Art Thiel is co-founder of Sportspressnw.com and a former sports columnist for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. His latest book, “Russell Wilson: Standing Tall,” is available on amazon.com. Fo
Ichiro is diplomatic but concedes he would have liked to play in front of retired Nintendo CEO Hiroshi Yamuchi, who bought the M's to keep them in Seattle. CEO Howard Lincoln says the boss is too big a deal to have to explain but he's excited to watch the games on TV.
The Mariners are trying to build for the future. Ichiro's next contract and the future control of the club, which has enjoyed remarkable stability of ownership for two decades, are looming as questions.
Art Thiel with the Mariners in Japan: The M's star outfielder is a fashionista. And when he travels home, he has the baggage to prove it.
First of two parts: After their rescue by a Japanese tycoon 20 years ago, the team thrived for a time. But a long-ago remark about the possibility of things turning difficult has proven remarkably prescient.
This proposal looks like it will work, but nothing will be easy.
