Steinbrenner dragged the game forward

More than 2,000 media credentials. Military flyovers. A huge campaign connecting Hollywood celebrities with community service.

And, of course, highly compensated baseball players, competing with the World Series in mind.

This became George Steinbrenner's All-Star Game last night after the Yankees' legendary owner died early in the morning. The Angel Stadium crowd cheered his image on the scoreboard - "Once a Yankee, Always a Yankee" the caption read - after booing his seven present players, all wearing black armbands in his memory. Just the way The Boss would've liked it.

But really, even if Steinbrenner hadn't passed away mere hours before the Midsummer Classic, this would've been his All-Star Game. His game.

His industry.

For better or worse, and I'd argue strongly that it's better, 2010 Major League Baseball carries Steinbrenner's imprint as much as anyone else's.

"He was truly a giant of sport," commissioner Bud Selig said.

The Boss used to boast of his days as a Broadway producer. He appreciated a big show as much as anyone. He didn't view baseball as just sport, even though he loved competition. He recognized it as programming.

That's why he loved stars, and winning huge bidding wars for them - or, in the case of Alex Rodriguez, swiping them from under the nose of the rival Red Sox.

His huge television deals - first with MSG and then by forming the first team-centered regional sports network - set the pace for MLB's mammoth agreements with Fox. Although he probably didn't like the idea of home-field advantage being decided in the All-Star Game, he surely appreciated its allure and urged his Yankees players to win. In that vein, the Yankees' Robinson Cano broke a scoreless tie, lifting a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.

He didn't like to publicize his charitable side; no need to celebrate yourself at the cost of those less fortunate, he figured, and besides, part of him enjoyed being the Big Bad Wolf of baseball. MLB's "All-Stars Among Us" campaign, conducted in conjunction with People magazine, might have been a little loud for The Boss' liking, yet he would've appreciated the efforts.

The flyovers? The over-the-top performances of the national anthems? You might think that would clash with Steinbrenner's style. Nah. He loved good cheese. He was the one who kept the "YMCA Dancers" going all of these years in the middle of each Yankees game. Remember, during the Yankees' 1996-2001 run, the constant playoff pregame appearances by "Challenger" the eagle? All George's doing.

Yes, Steinbrenner was a visionary, and he dragged much of the sport with him, kicking and screaming. The All-Star Game used to be viewed as an inconvenience; as Selig said yesterday, he used to have to beg teams to host it. With other owners following The Boss' lead, however, the Midsummer Classic now has a long line of interested hosts who appreciate the buzz it can bring to a city. And MLB uses the event to take care of its corporate supporters.

It's natural to deify someone on the day he dies, and look, not even anyone in his own family would say George M. Steinbrenner III was an icon of perfection. Yet with time to prepare for this one, we felt the winds changing for years.

Hard feelings softened. Ill will healed. All-Stars Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte and manager Joe Girardi all had reason to be upset with The Boss over the years. Nevertheless, upon his passing, they spoke with what appeared to be genuine warmth and appreciation.

Steinbrenner will be remembered as a giant and a Yankee. This game, and the game, are richer for him.