a strong-willed and harsh capitalist who destroyed small-market baseball.

Some will respect a man who refused to lose and when he did, only spent more money and fired more people until he got the championships he coveted. Others will not miss a man they thought a self-absorbed bully who always thought he was the smartest person in the room.

There is truth to all of it. He was as much villain and visionary, as much despised dictator as prodigal patron.

It's why looking from afar, having that image of Steinbrenner that "Seinfeld" created leaves you a view of the Yankees owner that, while not as passionate as others might feel today, does allow for a light-hearted one about a man who was anything but simple.

Think what you want about George Steinbrenner today. About his impact on baseball. About how he built his dynasty.

I'll stay with this vision:

"Well, I wish I could say the same, but I must say, with all due respect, I find it very hard to see the logic behind some of the moves you have made with this fine organization. In the past 20 years, you have caused myself, and the city of New York, a good deal of distress as we have watched you take our Yankees and reduced them to a laughingstock, all for the glorification of your massive ego."

"Hire this man!"

The guy took risks his whole life.

Yep. Even on Costanza.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.