HOW interesting and yet sad that the guy who most flouts major-league directives is whining that another team refused to heed the Commissioners Office.

But that is just George Steinbrenner being George Steinbrenner, not only the game’s biggest bully, but its supreme hypocrite as well. The Boss all but has a wanted poster in the MLB Offices because, among his offenses, he sends GM Brian Cashman weekly to complain about umpiring, shuns many postseason mandates, and pretty much tries to sidestep every rule when it comes to media access.

Steinbrenner is fuming at Bud Selig for not punishing the Devil Rays over failing to get to New York in time to play a doubleheader Monday. But just a few weeks back Steinbrenner was praising Selig as a great commissioner. Now what did that coincide with? Oh, yeah, Selig levying no punishment whatsoever on The Boss for his blatant tampering with Randy Johnson.

Classic Steinbrenner. He follows all the rules except the ones he does not like, yet expects everyone else to adhere to the letter of the law.

This is not to say the Yanks did not have legitimate complaints. I believe the Commissioners Office did indeed order the Devil Rays to be in New York for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Monday and that the Rays ignored that order, and now MLB is covering up to avoid looking weak and disorganized. But how does an all-out public war against the people who run the game help the on-field team? And, besides, once Steinbrenner’s executives talked forfeit – and MLB officials say that began Sunday afternoon – they forfeited the high ground and, more important, sent out a vibe the organization is playing scared.

Steinbrenner probably never will understand how poorly it reflects on his players – the people he repeatedly dubs “warriors” – that his minions suggested the Yanks be awarded at least one win, and possibly two, without a game being contested. Do warriors want freebies?

Derek Jeter said, “Do I think it reflects poorly on the players? No. It wasn’t the players saying it.”

But it was the organization, so all Yankees are stained. Because the actions roughly translate to: We are frightened of the onrushing Red Sox and will take our wins anyway we can get them. The Yanks acted terrified they would be forced into a doubleheader later in the week and have to start Esteban Loaiza and Brad Halsey. A rainout yesterday means Halsey will start in a doubleheader today along with Mike Mussina.

In 1996, Steinbrenner exhibited similar fright. He convened a meeting with his executives to discuss his concerns about playing a June 21 doubleheader in Cleveland because rookies Brian Boehringer (second career start) and Ramiro Mendoza (sixth career start) had to pitch due to injuries to David Cone, Jimmy Key and Andy Pettitte. Joe Torre tried to calm The Boss by telling him not to fret, that collectively the team would “get it done.”

The Yanks won both games, with Torre learning after the opener his oldest brother, Rocco, had died. The Yanks ended up sweeping four games at The Jake against an Indians lineup with Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome that scored the second most runs in organization history. The Yanks ultimately built a 12-game AL East lead over Baltimore that sagged to 21/2. Steinbrenner was irate. But the Yanks won the first two games at home of a showdown series against the Orioles beginning Sept. 18 and went on to win the division. Those were real Yankees.

These Yanks were showing fear of a doubleheader against the Devil Rays, who have the AL’s fewest runs. The Yankees’ lead had been shaved from 10½ games over Boston to 2½ going into yesterday. They have a showdown series against the Red Sox at home beginning Sept. 17.

Thus, this division title is going to be settled on the field, not in Selig’s office. It is time for Steinbrenner and his front office to stop crying, because all that can be forfeited now is the right of this group to call itself real Yankees.