Sports world reacts George Steinbrenner's death

Reaction from the sports world to the death of George Steinbrenner:

"On behalf of baseball, I am very saddened by the passing this morning of George Steinbrenner. George was a giant of the game and his devotion to baseball was surpassed only by his devotion to his family and his beloved New York Yankees. He was and always will be as much of a New York Yankee as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and all of the other Yankee legends.

"I have known George ever since he entered the game in 1972. He was my dear friend for nearly four decades. Although we would have disagreements over the years, they never interfered with our friendship and commitment to each other. Our friendship was built on loyalty and trust and it never wavered. We were allies and friends in the truest sense of the words."

- Baseball commissioner Bud Selig

"The passing of George Steinbrenner marks the end of an era in New York City baseball history. George was a larger- than-life figure and a force in the industry."

- Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz

"I had the good fortune to call George Steinbrenner both partner and friend. I had the privilege to watch George as he built a system that ensured his beloved Yankees would have a strong foundation for sustained excellence. And then we fiercely competed in the American League. George Steinbrenner forever changed baseball and hopefully some day we will see him honored in baseball's Hall of Fame as one of the great figures in the history of sports."

- Red Sox principal owner John Henry, a former minority owner of the Yankees

"George Steinbrenner was too complex a person to adequately describe in a short statement, but he was a great friend of mine and he will be missed. His impact on the game cannot be denied."

- Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf

"George Steinbrenner's passion for the game of baseball helped revive one of the game's most storied franchises, and in the process ushered in the modern era of baseball business operations. Mr. Steinbrenner understood and embraced the power of the players, and he put this knowledge to good use in establishing the Yankees as one of the sports world's most iconic brands."

- Michael Weiner, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association

"George Steinbrenner was a dynamic personality in sports and in business. He was the ultimate competitor in both worlds. All of us in the business of sports want to win; that is the objective. George personified that ambition. He and his good works will be missed dearly. George and my father had a special relationship; they were both good businessmen, and George loved the Yankees and my father loved the Giants."

- Giants co-owner Steve Tisch

"George Steinbrenner is an American icon and was one of the pre-eminent owners in all of sports. A true champion with his own unique style, he held his team to the highest standards and demanded a title for Yankees fans each and every season. I will remember him as a winner whose passion and enthusiasm became part of the fabric of New York City. He was an inspiration and represented the essence of leadership."

- Jets owner Woody Johnson

"I admired his willingness to promote and support all sports at all levels. I appreciated his understanding of the invaluable asset of involving his family in the management of the Yankees. I took pride in calling him a friend, an adviser, an inspiration and later, a business partner. We have lost a true leader in sports - someone who not only saw the big picture but helped create the scene on the canvas."

- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

"From his playing days at Williams College to his coaching days at Purdue and Northwestern, it was clear that George Steinbrenner was a product of the gridiron. We will miss his passion for giving back to our sport, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

- Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning

"He had a tremendous impact on the Olympic movement in the U.S. He was devoted to sport and the pursuit of excellence and because of that, a generation of Olympic athletes have benefited."

- U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Larry Probst

Statement from Cablevision Systems Corporation Chairman Charles Dolan:

"George Steinbrenner and I share Cleveland as our original hometown and I remember coincidentally being across an airplane aisle from George as he flew to New York in 1973 to complete his purchase of the New York Yankees. We have watched with admiration as George went on to become one of the great New Yorkers of all time. George was an incomparable presence, not only in baseball, but in all of sports, and all of us at Cablevision and MSG extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his beloved Yankees and his many friends and fans everywhere."

New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's statement:

"I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Yankees organization and the Steinbrenner family on the passing of George Steinbrenner. He was more than a legend in the world of baseball, he was a man with true global impact. Mr. Steinbrenner was also a co-owner of the Nets during their most successful period in the NBA. For new franchise owners like myself, he was a model of how to build a dynasty team and what can be achieved if you have enough heart and vision. He was an absolute original."