The Next generation of the Evil Empire

Last summer I found myself deeply enjoying the ESPN original mini-series "The Bronx is Burning." It focused on the 1977 New York Yankees and really focused on the relationship between owner George Steinbrenner, Manager Billy Martin, team captain and catcher Thurman Munson, and the first major free agent superstar Reggie Jackson. It gave in interesting take into the mind of George Steinbrenner, and I had to work hard to eliminate my disdain for the man, as I am a born and bred Red Sox fan, but once I was able to really look at what it was that made the man tick...the more I was able to appreciate the sheer genius of the man. Genius usually comes at a price, and Steinbrenner's, in my opinion, was his passion. He was never very good at seperating personal feelings from business, but that is what made the Red Sox/Yankees dynamic so interesting, explosive, and infurriating at the same time. Over the last 3 years Steinbrenner's health has been in steady decline, and as a by product so has the rivalry. The Yankees haven't been a factor to Red Sox Nation since Boston completed the great comeback in 2004. A rivalry dead?
Not so much my friends, just on hyatis. With Papa Bear Steinbrenner not healty enough to run the Evil Empire, and the Yankees in a situation where they are in a salary dump scenario, enter Baby Bear, Hank Steinbrenner. Hank is poised to be a re-incarnation of his Father from 31 years ago, and you are already seeing that in this off-season. He has already made an obnoxious offer to C.C. Sabathia as well as they are looking into offering ridiculous money to both Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett. What about Manny Ramirez? Hanky Boy has already said the Yankees are ready to explore all options. Of course you have to assume that means they are going to at somepoint if nothing else explore the Manny Ramirez possibility.
If this early course continues to take the hapes it is forging, we are going to be in for another decade of great baseball in the American League East.