Fred Drasner, the hard-driving co-publisher who transformed The Daily News during New York's tabloid wars, died at 83. The former cabdriver and lawyer joined Mort Zuckerman in 1993 to buy the struggling paper for $36 million, then engineered a remarkable turnaround after a decade of $100 million losses.

Drasner applied blue-collar tactics to publishing, cutting costs while investing in newsrooms. He launched aggressive marketing campaigns against rivals like Newsday, appearing in memorable TV ads that mocked competitors' suburban headquarters. His tough negotiations with unions and hands-on approach helped restore profitability within a year.

Beyond newspaper publishing, Drasner later joined Zuckerman in purchasing the Washington Redskins football team. Despite his rough-edged persona and clashes with Zuckerman over priorities, Drasner's business instincts and understanding of media markets made him a formidable figure in New York's publishing landscape.