Monday March 1, 2004
	Legends Field, Tampa Florida.  The spring training facility for the New York Yankees.
	"How do you feel about Japanese troops joining American troops in Iraq?" says a good to look at Japanese reporter (using her best English) then putting a microphone near my mouth.   Today it is open practice at Legends Field and it is free to attend and I have come hoping to see Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod). "Please your comment," says the reporter.  The Japanese cameraman is smiling like I am his best friend while at the same time looking through the camera viewfinder. I want to say something intellectual and all American about Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima or even sushi but I don't and instead I say: "We're brothers working together."  I must have said what the reporter was wanting to hear because she says something in Japanese and immediately there are more reporters putting microphones near my mouth. "Americans feel that the Japanese are their brothers?" she says. I know I am in trouble and I was just wanting to see baseball men and eat a foot long (30 centimeters) hotdog and after a pause I say: "Americans like anyone that helps them." Even more cameras are aimed at me and she is saying something in Japanese and when she has finished saying something in Japanese she says: "Japan helps Americans in Iraq and because of this we are are much liked?" I am thinking about Willy Loman and the differences between liked and well liked and I want to say something but instead I say: "Americans like Japanese." "Brothers," says the cameraman. After a pause the good to look at reporter says:   "What things come to your mind when you think of Japan?" I say: "Geisha girls and Godzilla."  The reporters are laughing and I hear them say Godzilla and Geisha Girl again and again.    "Hideki Matsui?" she says.  In Japan they have nicknamed Hideki Matsui, Godzilla.  Hideki Matsui is from Kanazawa, Japan and plays for the New York Yankees (#55). "Godzilla the movie monster," I say then adding, "But I like Hideki Matsui very much." "Thank you," says the good to look at reporter then writing my name onto a small notepad.  "Thank you," I say then walking past a big breasted woman giving away large bath towels with the words New York Yankees embroidered onto it and they're free if only I sign up for an MBNA Visa card first.   March 5 Opening Day at Legends Field, Tampa Florida, Yankees vs. Phillies, 1:15 PREVIOUS   HOME   NEXT