TOKYO — The history of the Japan-America baseball relationship can be divided into two eras: Pre-Nomo and Post-Nomo. The importance of that distinction can not be exaggerated. It may seem strange to some younger readers, but before Nomo went to the States, most Americans did not even know Japan played baseball.
I met him. Don Nomura , his agent, brought him over to my house in Tokyo. He was quite friendly and open. Intlelligent. Thoughtful. But normally he wasn't like that. he didn't like reporters.. They would stake out his residence, write ugly rumors about him
Really good. A few questions/comments/corrections:
1) Nomo, who had read Nolan Ryan’s Pitcher’s Bible -- I'm assuming he read a Japanese translation of it? Because he knew next-to-no English!
2) His no-hitter against Boston was the earliest in the MLB history -- Do you mean against Baltimore (as a member of the Red Sox)?
3) As such, he was not popular with reporters... -- What were your experiences with him like? Have you written about that anywhere?
I met him. Don Nomura , his agent, brought him over to my house in Tokyo. He was quite friendly and open. Intlelligent. Thoughtful. But normally he wasn't like that. he didn't like reporters.. They would stake out his residence, write ugly rumors about him