Red Sox Owner Inducts Hank Steinbrenner into Red Sox Nation

We’re only in spring training and already the age-old Red Sox–Yankees rivalry is heating up faster than four teenage boys and a Victoria’s Secret catalogue.

Yesterday we mentioned how New York Yankees jackass owner Hank Steinbrenner trashed that great metaphysical cadre of sports fans known as “Red Sox Nation.”

How did John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, respond?

By inducting Hank Steinbrenner into Red Sox nation, of course. Per the Boston Herald:

“I’m a big Hank fan,” wrote Henry in an e-mail. “Just to ensure he knows how cool Red Sox Nation is, (Saturday) we officially inducted him as a member of Red Sox Nation and we are sending him his membership card giving him access to an array of options including our newsletter, bumper stickers, pins, Green Monster seats and a hat personally autographed by David Ortiz.”

No word yet as to whether Steinbrenner expressed his gratitude by offering Henry season passes to The Pinstripe Pub at Yankee Stadium.