NPB chief wants to start from scratch in Powell rift

I am confused on this whole situation. Powell's agent, Craig Landis, stated in the article that only pages 1 and 4 were received and signed by Powell. Why didn't Powell or his agent ask to see pages 2 and 3 before his client signed anything? Sounds kinda stupid on Powell's part, and his agent's as well. I am not the smartest person in the world, but I have always been taught to read all the fine-print before signing anything, and if I didn't understand anything - I would ask for an English explanation.

It seems to me that Powell had every intent of playing for Orix and got a better deal from SoftBank and signed with them.

I have seen a player's contract that formerly played here in Japan, and it was all in English, explaining salary and all details of bonuses for appearances, innings pitched, wins, saves, etc. Granted, he only had a 6th grade education, but still knew what the heck he was signing.

So, tsk-tsk Mr. Powell, and just play somewhere else! Take your agent with you as well. Both of you are ruining the NPB!

Powell and his agent have indicated that Orix told them that the incomplete contract was for visa purposes. Very casual and stupid I agree - but some people are like that with contracts. From what I have read, for some reason Orix did not send an English language version (if they have one, and I would assume they do) to Powell either. Once again, very casual and careless by everyone concerned.

Jim Allen mentions in "The Hot Corner" (Daily Yomiuri, February 21st) that Orix then sat on the incomplete contract allowing SoftBank to jump in and sign up Powell who was getting impatient with waiting. The Pacific League head office also told SoftBank that it was OK to sign Powell.

The worrying thing is that Orix have now submitted a complete contract including the missing pages to the NPB (according to Powell's Japanese lawyer - see The Daily Yomiuri, February 23rd). This is not what Powell signed and is very dishonest. Whilst I would agree with you that Powell needs to think about whether he really wants to play in Japan and what he needs to do to realize this, I would differ on him ruining NPB. If one thing is clear from this sorry farce it is how incompetent and stupid the principles on the Japanese side are. Orix make a mess of a basic procedure in spectacular fashion, the Pacific League doesn't know whether its coming or going and produces a solution which isn't one, and the NPB tries to wash its hands of the whole affair.

As I stated on another thread, my preferred solution would be to let SoftBank sign Powell (as this is where he wishes to go) and have Orix live with the consequences of their incompetence. NPB doesn't need any help from Powell to ruin itself, it seems to be quite capable of doing so on its own accord.

Ya, that's what I don't understand. How can an agent who is probably a lawyer sign something he doesn't even understand? Seems really fishy. I think he is dishonest. A better deal came along and he grabbed it. Everybody knows you never sign something you don't understand, and if you do you got what's coming.