Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001

READERS IN COUNCIL

I would like to thank Jack Gallagher and the rest of the Japan Times staff this season for their interviews with Tuffy Rhodes of the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

TUFF TALK October 2, 2001 TUFF TALK September 30, 2001 TUFF TALK September 27, 2001 TUFF TALK September 18, 2001 TUFF TALK September 15, 2001 TUFF TALK September 11, 2001 TUFF TALK September 8, 2001 TUFF TALK September 7, 2001

I have been a Buffaloes fan since I came to Japan 4 1/2 years ago. Why Kintetsu? I went to a Buffaloes game and found the nicest fans in Japan. People made me feel welcome. Tuffy talked to me. He was a big part of it -- one of the friendliest players with the fans I've ever met.

It's a shame, as Tuffy said, that Japanese people support the Central League more than the Pacific. It's also a shame that racism is rampant in Japanese baseball. The Daiei Hawks apparently believe it would be a crime to let a foreigner break the home-run record. You didn't see American major leaguers pitching around Ichiro when he was on the doorstep of a new record. It's a real black eye on Japanese baseball.

I will support the Buffaloes in the Japan Series. I will support Tuffy Rhodes because he is a true ambassador of baseball in a country where players think they are too good for their fans.

ROBERT BOLOCKTennoji, Osaka

The Japan Times: Oct. 14, 2001 (The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.)

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.