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© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Ohtani gives hope to young baseball players in Japan, and the rest of the country, too
By STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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kaimycahl
Typical nationalist statement it’s sad her kid has to be inspired by someone other than his own parents. Ohtani worked hard is dad taught him and mentored him. Perhaps her kid can do the same if she changed her mindset.
She also said Ohtani was inspirational for the rest of Japan, partly because he's able to beat the Americans — and the Latin Americans — at their own game.
lostrune2
Where's the dirt?! lol
And what's their aversion to grass?
1glenn
Enjoyed the Dodger's vs. Mets game today!!!!! It is a pleasure to watch Ohtani shine among so many talented players.
It is interesting that the pitcher who gave Ohtani the most difficulty in the Padres series was a fellow Japanese player, Yu Darvish.
Also fascinating, next season the Dodgers will have two Japanese starting pitchers, Ohtani and Yamamoto. Between them, their contracts cost the Dodgers over a billion USD.
Geeter Mckluskie
maintenance costs...and with more than one sport being played on the grounds there is a tendency for it to be in constant use...meaning the grass gets warn down to dirt anyway
blackpassenger
In japan and the rest of the country too? Very strange English
smithinjapan
Nothing wrong with someone inspiring people, as long as these kids don't all think they are the next Ohtani, and parents are suggesting they are. The son of a very close friend of mine has become a hikkokomori and gave up on job hunting or even attending his full first year of uni because he couldn't get anywhere towards his dream -- being a professional baseball player like Ohtani (though at the time he started it was Ichiro, Darvish, and a couple others who ended up washing out). He worked his butt off for baseball every single day in junior high, went to a school in Fukui Prefecture with a historically strong baseball background for high school, then was disappointed he never got far in high school baseball and was not scouted. Truth is, hard as he worked, he is not incredibly strong or fast, couldn't hit very well, and was always stuck in the outfield. His parents always praised him for his skills and pushed him, and now he has been shattered.
Inspiration is good, but entitlement is not. Let the kids play, and if they want to work at it encourage them, but be realistic with them too, and push them more than anything to have fun.