Randy Johnson had his first official meeting as a Yankee with George Steinbrenner yesterday. At the Boss’s request it was a one-on-one meeting, and according to a source, Randy Johnson found the encounter to be perhaps the most terrifying event of his life.
Johnson was evidently led down a long dark corridor deep within Yankee Stadium by a man he did not recognize, dressed entirely in black. They finally came to a huge steel door, which the man knocked on, waited three seconds, and then told Johnson to enter. Steinbrenner was seated behind a huge empty wooden desk with one single candle burning, and the rest of the room was wrapped in darkness. Strange and obscure symbols were carved into the desk. Steinbrenner motioned for Johnson to sit down.
“Good evening, Randy,” Steinbrenner reportedly said in a hushed voice.
“It’s actually morning…” Johnson began.
“Time,” Steinbrenner said, harshly interrupting him, “no longer has any meaning for me. You see, we lost to the Red Sox this year. They won the W-W-World Series.” Steinbrenner’s eyes twitched maniacally and hands shook as he spoke the words.
“I’m here to fix that, sir,” Johnson then said.
Steinbrenner then looked directly into Johnson’s eyes, and held the gaze for several moments. Johnson later said that at that moment he had the eerie sensation that he might be in hell, looking directly into the face of Satan. He thought that somewhere in the distance he could hear thousands of faint wails and screams, yet couldn’t place where they were coming from.
“I’m glad to hear that, Randy,” Steinbrenner then reportedly continued. “You see, we put a lot of time, energy, and most importantly, resources, into getting you here. It was your destiny. And now, I’d like to make it very, very clear to you what is expected.”
Steinbrenner reportedly then stood up and walked over in front of Johnson. There was almost total darkness. “You will not just beat the Red Sox, you will humiliate and destroy them. You will lead us to a World Series victory—the most glorious ever. Anything short of that will be a failure, and of grave, grave consequence to you and all that is important to you.”
Johnson, still taken aback by the surroundings and the expression on Steinbrenner’s face, began to feel a chill, his skin crawling. “I-I-I’ll try my best…”
“Oh, you’ll do far more than that,” Steinbrenner then said forcefully. Suddenly, projected on the wall were visual images of Johnson’s home, family, possessions, and the bank where his key investments are held. Steinbrenner then smiled in a sinister manner, and cackled just slightly. “So many things in life we take for granted, Randy,” he said, in a barely audible voice,” as Johnson struggled to catch his breath. “The things we hold so dearly can be ours to enjoy forever—if we succeed in our tasks. But if we don’t…” the room went black. Steinbrenner leaned forward so that his forehead touched Johnson’s. “They can be gone in a flash.”
Johnson said Steinbrenner’s flesh felt distinctly non-human. Then, reportedly, a grayish sparkling fog enveloped Steinbrenner, and, according to the source who spoke to Johnson, Steinbrenner simply disintegrated into thin air. Lights then came on, and moments later Yankees GM Brian Cashman walked into the room with a bright smile, seemingly unaware of what had happened.
“Everything go okay with George?” he said casually.
Johnson ran screaming from the room.
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