Phantom nation

Hank Steinbrenner says he isn't adding gasoline to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry by saying the Red Sox take a backseat to his team when it comes to marketing their brand. "You can't create any controversy with fact," Steinbrenner said last night when reached for his reaction to an upcoming magazine story. "You can ask any marketing expert who is the No. 1 brand of any team in any sport in the country, and it's the Yankees. We are the No. 1 brand in the country."

In the article, Steinbrenner accuses ESPN as being an accomplice to spreading the "Red Sox Nation" propaganda because ESPN is "filled with Red Sox fans." Last night Steinbrenner was a tad contrite. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that about ESPN because I watch ESPN in the morning like everybody else," Steinbrenner said. "I like ESPN." Continue