Adam Scott leads Ishikawa by a shot at Firestone

Now that I no longer live in Japan, and would therefore not have to endure the completely over-the-top hero worship/adulation that the J-press would embark on should he win, I actually hope Ryo has raised his game enough to get the job done. He has amazing talent and it would be great to see him win a big international tournament.

But... But.... I thought he was horrible because he's never won in America! You are telling me he would be the younger winner in 100 years? But... He's just a media creation!

I REALLY hope he keeps it up, just to quiet the naysayers who oddly think 10 professional wins at age 19 is nothing.

“I think it’s a little too early to think about winning this whole thing as of now,”

I really do like this young man's modesty. He hasn't had a stellar year thusfar, and I hope he wins this.

Smorkian: "I REALLY hope he keeps it up, just to quiet the naysayers who oddly think 10 professional wins at age 19 is nothing."

Who's said it's nothing? I myself have expressed frustration and the hero-worship the media here in Japan in particular invests in, therefore putting stress on the athlete in question, but I don't recall seeing anyone say he is 'nothing'.

^^^^ there have been many haters hating on Ryo in articles before on this site...

Jbeezy: links?

As I thought, no one can provide links. Let's just all mutually hope the young lad does well, and even better, let's hope he wins. I won't stop criticizing the media, nor will I as such say he doesn't live up to their rep if he does not win, but never have I said he does not have potential. Nor have I ever hoped he would not do well. Good luck to all!

Jbeezy: links?

As I thought, no one can provide links.

None of us has time to go through your considerable posting history but suffice it to say anyone interested would find plenty of anti-Ryo commentary in your past. Something along the lines of "he hasn't done anything yet!" or "many better players in Japan" is typical, though you have softened lately as many of us have pointed out how ludicrous that is.

Anyway, I was just watching the replay of the round on the golf network - he looked calm and collected in his post round interview, so hopefully that calmness translates to a win tomorrow. He's got the experience finishing a tournament here, let's hope he can draw on that in a few hours.

Smorkian: "None of us has time to go through your considerable posting history but suffice it to say anyone interested would find plenty of anti-Ryo commentary in your past."

As I thought -- can't back up your claims.

"Something along the lines of "he hasn't done anything yet!" or "many better players in Japan" is typical, though you have softened lately as many of us have pointed out how ludicrous that is."

Proof? Oh wait, you admitted you can't prove your claims already.

I've already said what I said that I said -- I am sick and tired of the media picking golden boys when they are not yet ripe -- I've said if for soccer, for table tennis, for golf, and then some. THAT is what I have said and what is true; the media makes too much of people who are too young to fit the boots, or who cannot fill the size of the holes made for them. And like I said in my first post, it would be nice to see Ishikawa do it. Of course, the media here would make an even bigger frenzy after that, but at least it would be in part deserved.

You need to settle down, Smorkian. You said yourself your sole motivation for wanting this young man to win is to shut-up naysayers, and that's all. It's a pity you don't want him to win for his talent.

But... But.... I thought he was horrible because he's never won in America! You are telling me he would be the younger winner in 100 years? But... He's just a media creation!

Smorkian -- do you ever read entire articles, or even others posts? Please read the paragraph in the story starting with "Ishikawa doesn't get much attention...". He has been "horrible" in America -- one top ten in 22 starts and missed-cuts in almost half his events-- and he hasn't won yet this year in Japan. And while he is not a "media creation" he clearly gets more attention than his recent results would merit. The jury is still way out on whether he can translate his tremendous skills into a win against the best in the world. So let's see.

As I thought -- can't back up your claims.

You might want to google the difference between "can't" and "can't be bothered". But hey, google cache can help!

All from smith's history:

So, yes, 'deserve' has a lot to do with it, and so far Ishikawa has proven time and again he does not deserve the level of hype he gets from the media and fans.

Ishikawa -- you have yet to live up to an OUNCE of the hype you've been given.

He simply does not deserve the hype. When he turns things around and starts winning a LOT more, THEN it might be justified.

Tiger has proven to be a champion numerous times, Ishikawa is far from it.

Oops, except for that '10 professional wins' thing.

so far Ishikawa has proven time and again he does not deserve the level of hype he gets from the media and fans.

For a second I thought Ishikawa finally won something. Guess not.

I could go on....

Smorkian: Thank you for proving my point, and proving your own inability to make rational comments. You still have yet to show where I said he was 'nothing' instead of that he could not live up to the media I reprimanded.

But hey, like I said, you simply cannot do so. It's funny you mention that you 'cannot be bothered' to prove your accusations and then go out of your way to prove my point. You crack me up.

You still have yet to show where I said he was 'nothing'

And I also never said you said he was nothing. I said:

I REALLY hope he keeps it up, just to quiet the naysayers who oddly think 10 professional wins at age 19 is nothing.

You will note two things: one, I didn't mention your name, but I see you felt some resemblance to said naysayers. two, I said "10 professional wins at age 19 is nothing", which is hardly the same as saying HE is nothing.

It's funny you mention that you 'cannot be bothered' to prove your accusations and then go out of your way to prove my point.

Huh. Sure looks like I did!

You crack me up.

Happy to be of service on this steamy Sunday night.

Smorkian: "You will note two things: one, I didn't mention your name, but I see you felt some resemblance to said naysayers"

Nor did I say you singled me out. Glad to see you are mellowing out for lack of proof of your accusations, though.

"Huh. Sure looks like I did!"

Eh? You're proud that you cannot prove your own point and that you prove me correct in doing so?

"Happy to be of service on this steamy Sunday night."

The steamy part we can agree on. I look to the sports section, so to speak, to distract from all the crap in every other section (entertainment being no exception). I appreciate the humour, my friend.

The steamy part we can agree on. I look to the sports section, so to speak, to distract from all the crap in every other section (entertainment being no exception). I appreciate the humour, my friend.

Me too, friend. I enjoy the senseless arguments in the sports section!

Who's said it's nothing? I myself have expressed frustration and the hero-worship the media here in Japan in particular invests in, therefore putting stress on the athlete in question, but I don't recall seeing anyone say he is 'nothing'.

SmithinJapan: True, no one's said he was "nothing", but you yourself did once say "he's going to fall harder than Ai-chan does in table tennis" about two years ago when Ryo qualified for the British Open. Which leads me to think that you had doubts about him even before he had his chance to get his feet wet in the PGA golf tour. I'm pretty sure you also said "the kid's going to buckle and go down in flames. Of course, THAT won't be mentioned in the J-media." But I forgive you for your short memory.

While I agree that Ryo has had a fair deal of hype generated towards him from the media; to me it is the same hype I witnessed Tiger Woods getting since he was a freshman at Stanford University, before he ever turned pro. I remember getting sick of the constant running of the old Mike Douglas Show footage with little Tiger putting with his Dad on the show. Thankfully, Ryo gets less attention from the media than he used to, and thus is performing well and "living up to the hype", as many news reports abroad have written. I guess Tiger is the one young player who could live up to all the publicity that was generated towards him, since he grew up with it his entire life.

Bottom line is that Ryo has had the hype of many young players like Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, etc., and there have been both believers and doubters, as with all young players that have been hyped up. But I guess that's human nature. People love their celebrities and people who they could look up to.

freakashow: ""he's going to fall harder than Ai-chan does in table tennis"

Yes, I did say that, in regards to that tournament, and the point that the media was over the top.

"to me it is the same hype I witnessed Tiger Woods getting since he was a freshman at Stanford University, before he ever turned pro."

True, but then there are a few other cultural factors in play there.

"Thankfully, Ryo gets less attention from the media than he used to, and thus is performing well and "living up to the hype", as many news reports abroad have written."

Agreed 100%. That's what I've been saying now for a while -- I hope he can live up to the hype the Japanese media have been putting on him these past few years.

"People love their celebrities and people who they could look up to."

They do indeed. The problem with the Japanese media is that they tend to decide who is the celebrity before they have proven they can live up to the image. They stick with it to save face if said celeb doesn't do well for a while, then they completely 'forget' about the person if said person fails. Fortunately, it looks like Ishikawa will not be the latter, and will do quite well.

The problem with the Japanese media is that they tend to decide who is the celebrity before they have proven they can live up to the image.

smithinjapan: Yes, but it's not only the Japanese media that do that, but many other countries' media outlets too. I've seen time and time again, many young and up-and-coming sports stars, put on a pedestal before they've accomplished anything; in many parts of the world. One such "star" I recall was the Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova who was known more for her good looks than her tennis ability. Actually, she retired without ever winning a WTA singles title (only titles in doubles). I also recall a young American soccer player named Freddy Adu getting so much publicity, Nike contracts, etc., and yet prove that he wasn't quite the soccer prodigy everyone claimed him to be. It's part of the "everyone wants to worship a hero" phenomenon. It's just an unfortunate part of the human condition.

then they completely 'forget' about the person if said person fails.

I would have to disagree with that, since I've seen so many articles about Japanese athletes here that have placed 4th or not placed at all; yet make it seem as if they did so well. If anything, it's not that the Japanese media forget about them, but make every little thing, like Ichiro going 1-4, or the Japanese volleyball team missing out on a medal, as it was a tremendous accomplishment.

Ishikawa is going to be huge. To do this at age 19 is quite an accomplishment. He is a class act guy. I was at the practice round of the U.S. Open in June and I watched him go down the line of at least one hundred autograph seekers and sign an autograph for EVERY person. Meanwhile Rory McDowell blew by everyone without even so much as looking at them. Well, we'll give Rory a pass since he won the whole thing, but he should remember that the only reason he is here is for the fans!