By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Predictably, the first reaction of most non-New York Yankees fans this week has been to curse again, this time with newly inspired vigor, at baseball's "Evil Empire."

A close second has been to loudly excoriate the owner of the Yank$, George Steinbrenner, and his deep pockets.

For after a lengthening parade of mega-buck marquee free agent signings, the acquiring of Alex Rodriguez was the 24-karat exclamation point that stuck in a lot of throats.

This isn't just the ultimate example of the rich getting richer. For sports' most successful franchise to add baseball's best all-around player is akin to Bill Gates winning the Powerball Lottery.

But if you really want to blame somebody for A-Rod being in pinstripes today and baseball's balance of power once more tilting to the Bronx, you could go through a whole lineup card of responsible parties before getting to Steinbrenner.

The Yankees only did what the baseball landscape has permitted them to do.

Once it became clear that the Texas Rangers were desperate enough to unload A-Rod that they were willing to underwrite $67 million of his remaining salary and deferred compensation, who wouldn't jump at the deal? At an average of $16 million per season, which is about what the Yankees will be paying after the Rangers' contribution is subtracted, Rodriguez is a steal.

Had Boston been able to close in two months a deal similar to the one the Yankees signed, sealed and delivered with express speed in three days, the only sound to be heard from the Bronx would have been the Boss pounding the table and the heads of his minions rolling.

Instead, for want of a reported $2 million in a $179 million deal, chump change by Major League Baseball standards, really, Larry Lucchino and the Red Sox braintrust have set themselves up to be the collective Harry Frazee of this century. Like the Red Sox owner who gave away Babe Ruth for peanuts, another celebrated No. 3 has fallen into the hands of the Yankees.

Not to forget Tom Hicks, the spendthrift owner of the Rangers. Except for foolishly bidding against himself in giving A-Rod a 10-year, $252 million contract in the first place — more than $50 million above what anybody else was offering in 2001 — the Rangers might have had enough money to build a competitive team around him.

Few owners are without responsibility in the big picture. Baseball's powers that be have been unable to put in place either the type of revenue sharing system or salary cap that would keep the Yankees, now closing in on a $200 million payroll, from being in a position to spend six times more on salary than some of the teams in its league.

So, rant at the Yankees if you like. Curse at the Boss if it makes you feel better. But the path that brought A-Rod to Yankee Stadium yesterday was paved with a lot more than Steinbrenner's lucre.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.