Jeter, Girardi enjoy giving George his seventh ring

Before yesterday's on-field ceremony when the Yankees received their rings, a more private one took place in the owner's suite as George Steinbrenner was presented with his.

Steinbrenner, who rarely attends home games, was given his seventh ring by Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner described the scene, which began with a crack by Jeter.

"Jeter told him he wanted him to take his Ohio State ring off, of course," the younger Steinbrenner said. "But he didn't do that. He took his 2000 ring off and put this one on."

Steinbrenner, a longtime benefactor of Ohio State, has long shared barbs with Jeter, who grew up in Michigan and is a fan of the Wolverines.

"My dad looked right at him, pointed at him and said, 'Michigan,' so I think it all came back to him," Hal Steinbrenner said. "Other than that he was just about speechless, which is pretty much what we expected. It was a good moment."

One that was important to Jeter and Girardi. "It was fun," Jeter said. "It's always good to see him. None of us would be here, the stadium wouldn't be here, if it wasn't for him.''

Steinbrenner was shown on the big screen before Jeter led off in the third. Much of the crowd stood and cheered loudly, but Steinbrenner didn't seem to notice. Jeter then homered.

"I tried to pause a little bit before I went up there just so they could recognize him," Jeter said. "All Yankee fans appreciate what he's done."

Girardi felt a connection to the man who he said gave him the chance to win three rings as a player and one as a manager.

"That was one of the best parts of my day," he said. "I'm extremely grateful for everything he's done in my life, so it was a thrill for me to give it to him and see the smile on his face."

Jeter was still smiling about the encounter after the game.

"Usually when I meet with him, I'm in trouble," he said before turning serious again. "To present him with the ring, you know how much winning means to him, that's the only thing he cares about . . . That will be the thing I take the most from today."