“A totalitarian like Steinbrenner would have gleefully battered people with that kind of power, which is why it’s so entertaining to find him railing against Vincent’s application of the clause in the Spira case. But there’s a meta-irony on top of the mini-irony: In protesting the Spira decision so vociferously, Steinbrenner helped force Vincent out as commissioner and install a replacement who, in 20 years, has almost never used the “best interests” clause within baseball because he’s almost never stood in any real opposition to owners. What vestiges of independent authority remained in the commissioner’s office got boxed up with Vincent’s three-hole punch as he exited the building.”