American Fans Should Take Note

Rabid Japanese fans pack Tokyo Dome for 2-game series




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
March 31, 2004

I admit being out here on the left coast, the prospect of getting up at 2 a.m. PST to watch the Yankees play the Devil Rays some 8,000 miles away didn’t warm the cockles of my soul. That is especially true, when I have to be at my place of employment by 6:00 a.m. Thank goodness for video recording devices. After looking over yesterday’s game I did brave getting out of bed at 4:00 a.m. PST this morning. I went downstairs and turned on the TV, while crossing my fingers the score today would be more favorable to the Yankees. The screen came alive to the YES Network broadcast in the 7th inning just in time for me to see Jorge Posada knock out his second 3-run bomb of the game to turn an 8-1 hammering into an 11-1 blowout. The Yanks added one more run and the final as you all will eventually know was 12-1.

Kevin Brown was masterful. He looked like the guy the Dodgers had gotten from the San Diego Padres, who had acquired him from the Florida Marlins after the Marlins’ successful World Series run in 1997. The Dodgers in 1998 agreed to a then-record 7-year $105 million contract with Kevin, but injury plagued years in between made the pickup and contract a mixed blessing. When Brown was healthy he was winning. When he was on the sidelines he was an expensive liability. When the Yankees lost Roger Clemens to a supposed retirement and Andy Pettitte to the Houston Astros they had to find quality replacements in a hurry. The Yanks signed Javier Velasquez from the Montreal Expos and traded for Brown by sending Jeff Weaver to the Dodgers. Brown, who has 2 years remaining on his 7-year contract, looked worth every penny in today’s game. He threw seven innings, while striking out 5 and walking one. He gave up a first inning run to the D-Rays, but pretty well shut them down after that.

However, the point of my story is not about Kevin Brown. In reviewing the Game 1 tape and watching the last three innings of Game 2 I noticed and was impressed by one thing. I couldn’t help, but be impressed by the Japanese fans. Even in an 8-3 loss yesterday and a 12-1 blowout victory today the pro-Yankees, Japanese, crowd stayed for every pitch. Camera flashes were popping all over the Tokyo Dome. They yelled and cheered as though it was the 7th game of the World Series. Even as the YES Network came back for its post-game wrap up you could still see the place was packed with fans. It’s like they didn’t want to leave or the game to end. I was in awe of the energy I was watching and listening to coming from the stands. It was an impressive display of baseball fandom.

I live in Southern California, near Edison Field, the home of the Anaheim Angels. So please forgive me if I found the energy of the Japanese fans as something to write about. You see I am used to seeing fans show up in the 3rd inning and leaving after the 6th or 7th inning. That’s whether their team is winning or losing. It’s a trait amongst California fans to be fashionably late, and then go home early. I have seen it in other parks too. Even in Yankee Stadium, although it’s usually not quite as pronounced as it is here. Maybe, because of the gazillion other things people can do here year around, baseball isn’t as all important anymore.

Me, I’m a throwback to the days of getting to the stadium early and watching batting practice and warm ups. To me getting a dog, peanuts and a beer and then sitting back and watching nine full innings of baseball is what it is all about. I sit whether my team is winning or losing. That in my mind is how a true fan of the sport and your team is supposed to act. You live and die by your team. I hate it when the last out of the World Series is recorded, regardless of who’s playing, and I can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to report in February.

Yes, major league baseball is supposed to be America’s sport, but for the past two days it was adopted by the predominant Japanese fans that made it their own. Although, I’m not a big fan of sending our teams to open up the season in a foreign country I can see why the MLB does it. It’s a successful venture. It makes money and it’s a very positive public relations tool. Those fans acted the way OUR FANS should act. Win or lose, be passionate about America’s game and support your team for the entire season.


PLAY BALL!



(c) 2004 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

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