“One Man’s Opinion” by Gordon Curvey

As I watched last few week Houston Rockets center Yao Ming conduct halftime interviews with TNT and ESPN and also watch Ming in post game press events I am thinking to myself. Why does Ming speak English so well and Seattle Mariners star Ichiro does not speak English at all in interviews?

When Yao first came to America he could not speak English at all. Could not talk to ESPN or TNT without a translator.

But now he does not need a translator at all and can hold his own in interviews.

But for some reason, Ichiro continues to talk Japanese in interviews with his translator. He has been for awhile now so I don’t understand why Ichiro will not speak in English like Yao Ming.

Ming even has a commercial with Charles Barkley and Dwayne Wade. Where is Ichiro’s commercial with him speaking English?

I hear a rumor Ichiro talks some English with his teammates. But for sure in interviews, he does not talk English at all.

Truth be told readers, it bothers me. I think Ichiro should learn English and talk English in interviews on radio and TV.

He is getting paid millions of dollars to play baseball here in America by the Seattle Mariners so he should at least take more time and learn English and talk English in public just like Yao Ming does.

Or you can look at it this way. There are PLENTY of Latin American players who try to talk English. At least they try. Why can’t Ichiro do the same?

There was rumors after last year that their was some players on the Mariners who was not to crazy about Ichiro. I wonder why?

You can maybe say it is kind of arrogant of Ichiro to contine to hold press conferences and interviews in Japanese.

Some people say, he is paid to hit baseballs and who cares he if he can’t or will not talk English in public eye or in interviews. But as a sports fan, I think he should.

Again, if Ming talks English, why not Ichiro?