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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
WILL BASEBALL SAVE THE AM IMAGE?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:10:06 PM)
ypher Hideo Nomo led the Asian invasion in spectacular fashion when he donned Dodger blue in 1994. His outlandish corkscrew delivery may have helped draw even more media glare than was warranted by his meteoric rise and fall (and recent re-emergence) as a pitching talent. His Dodger teammate Chanho Park, who came from Corea in 1995, showed that an Asian hurler could have staying power too -- not to mention ultimately command seven-figure annual salaries.
Now the Mariners are stealing the Asian baseball spotlight with the dazzling $13 million Ichiro Suzuki. Halfway into his rookie season here, he was leading the league in hits and steals, not to mention drawing $2 million magazine offers to pose nude. His reward -- an All-Star slot along with Chanho Park. Even better, their respective teams stand an excellent chance of meeting in the World Series.
Currently six other Asian ballers -- mostly Japanese and Corean imports -- are playing in the American majors and are, for the most part, doing well. That's why scouts are now laying the groundwork for importing as many as 15 more young stars from Japan, Corea and even Taiwan in time for the 2002 season. Admittedly, even a contingent of 24 Asian ballplayers would be only 5% of a combined major league roster of about 500. But if Nomo, Park and Suzuki are any indication, they could have a significant impact on the Asian male media image.
But will the media spotlight continue to shine on Asian stars or will it burn out as the novelty fades? Is baseball really a sport that can do much for the Asian male image or will we have to wait for a few quarterbacks and tight ends or maybe centers and power forwards? Or is sports just not up on a par with TV and the movies as a studmaker?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
What are you guys talking about? any exposure in any sport is positive for us asian americans, period. don't forget, do you think they're doing it for image? $$$$$$$
THE PREACHER
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 15:40:10 (PDT)
Hello Depressant,
[Baseball pitcher is still one of the most glamorous position in all sports.] Ha, talk about narrow-minded...not sure if the Europeans, Africans, and mainland Chinese agree with your assessment. Basketball still rules because it's truly an international sport which all can understand and enjoy. By the way the pitcher and place kicker analogy was not about money or talents. Does the image of AMs and Asian in general best serve by having the Japanese and Korean only pursuing baseball and the only position they seem to excell in is pitching? What's the point of breaking one sterotype to start another? So don't be too quick to be offended by another person's honest opinion, take an anti-depressant or a chill pill if you must. :)
Tay Trai
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 13:15:22 (PDT)
i think baseball is the greatest sport in the world because it can cross all sorts of lines. it is by far one of the most played sports around the world. its players are short, tall, overweight, underweight. baseball is a skill sport. it doesnt matter if you can jump higher or run faster. in baseball, different positions require different skills. oh yeah, compare witnessing a home run n baseball to a 60 yard pass in football, or a 360-dunk in basketball...i think that home runs are the most impressive feat. hitting a 95 mph fastball, and a 70 mph changeup is definitely an amazing task.
jt
jtsnow08@aol.com
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 22:23:24 (PDT)
to tay trai,
Pitchers like place kickers????
You're high on crack to think that.
Anybody with any knowledge of either sport will tell you that you need a lot more talent to be a good pitcher than a good kicker. A baseball pitcher is still one of the most glamorous positions in all sports. If you disagree, ask any place kicker who's making $500,000 a year if he would like to be in the shoes of a major league pitcher who makes $10 million a year.
As far as Yao Ming; he'll turn out to be a taller version of Rik Smits(if you remember who he was).
Chitown Depressant
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 17:43:21 (PDT)
A little off topic but Baseball just doesn't have that universal appeal...aside from Japan, Korean, Cuba, Dominican, and of course good ol' U.S.A. Ali was once the most recognized face on the planet, Pele came after him, and of course Jordan after that. I seriously doubt any single one player in baseball will ever reach that level--and we're talking globally and not just North America and Japan. Basketball is growing at a faster rate and the chance of an out-of-this-world Asian athelete choosing basketball over baseball is just greater, it just is! Asians and whites are program to think that their best chance of a professional career in team sports is through baseball and not basketball and football. Inferior complex anyone? And don't take my words for it, Sport Illustrated did an extensive poll and in-depth story on this topic a couple of years back. Oh, let (not) take us to the ball game unless you got a NoDoze for me and my friends. :)
Tay Trai
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 13:56:59 (PDT)
Baseball the last of the big 3? No way! Unless there's a labor stoppage this season, baseball will remain in 2nd place. What's basketball now? Its best player a crippled senior citizen who's played on for too long? Its other stars selfish and brittle thugs! Baseball has just seen Barry Bonds's record breaking season, and just three seasons ago Sosa and McGwire. There are several Asian slugger prospects who in the next couple of years should be banging 30 plus HRs in the majors. And at least baseball has guys like Hasegawa who actually speak English. Basketball hasn't had any Asian stars yet. I would bet that Yao Ming will be awesome by the way, although theres a chance he won't be allowed by the Chinese government to come over. I'm a football player so I'm naturally biased, but I'm proud of all my Asian brothers in professional sports, even tennis and golf.
Thomas
Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 15:38:22 (PDT)
Baseball is last of the big 3. Ichiro is an exceptional hitter but he's not a power hitter. More power and no disrespect to all the Major league Asian's pitchers, but with the abundance of Asian pitchers; they're becoming more like place-kickers in the NFL (personal opinion of course). If you got the skills and Asian go for the NBA and the NFL. NO! Baseball will do nothing for the AMs' image, but the other two sports may. Asian's hoop fans eagerly await for the arrival of Yao Ming to the NBA. We want to see if this young man got game, and hoping he's not an over-hyped 7'6" guy like Shawn Bradley.
Tay Trai
Wednesday, April 10, 2002 at 18:34:15 (PDT)
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