Unexpected package sends 'Ichiro meter' spinning
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SEATTLE - A reclusive baseball icon has delivered a local Mariners fan a shocking start to the holiday season.
Amy Franz says Seattle's major league baseball team is always on the top of her mind.
"I cheer for all the players," she says.
She has season Mariners tickets - front row, right field.
But her favorite player was always Ichiro Suzuki.
"The constant presence was Ichiro out there, so that's who I choose, says Amy.
For years, her relationship with Ichiro felt one-sided.
"We saw the back of Ichiro most of the time unless he was running toward the fence to do a super amazing awesome catches," she says.
And of course, Ichiro Suzuki is not known for having a "warm fuzzy" personality.
"When he was on the field, he was at work. That was the persona. He was very serious," says Amy.
Amy's fanatacism for her favorite player peaked in 2004, when Ichiro broke the "hits" record.
"They call me the "Ichimeter" lady," she admits.
Amy's well-known sign counting Ichiro's hits gained her fame throughout the sports world. Despite the space between them, she became emotionally attached.
"He's almost like a family member, because of the relationship I built through the season," she says.
Then, Amy thought it all ended, along with this year's season.
"When he was traded, it was really like a good family member moving away," says Amy. "I was heartbroken."
Ichiro began his new career with the New York Yankees. Life went on - until ...
"Oh my God, I was shaking, almost passing out," says Amy.
When the mail arrived on Tuesday, an unexpected package was there.
"The note is on the top," Amy explains. "I read the first line, 'Dear Amy, thank you for your loyal support during my career in Seattle.' Then I skipped the whole middle. Went down to see who signed it. And it was Ichiro."
Inside the box she found a "very cool" pair of spikes.
But there was even more.
"This is the Ichiro model bat, it does have some use to it," says Amy.
They're all signed by Ichiro - the reclusive superstar.
He's not known to publicly have a warm heart. But Amy Franz knows otherwise.
"On an emotional level - priceless, completely priceless," she says.
The best part about this gift is that Amy knows she made a difference in Ichiro's life - just by sitting in right field ... and having faith.
Amy Franz says Seattle's major league baseball team is always on the top of her mind.
"I cheer for all the players," she says.
She has season Mariners tickets - front row, right field.
But her favorite player was always Ichiro Suzuki.
"The constant presence was Ichiro out there, so that's who I choose, says Amy.
For years, her relationship with Ichiro felt one-sided.
"We saw the back of Ichiro most of the time unless he was running toward the fence to do a super amazing awesome catches," she says.
And of course, Ichiro Suzuki is not known for having a "warm fuzzy" personality.
"When he was on the field, he was at work. That was the persona. He was very serious," says Amy.
Amy's fanatacism for her favorite player peaked in 2004, when Ichiro broke the "hits" record.
"They call me the "Ichimeter" lady," she admits.
Amy's well-known sign counting Ichiro's hits gained her fame throughout the sports world. Despite the space between them, she became emotionally attached.
"He's almost like a family member, because of the relationship I built through the season," she says.
Then, Amy thought it all ended, along with this year's season.
"When he was traded, it was really like a good family member moving away," says Amy. "I was heartbroken."
Ichiro began his new career with the New York Yankees. Life went on - until ...
"Oh my God, I was shaking, almost passing out," says Amy.
When the mail arrived on Tuesday, an unexpected package was there.
"The note is on the top," Amy explains. "I read the first line, 'Dear Amy, thank you for your loyal support during my career in Seattle.' Then I skipped the whole middle. Went down to see who signed it. And it was Ichiro."
Inside the box she found a "very cool" pair of spikes.
But there was even more.
"This is the Ichiro model bat, it does have some use to it," says Amy.
They're all signed by Ichiro - the reclusive superstar.
He's not known to publicly have a warm heart. But Amy Franz knows otherwise.
"On an emotional level - priceless, completely priceless," she says.
The best part about this gift is that Amy knows she made a difference in Ichiro's life - just by sitting in right field ... and having faith.
Always enjoy watching him play.
Thats why he'll always be #1 to Seattle fans, he gave his heart and soul.
1. Hambingo is right. So, all you haters, just deal OR you can look up information like that on the internet.
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2. "Ichimeter" lady," Rock on!. :)
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Ichiro's former interpreter spoke to some students at the University of Washington about a year ago and he mentioned that Ichiro knows English and could do the interviews himself if he really wanted to.
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He still uses a translator to get the best possible meaning of what he is trying to say across. He says some thought provoking things in Japanese and anyone who has studied a 2nd language knows that directly translating something to another language doesn't always result in the same meaning or have the same impact. So he hopes that the translator is able to bring out the same impact of his methodical Japanese answers into English.
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Ichiro probably wrote it in Japanese first, and had someone write it in English as close to the original meaning as possible while still making sense to a native English speaker, and then Ichiro wrote it down himself in English. I don't see why Ichiro would have an assistant handwrite it for him. All Japanese people learn how to write roman letters and all he has to do is copy it down. It's the off season, so I'm sure he can find 5 minutes to hand write the words himself on a piece of paper. Geez. Some of you people are ridiculous.
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@Hambingo When Ichiro first came to Seattle, I'd say about two or three years into his time here, he mentioned that he was constantly being misquoted in the Japanese paparazzi-style press and that this was upsetting his wife and kids a lot.
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His [pretty ingenious] solution, was to conduct interviews in Japanese so that whatever mistakes made would not hurt his family and could be blamed on his translator. And from what I understand, that translator, who I've never met, was well compensated for essentially being a press shield for Ichicro's family.
I totally believe it and think it's absolutely fantastic. I'm genuinely incredibly happy for her and I hope this lessens the sting of his trade. On the good side, he played very well with the Yankees and that's enough to make me happy as a long-time Ichiro fan.Â
99.9% it's fake.... I can write a letter right now and sign it from Babe Ruth and mail it to myself. Doesn't make it real. Like really... The guy barely knows English, wouldn't have know her name or her address.Â
@PackersCougsBravesSounders First of all, Ichiro actually does speak English and anyhow, it is a simple thing to get on the computer, write what you want, and have the computer translate it to another language. Secondly, if she was faking the package, it would be pretty silly to talk to the media about it. Ichiro will see the story and if it's not true it will come back to bite her. Because of this and because of her long standing presence at Safeco Field and with the media, I think the story is true.
@PackersCougsBravesSounders       You have no clue who Ichiro is... LOSER!
@PackersCougsBravesSounders Go rain on your own parade Packer fan.
@snoopy84 Yeah, there are A LOT of Packer fans that don't remember the long, long drought between Bart Starr and Brett Favre. Like almost 40 years of being the NFL dog and the Chicago Bears' guaranteed gimme-game twice a year. At one time, not too very long ago, the Packers were so bad the LIONS could afford to rest their starters during those divisional games. It was like having three bye weeks a year.
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It's damned nice to have a winner, but having a winner just makes punks out of some fans. But, what can you expect from of a Braves fan? It's not like they've ever been known for being 'classy' or anything. And Cougar fans just go to the game so they can riot and try to burn down the Rathaus... AGAIN.
When it comes to baseball, Ichiro Suzuki is truly a class act. He's smart, a good player, well mannered, and doesn't let the fame and fortune go to his head. Enjoy your bounty Amy, and let's keep rooting for Ichiro no matter WHAT team he's on. THIS baseball player, DESERVES a ring before he retires.
I saw this story on Yahoo Tuesday. Funny thing I noticed was that Ichiro wrote the letter in English.
Who knew he could speak let alone write without an interpiter. <sarcazm>
@Hopp Even if he didn't know how to speak/write English, there is nothing in the story to indicate that he wrote the letter without help from someone else. Not only that but in this day and age all you have to do is get on your computer, write what you want and then have the computer translate it.
@Hopp His English has been fine for many years. Requiring a translator put a buffer between him and reporters, many of whom were either asking really idiotic questions or trying to just plain get him. If you watched when he was running bases, he often chatted with the other team's base player. It was likely English they were speaking.
 @lolalola  @Hopp I know, hence the sarcasm comment(sorry for the spelling).
I know some of the club house reporters and they said hey spoke perfect English by his second year.
@DMT @Hopp I actually looked up 'translator' before using it, there are resources everywhere
 @Hopp  @lolalola You had also spelled "interpreter" wrong as well...
You finding fault in someone's English skills is wonderfully ironic.