Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka will square off tomorrow in an epic battle of Asian heroes that will surely have Japan's financial market come to a screeching halt. Or not, we'll have to wait and see. But still, you don't have to be from Japan, Seattle or Boston to be excited about this matchup. The two players have crossed paths before during Matsuzaka's first two seasons before Ichiro left Japan for Seattle. More times than not, Dice-K has gotten the upper-hand -- according to the Seattle Times, Ichiro has hit just .234 in 36 plate appearances. Needless to say, Ichiro is excited about facing his fellow countryman. And by excited, I mean, really, really excited:
"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul," he says. "I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger."Is Ichiro going to try to hit off Matsuzaka or hit on him? That's part of the intrigue -- we'll have to tune in to see.
(via MLB Trade Rumors)
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt Watson,
If you were more in tune with the cultural aspects of the comments made by Ichiru, perhaps you would have honored his remarks instead of impugning Mr. Suzuki's honor.
Your final line: "Is Ichiro going to try to hit off Matsuzaka or hit on him? That's part of the intrigue -- we'll have to tune in to see", lacks insight, demonstrates a certain immatrity, and insinuates something that is nearly as insulting as Imus's comments regarding the Rutgers players.
Are you a sports commentator or are you a "shock jock" wannabe?
Mike Logan
Or hey, maybe he's fully aware of the cultural differences and is pointing them out in a humorous manner. Because they're, y'know, funny and stuff. Not trying to speak for Matt here, but Mike, chill out man.
i'll have to go with mike here, not so much because he disrespected the culture but because that was one of the lamest jokes i have ever heard
James and Outofmarket: you're enjoying the thrill of the game, the dynamism and skill that Matsuzaka and Suzuki bring to the ballpark. And the delight that comes with yet another culture bringing their best to the great American pastime. That's great. That's what it's all about. A part of what renews the excitement of the game.
Take note, however, that, as well-intentioned as may be the remarks of someone such as Mike Logan, there exists among many non-Japanese a skewed and misinformed view of Japanese culture. Basically, a glorification of the worst aspects of Japanese feudal history confused with its best aspects re-worked in contemporary times.
Mr. Logan references the recent denigrating remarks by Don Imus. Ironically, it is very often the case that those who are not Japanese, yet who claim to "know" Japanese culture and mindset, engage in a reverse type of racism. Such people are known as Japo-philes, and typically appropriate of Japanese culture what they do not truly or less than fully understand about it.
For those of us who are Japanese and are even marginally self-aware, Japo-philia, wherever it occurs, is itself inherently racist. We do not need the "validation" of non-Japanese people to somehow "defend" or "speak" for us, thank you.
I can speak to this because I am Japanese and American.
And whatever offensive remarks may be made about anyone, gladly, I suspect most people are strong enough in themselves to deal with it appropriately, according to circumstances. I took no offense whatsoever to Matt Watson's remark. As James posted, it was simply "lame." Instead, I welcome Watson's fun with the excitement of the Matsuzaka and Suzuki match-up.
Indeed, I loath "political correctness," because it masks true discomfort or ignorance. It is insincere. Better someone flub up, get informed, then learn from the mistake. None of us is aware of everything. And it all comes down to one's intention when making a remark. (Is the intention to show off? To hurt? To malign? To demean? To be ironic? To rebel and brilliantly reframe a racist remark and thereby critique it? Or does it come from being just careless and stupid?)
Outofmarket is right on point. Japo-philes, chill out. I think Matsuzaka and Suzuki are man enough to see the harmless (if "lame") humor in such remarks. I do.