George Steinbrenner will celebrate his 80th birthday at home in Tampa enjoying time with his family and keeping up with the Yankees’ game against the Blue Jays. Through his spokesman Howard J. Rubenstein, he released the following statement:

“I want to thank everyone who has sent their good wishes. I am very fortunate to have the love and support of a great family and many, many friends. The Yankees and their fans are a large part of what keeps me going. It means a lot. And I remind everyone that the Fourth of July is also the birthday of our country. We are all lucky to be Americans.”

If I recall correctly, it said in the Madden book that Big Stein’s dad passed away at 79 due to Alzheimer’s – like the Boss has now. Poor George probably is in his final days now…but, he had one heckuva run, that’s for sure.

George Steinbrenner didn’t have a lot to say upon entering George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday to watch his grandson Robert Molloy play first base for Tampa Prep against Berkeley Prep. Nevertheless, it was more than his son, Hal, had to offer.

The Boss arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday shortly after 3 p.m. and went to his suite above the first-base line. He was accompanied by an aide and daughter, Jessica, who is Molloy’s mother.

“I feel good,” The Boss said as he exited the elevator wearing his trademark sunglasses, and a Yankees windbreaker.

Asked by The Post if he had any horse tips, The Boss sharply said, “No horses.”

Manager Joe Girardi also was there.”It was neat watching The Boss’ grandson play while sitting with The Boss,” Girardi said.As for Hal, he visited Girardi yesterday morning in the manager’s office but didn’t make himself available to the media afterward.

When Hal Steinbrenner landed in Girardi’s office yesterday morning the media gathered outside waiting to hear his thoughts on the lame-duck status of three very big names in the Yankees’ universe [Girardi, Jeter and Rivera].

But Hal Steinbrenner used a remote exit into a hallway, one that forced him to go from the clubhouse to the field and up a hallway, and skirted the media without saying a word.

Hal might be a clone of his father, on the outside, but, inside he’s sooooo different from Big Stein.

There’s always been a part of me that that thinks, once their father passes, the Steinbrenner kids are going to sell the team and cash out.

Hank Steinbrenner will soon be 53-years old. He and his sister Jessica, who is 46, are more into Kinsman Farm and the family’s horse operation. Jessica’s husband, Felix Lopez, ten years her senior, is the Tobias Fünke of the family and basically has to go where he’s told. The real players here are Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Hal Steinbrenner. She’s 50 and he’s 41.

If Hal’s not really that into it, and basically doing this as a last attempt to impress his old man before he dies, I could see the others, all now in their 50′s or married to someone who’s in their late 50′s, twisting his arm into selling. And, then, Yankeeland, as we know it, will never be the same…

George Steinbrenner is looking forward to the start of the upcoming baseball season.

“I am. Aren’t you?” the 79-year-old New York Yankees owner said with a smile on Friday.

Steinbrenner spent four hours in his office at the team’s complex in Florida, where individual spring training game tickets went on sale. About 150 fans were in line when ticket windows opened.

The Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship trophy, which was taken to Steinbrenner’s home for him to see earlier this week, was on display outside the ballpark.

Steinbrenner said the Yankees are in position for what could be another “special” season this year, and that he is “feeling good.”

A group of former players taking part in a Yankees fantasy camp — including David Wells, Lee Mazzilli and Mickey Rivers — spent time with Steinbrenner in his office.

Steinbrenner uses a wheelchair because of bad knees and has made few public appearances since turning over control of the team to his son Hal last year. He attended the first two games of last year’s World Series against Philadelphia but watched the Game 6 clincher from his home in Tampa.

I never knew that Boomer Wells, Lee Maz and Mick the Quick were Talosians?

In any event, no matter how it was pulled off, I’m glad that the Boss had a nice day in Tampa today and was able to throw a few quotes out to the media…as I suspect, someday, soon, that won’t be remotely possible.

George Steinbrenner is planning to travel to New York for some postseason games if the AL East-leading Yankees make the playoffs.

Steinbrenner attended opening day at the new Yankee Stadium this season but has attended few games in New York since becoming increasingly frail. He also watched the Yankees beat the Rays 6-2 on July 29th at Tropicana Field, which is a short trip from his Tampa home.

Steinbrenner has kept a low profile since turning over the day-to-day operation of the team to his sons, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, two years ago.

George Steinbrenner spent three hours in his office at the team’s spring-training complex Thursday. When asked about the Yankees’ solid play, the 79-year-old owner said: “Let’s keep it going.”

Well, I suppose that’s better than Big Stein saying “More wine for Polyphemus, the son of Neptune!”

I guess the Boss is off Pat Benatar tunes these days and now channeling fellow Floridians…

kc and the sunshine band keep it comin love

You know…it started at the end of 2003…and it didn’t look good in 2005…and it carried into 2006…and now it’s just sad to see the Big Stein in action…

It’s much more fun to think of him the way he was back then…

This one is an instant classic.

Alex Rodriguez is history with the Yankees and when I asked Hank Steinbrenner yesterday if there were any regrets, he answered quickly and honestly. “No,” he said. “[Scott] Boras makes it easy not to have any.”

As for Boras’ contention that the Yankees may have lost their way in their “commitment” to winning, Hank said bluntly, “He’s full of [bull].”

Hank went on to say the Yankees have never been more committed to winning and the goal is to get these Yankees to a time and place like 1996, when they had great young talent coming up through the system surrounded by winning veterans.

“We’ll go out and spend the money where we have to,” he promised. “We want players with character on and off the field.”

Good thing for Andrew Brackman that A-Rod opted out now – and not before this season. Sounds like Boras has now burned all his Bronx bridges.

The Yankees meeting to decide Joe Torre’s fate took place at George Steinbrenner’s south Tampa mansion, but no decision is expected today.

Yankees spokesman Howard Rubenstein released the following statement:

“The meetings are adjourned for tonight. There have been no decisions made, nor will there be any comment today. The meetings will resume tomorrow.”

I’ve been doing what I do for a living now for the last 22 years. It’s not my passion. But, for the most part, I’ve been told that I do an above average job of it, and, it pays the bills (most of the time).

Still, man, do I want Howard Rubenstein’s job. Seriously, how hard can it be?

And, by the way, at what point did the baseball team that I grew up rooting for become this entity that releases statements on nothing happening via a hired P.R. spokesperson? It’s crazy.

The United Nations and the Pentagon should have a spokesperson. Pop stars should have spokespersons. Heck, I can even see a professional sports league having a spokesperson. But, a baseball team? It’s just strange.

I liked the old days better when the owner, G.M., and/or manager did the talking for the team – and you heard it from their mouth. That’s baseball. Or, at the least, that’s the way it used to be…

Joe Torre’s 12-year run as manager of the Yankees will likely end if his team does not rally to beat the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series, George Steinbrenner told The Record on Saturday night.

“His job is on the line,” the Yankees’ owner said in a phone interview. “I think we’re paying him a lot of money. He’s the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don’t think we’d take him back if we don’t win this series.”

Torre is in the final year of a contract worth $7 million this season. He has led his team to four World Series titles and 12 consecutive playoff appearances and was universally hailed this year for weathering a 21-29 start.

“He’s been good for us over the years,” Steinbrenner acknowledged.

If the bugs also messed up Alex Rodriguez, the superstar forever burdened by October angst, Steinbrenner said A-Rod’s struggles won’t temper his desire to re-sign the free agent-to-be, who will likely seek a contract worth more than $30 million per year.

“I think we’ll re-sign him,” Steinbrenner said of Rodriguez. “I think he’s going to have a good run the rest of the [postseason]. I think he realizes New York is the place to be, the place to play. A lot of this [postseason] is laying on his shoulders, you know, but I think he’s up to it.”

No matter what George says, I think there’s still just as much of a chance that Torre stays, and Alex goes, if the Yankees lose tonight.

Personally, if they lose this ALDS, I’m like to see them both go – and try and reboot this team as much as possible. But, I think that Torre has enough backers in the organization that he’s safe, win or lose.