- 19 Jan 2005
- 1,972
- 232
Congratulations Oh-san
I very much enjoyed listening to the game on satellite radio while in my truck the other night. My congratulations to Team Japan and manager Oh-san for winning the inaugural game of the World Baseball Classic, the REAL World Series. It couldn't have gone to a better guy.
I remember watching Oh-san play for the Yomiuri Giants while there in the 70's and he truly was a sight to behold with his leg going up every time he would take a swing at the ball. I still remember when he broke Hank Aarons record in 1977 and when he retired. I also distinctly remember his commercials for the energy drink "Oronamin C" where he would hold the bottle up to the camera and say "Chisana kyojin desu" (The little giant). Even though I was considered what is called in Japanese "anti Giants" I still enjoyed watching him play.
I also enjoyed listening to Fox Sports and ESPN call in shows after the game with the hosts lamenting and crying that it would have been better if Team USA was in the finals instead of Japan or Cuba. Well if they weren't so much "pima-donnas" caring only about themselves instead of the team and the country they might have made it. Personally I was glad they didn't make it. It just goes to show that even though you may make 10 million dollars a year, you still can't do anything when it counts. One look at last years Yankees will tell you that. They had the highest salary in all of baseball history and still couldn't make the world series.
I enjoyed the commentary and statistic during the game that said how much Cuba and Japan are team players. They gave a statistic for sacrifices. Going from memory here, Japan, 8 sacrifices, Cuba, 6, USA, NONE! That statistic alone should say alot.
Also, I wonder how Hideki Matsui feels now that he wasn't part of history by playing for his own contry's team? Good for him. He deserves not to be a part of it and thinking only of himself. And my hat is off to Ichiro for being the best player in the series and for playing for his home country.
I very much enjoyed listening to the game on satellite radio while in my truck the other night. My congratulations to Team Japan and manager Oh-san for winning the inaugural game of the World Baseball Classic, the REAL World Series. It couldn't have gone to a better guy.
I remember watching Oh-san play for the Yomiuri Giants while there in the 70's and he truly was a sight to behold with his leg going up every time he would take a swing at the ball. I still remember when he broke Hank Aarons record in 1977 and when he retired. I also distinctly remember his commercials for the energy drink "Oronamin C" where he would hold the bottle up to the camera and say "Chisana kyojin desu" (The little giant). Even though I was considered what is called in Japanese "anti Giants" I still enjoyed watching him play.
I also enjoyed listening to Fox Sports and ESPN call in shows after the game with the hosts lamenting and crying that it would have been better if Team USA was in the finals instead of Japan or Cuba. Well if they weren't so much "pima-donnas" caring only about themselves instead of the team and the country they might have made it. Personally I was glad they didn't make it. It just goes to show that even though you may make 10 million dollars a year, you still can't do anything when it counts. One look at last years Yankees will tell you that. They had the highest salary in all of baseball history and still couldn't make the world series.
I enjoyed the commentary and statistic during the game that said how much Cuba and Japan are team players. They gave a statistic for sacrifices. Going from memory here, Japan, 8 sacrifices, Cuba, 6, USA, NONE! That statistic alone should say alot.
Also, I wonder how Hideki Matsui feels now that he wasn't part of history by playing for his own contry's team? Good for him. He deserves not to be a part of it and thinking only of himself. And my hat is off to Ichiro for being the best player in the series and for playing for his home country.
