To Many in USOC, He Is Gorgeous George : Steinbrenner: ‘America First’ attitude of former Yankee owner translates into support for Olympic athletes.

New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was Japan-bashing before it was popular.

At a U.S. Olympic Committee meeting in 1987, Steinbrenner, who had been appointed to the executive board as a public-sector member, was furious when he learned that the USOC had contributed $10,000 to Japanese sports.

“Ten thousand dollars to the Japs?” he asked during a board meeting, not particularly caring who overheard him. “This . . . has got to stop.”

A year later, when Steinbrenner was chosen to head the USOC’s Olympic Overview Commission during the Winter Games at Calgary, the U.S. media reacted with astonishment, indignation and even amusement. Making a play on the name of the wind condition that plays havoc with the winter weather in Western Canada, one newspaper headline in New York called Steinbrenner “The Big Chinook.”

But it since has become apparent to USOC members that Steinbrenner is more than hot air.

He received high marks for the overview commission’s report, followed by his election in 1989 to a four-year term as one of three USOC vice presidents. Since then, he has been praised by his fellow officers for his business acumen.

There, naturally, has been some controversy, including his enforced leave of absence for a few months in 1990 while he tried to extricate himself from his problems with gambler Howard Spira and major league baseball. He also has embarrassed some of USOC’s internationalists with an unwavering “America First” platform.

As the United States fell behind the Cubans in the gold-medal standings in last year’s Pan American Games at Havana, Steinbrenner fumed, even threatening to sue one of the athletes he sponsors for not competing in those games.

But that Steinbrenner was sponsoring the athlete in the first place was a point in his favor. On that scorecard, he is far ahead. Having given financial support to several athletes, his generosity with time and money is much appreciated by the USOC.

When U.S. Skiing’s chairman, Tom Weisel, recently called him a “bumbling idiot” and a “disgrace to sport,” representatives from four of the most prominent Olympic sports--swimming, gymnastics, boxing and cycling--released statements in support of Steinbrenner.

“Anyone who is overly critical of George Steinbrenner doesn’t know the man,” said Ray Essick, executive director of U.S. Swimming.

Carol Brown, a former rower from Seattle who heads the USOC’s athlete support committee, said recently: “It’s a different George than I read about in the sports pages. I do, absolutely, believe he has been a positive influence.

“I know that’s not an opinion universally shared. But there are few people in the USOC as committed to our athletes as George. I think he’s been jaded by athletes in other sports who aren’t sure they want to play for $10 million.”

Former speedskater Michael Plant of Richmond, Va., chairman of the athletes’ advisory council, said that he would like to see Steinbrenner re-elected later this year to another four-year term as an officer.

“His contributions far exceed any of the unfortunate situations and the negative publicity that he’s had,” Plant said. “He’s really dedicated to the cause.”

How dedicated?

As USOC board member Dorothy Baker of Wilmington, Del., said: “Even a hurricane didn’t deter him from giving a promised speech in Dover two years ago.”