Going sour

It's not really in my nature to revel in other people's misery, but when the person in question is George $teinbrenner and the 'misery' is the possiblity that his winter deals are going to go pear-shaped, then I really have no qualms about the way I feel.

Reports are surfacing that not only might George's so-called #1 offseason priority - the signing of free agent Andy Pettitte - not happen, but also that the Gary Sheffield deal is not quite as 'done' as we have been led to believe.

Even if the deals don't happen, it probably won't do much to change the bigger picture - Steinbrenner will just go out and get other big-name, big-money players to fill the spots, but it is nice to see, now and again, that all those dollars don't necessarily buy you a smooth ride. And who knows, George might even have to sit down and think a little before opening up his bottomless wallet... Now that would be a great Christmas present for all of us...