RE: [NON-SUMO] Nomo Mania?

[Don Sowell <Don-Sowell@data-dimensions.com>]

Was he the fan in the front row in right field bleachers who was waving the
Japanese flag with Ichiro's number on it? My wife asked me about him in
passing, but I didn't know anything about him.


Don Sowell


-----Original Message-----
From: Joshua A. Reyer [mailto:jreyer@grn.mmtr.or.jp]
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 10:16 AM
To: Aaron Willis; Sumo Mail List
Subject: RE: [NON-SUMO] Nomo Mania?



Okay, it's a bit of a stretch, but I can tie this into sumo.  Sit back and
watch me smoke...

Nomo's no-no is/was very big news.  He'd taken it to the seventh inning by
the time the Mariners-Athletics game was finished, so NHK-BS1 pre-empted
their regular programming to bring the final two innings of that game to the
viewing public.  It was the lead story on every sports program, and of
course made the front page of Nikkan Sports, the sports daily I receive,
well, daily.

However, the Japanese newspapers only had a few guys covering Nomo, since
most of their overseas staff is covering Ichiro and Shinjo.  So, the
articles aren't any more detailed or interesting than the American ones.  I
suggest the Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/globe/), the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer (http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/baseball/), and the
Seattle Times
(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/SeattleTimes.woa/wa/got
oSection?zsection_name=Mariners) for some interesting articles.  If anybody
is interested, though, Nikkan Sports had the reactions of various people in
the Japanese baseball world.  They're short and easy to translate, so if any
would like to know what such luminaries as Shigeo Nagashima had to say about
Nomo's no-no, let me know via private e-mail.

Now, for the sumo tie-in.  Most regular sumo viewers probably know of a
particular fan who attends many days of every Tokyo basho.  He's distinctive
with his red and white jacket, his hinomaru fan (white on one side, gold on
the other), and his rabid enthusiasm.  I'm not sure what this fellow's
occupation is, but it appears his main hobby is being a one-man cheering
group.  In addition to his regular sumo jaunts, he also travels the world to
cheer the Japanese athletes in the Olympics.  At those times he foregoes his
usual white jacket for a crazy top hat with the Japanese and American flags
sticking out of it, and a shiny green haori coat to go with his hakama
(pleated, splite pants).  He's quite the sight, and just the other day I
sighted him at Safeco Field, cheering on Ichiro and the Mariners, and
getting the fans in his section all fired up, too.  I'm sure he'll be back
at his usual spot for the Natsu Basho, though...

Josh Reyer

> This is the main reason why I detest our "Mailing List Police."  I too am
> interested in hearing of Nomo mania, if any.  I understand that this is a
> sumo mail list and the content is strictly for sumo but when rarities like
> this happen I trust the judgment of list members to keep things short and
> sweet and provide the correct subject line so as not to clog
> filters.  After
> living in Japan I have a greater understanding for how poor American
> newspapers are for discussing foreign content and news.  Any
> little tidbits
> from the other side are always welcome in my inbox.  I know there
> are other
> mail lists and online magazines/newspapers/etc but I only want small doses
> of info then I can decide if I want to learn more.  I don't believe that
> this will change anything but the list used to be vibrant and
> full of energy
> now it is almost a chore to read.
>
> Aaron Willis
>
>
> > I know this is off subject, but is there any big news
> > over in Japan concerning Hideo Nomo's no-hitter for
> > the Boston Red Sox?
> >
> > Please reply to my address so as not to clog the ML
> > with non-sumo.
> >
> > Arigato,
> >
> > Unagiyutaka
> >
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>