Seattle loves Ichiro
I didn't get to see (or know) much of Johnson, Jr., or A-Rod, but would any of them have made such a humble comment? Jr. seemed like a very nice role model, how were the others?
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Despite very little press coverage of Japanese baseball in the US, the news that Ichiro was to join the Seattle Mariners was the most exciting news in Mariners baseball for a long time. Ichiro has so greatly surpassed our high expectations in both his play and his character that we have fallen in love with him in Seattle. He always seems to make the appropriate play, swing, or comment depending on the situation.
For anyone who is unaware of Ichiro's contribution to the M's this year, he has helped his team to a MLB best 37-12 while leading off. Ichiro is 1st in hits and stolen bases, 2nd in runs, and is batting over .500 with runners in scoring position. It would not be surprising for him to win the AL batting championship. His defense has been spectacular, as it was last night when he caught a home-run ball over the right-field wall.
Perhaps just as importantly, Ichiro has, along with other players, created an excitement in Seattle that was thought to be lost with the departures of Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez. Seattle is crazy about the Mariners.
But the most impressive thing about Ichiro has been his humble yet confident attitude and always appropriate comments. In a recent Seattle Times article Ichiro was asked to comment on Kazuo Matsui's possible move to the MLB.
I could list numerous examples, but the point is that every time the man speaks, it is both humble and appropriate, and Seattle is a place that respects and values those things.
Many of the same things can be said of Seattle closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, which brings me to my final point. Any other players like Ichiro or Kazu, from Japan or anywhere, will be welcomed to Seattle with open arms.