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Of Course, Of CourseBy Rick Horowitz 50-1 shot captures Kentucky Derby, as favorite fades to seventh. Ripped
from the headlines "Is he here yet?" "Not yet, Mr. Steinbrenner. I'll -- " "Why isn't he here yet? I said I wanted him here first thing in the morning!" "I know you did, Mr. Steinbrenner. As soon as -- " "Not second thing in the morning -- first thing in the morning!" "We're trying to reach -- oh, wait a sec. Here he comes now. Should I send them in?" "Them?" "There's a very...small man here, too, sir. Do you want him to wait out here at reception?" "Do I -- nah, send them both in. But he doesn't get to say anything, understood? And no sitting." "No sitting -- got it. I'm sending them in now." "It's about time! Why does everyone think they -- yeah, come in. And close the door." "Good morning, Mr. Steinbrenner. I am so -- " "Did I say you should speak?" "I am just saying I am so sorry for you we could not win the -- " "Did I say you should speak? I didn't even want you in this meeting! I wanted him!" "I only -- " "Him! Not you. So stick a sock in it." "But -- " "Enough! OK, so now you tell me: What do you have to say for yourself?" " " "Was the track too soft? I'll bet the track was too soft. Or too hard. I knew those groundskeepers were up to something!" " " "Not the track? Well, OK, then what about the shoes? Were the shoes too tight? I hate it when the shoes are too tight! Say the word and I'll have that guy fired before lunchtime." " " "OK, so it's not the shoes either. It couldn't be the trainer -- I had the best trainer in the business. That's what my horse people told me anyway -- 'best in the business.' Great jockey, too. 'That Castellano sure knows how to ride' -- that's what they all said. If those guys were lying to me, I'll -- " "Sir?" "Was I talking to you?" "I only -- " "I was not talking to you. I was talking to him!" "But sir -- he is a horse!" "A horse." "Bellamy Road, sir. He is your horse." "You think I don't know who he is? He's the horse who was finally going to win the Derby for me. The big favorite. But he didn't, did he? So now I want to know why. And I want it straight from the horse's mouth." "Sir, that's just an -- " "And no whinnying! I hate whinnying!" "I think the pace was maybe too fast for him, sir. I try to hold him back, but it's still too fast. When I ask him, he don't have anything left to give. Giacomo, he run a good race -- this is nothing to be ashamed of." "Get out of here. Both of you." "But why are you -- " "'Nothing to be ashamed of'! 'Nothing to be ashamed of'! I'm George Steinbrenner, and there's always something to be ashamed of!" "Can I -- " "Next you'll be telling me I don't get to blame anyone! Out." "But -- " "Out! And send the girl in -- we have to do something about this carpet!" Posted 5/10/05. Tired
of shoveling out your barn? Check out "Rick's" -- you'll come
out smelling fresh as a rose!
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Rick Horowitz
