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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Rare moment upon Ichiro; boss won’t make it

Hiroshi Yamauchi is the only team owner never to see his team play in person.

He still won’t.

The Mariners flew 4,800 miles to the owner’s homeland, but it wasn’t quite enough to get Hiroshi Yamauchi to the ballyard to see his team play.

Club CEO Howard Lincoln told me Saturday, the Mariners’ first full day in Japan, that the 84-year-old retired chairman of Nintendo will not see in person games between his Mariners and Oakland A’s that open the major league season Thursday and Friday at the Tokyo Dome.

“He’ll be watching on TV,” Lincoln said after a press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. “Given all the years he’s been involved with the Mariners, he’s really looking forward to see the team play. He’s very excited.”

Asked if age and health were the primary reasons Yamauchi will not leave his home in Kyoto for the two-hour trip, Lincoln said, “He didn’t give me a reason, he just indicated to me he’s not going to be here.

“Quite frankly, a man of his age and stature doesn’t have to explain why he’s not here.”

Gamingboy Posted: March 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: business, japan, mariners

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1. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: March 24, 2012 at 02:23 PM (#4088293)

“He’ll be watching on TV,” Lincoln said after a press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. “Given all the years he’s been involved with the Mariners, he’s really looking forward to see the team play. He’s very excited.”

I don't really care that he won't see the team in person--but he's never seen them on TV either? Makes you wonder how much he's "looking forward" to watching them. On TV.

2. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: March 24, 2012 at 02:52 PM (#4088325)

That is an incredibly strange headline.

3. Tripon Posted: March 24, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4088329)

Its a playtoy for him. Except he doesn't care about his toys, duh.

4. Bob Evans Posted: March 24, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4088330)

I don't really care that he won't see the team in person--but he's never seen them on TV either?

That's kind of a leap, there. Neither the excerpt nor article implies that.

5. Squash Posted: March 24, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4088414)

“Quite frankly, a man of his age and stature doesn’t have to explain why he’s not here.”

And ####### you for asking.

6. Gotham Dave Posted: March 25, 2012 at 02:04 AM (#4088677)

“Quite frankly, a man of his age and stature doesn’t have to explain why he’s not here.”

All those years of doing business with Japanese men have really rubbed off on Lincoln, huh?

7. Dale H. Posted: March 25, 2012 at 04:06 AM (#4088687)

That's kind of a leap, there. Neither the excerpt nor article implies that.

Yes, it does. "Given all the years he’s been involved with the Mariners, he’s really looking forward to see the team play". Now if he'd added "in Japan" to the end, then yeah, it makes sense. But read straight, it really implies he couldn't be bothered to watch them play at all.

8. depletion Posted: March 25, 2012 at 10:31 AM (#4088739)

Got to be good looking 'cause he's so hard to see.

9. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: March 25, 2012 at 04:27 PM (#4088950)

Did we ever figure out what the heck this headline means? If you follow the link, it looks like this:

Rare time upon Ichiro; boss won't make it.

What?

10. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: March 25, 2012 at 06:07 PM (#4088992)

What?

The chance for Ichiro to play in Japan as an MLBer, a rare opportunity, is upon him. His boss won't show up to see it.

That's just an explanation, not a defense of it.

11. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: March 25, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4089080)

Okay, thanks. I was having a total mental block parsing that.

12. Ray (RDP)

Posted: March 25, 2012 at 09:19 PM (#4089085)

Asked if age and health were the primary reasons Yamauchi will not leave his home in Kyoto for the two-hour trip, Lincoln said, “He didn’t give me a reason, he just indicated to me he’s not going to be here.

“Quite frankly, a man of his age and stature doesn’t have to explain why he’s not here.”

How dare he.

13. Darren

Posted: March 25, 2012 at 09:28 PM (#4089090)

It did seem like a sort of weird question to ask Lincoln. I would have probably responded the same way in his shoes... and that's how I've made it so far in life!

14. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: March 26, 2012 at 12:33 AM (#4089139)

A man of stature is really saying...

???????

15. CFiJ Posted: March 26, 2012 at 07:36 AM (#4089192)

Yes, it does. "Given all the years he’s been involved with the Mariners, he’s really looking forward to see the team play". Now if he'd added "in Japan" to the end, then yeah, it makes sense. But read straight, it really implies he couldn't be bothered to watch them play at all.

It really isn't worth it to parse extemporaneous remarks. For Lincoln, given the context, the "in Japan" probably went without saying.

16. tfbg9 Posted: March 26, 2012 at 08:35 AM (#4089205)

He owns Nintendo. He'd just as soon watch it on TV. And manipulate the little people inside the TV with his joystick.

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Rare moment upon Ichiro; boss won’t make it

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