Robert Whiting Quotes

You've got loggers and fishermen in Seattle who didn't know what sushi was a decade ago, eating it at the ballpark and wearing headbands with kanji [Japanese characters] on them... That's quite a transformation. Ichiro is the one who is responsible for that shift. - Robert Whiting

The sports papers here have been giving a lot of play to the WBC and Ichiro's presence and Hideki's absence. I get the feeling that Ichiro has gained a few popularity points. They have always had a deep rivalry. - Robert Whiting

The NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball] is somewhere between the MLB and AAA [in ability]. - Robert Whiting

Ichiro does train harder than anyone else. That's true. But if you look closely at him now, compared to 10-11 years ago, you see a big difference. He went from looking like a 12-year-old to an adult. - Robert Whiting

I - and I think many other observers - thought Ichiro would be the one to say no and Hideki would say yes. I think he's grateful to (George) Steinbrenner for the new contract and the confidence in him. He feels more of an obligation to Steinbrenner than he does to Japan. It's not about the money, it's about the vote of confidence. I think he thought it would be rude to leave the team in spring training. If he hadn't just signed the contract, maybe he would have gone. - Robert Whiting

He has this exuberance about him that translates into great results. - Robert Whiting

As a New York-based sports editor put it to me. - Robert Whiting

All of his games -- including exhibition and intra-squad games -- were telecast nationwide... It was this that gave the Japanese their first real solid look at the way Americans play ball. They saw how accepting the Americans were, and decided that maybe they could act the same way. - Robert Whiting

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