Ichiro to make acting debut. Also, puppies
Well, that last thread was fun. Who else is ready for the new year?
Only two words can right the ship: frivolous and links. First, enjoy my second-favorite link found through Google Ads,* basset hound puppies! Take that, pandas.
Second, your friend and mine, Ichiro, is making his acting debut. He’s going to play a murderer on an episode of a Japanese TV drama.
Among Fuji Television’s Hi-Vision shows are Ooku Special, from the popular drama series focusing on women of the inner palace of the Tokugawa shogunate (Dec. 30, 9 p.m.); Pride Otoko Matsuri 2005 (Dec. 31, 9 p.m.); Count Down TV Year-Crossing Live Special (Dec. 31, 11:50 p.m.) and the three-night Furuhata Ninzaburo Final (Jan. 3-5, 9 p.m.).
In the second night’s episode of Furuhata, major league baseball player Ichiro Suzuki, who has described himself as a big fan of the series, plays himself in a cameo role written for him–as a murderer. In the show, he confronts a formidable detective played by Masakazu Tamura.
The role isn’t that much of a stretch. He’s been killing American League pitchers for years.
* My favorite Google Ads link? Ben Broussard, Musician.
** Thanks to Dustin for the Ichiro link.
Comments
36 Responses to “Ichiro to make acting debut. Also, puppies”
I wonder if it’s possible for Ichiro to dishearten someone to death by virtue of his simple superiority.
Since I’m inadvertently plugging the for-profit hound site, let me again offer my official endorsement to Cascadia Basset Hound Rescue. One of my dogs was once where Walter is right now, so if you’re down, adopt a hound.
I’m sticking with the PANDAS!
Ichiro can’t dishearten me. All he can do is show me what a man is supposed to be. I humbly bask in his glory.
While we’re at it on the dogs, check out The Pit Bull Project which is where I got puppy. They sponser loving and well mannered Pits like Tate who would otherwise be destroyed.
I had a Pit Bull as a chile (they’re rated by the American Kennel Club as the #1 best dogs to have with children) and absolutely loved him. The bad press with these dogs is tragic but places like The Pit Bull Project are working as hard as they can to make sure that there aren’t dangerous dogs out there and the good ones find homes.
I picture Ichiro’s acting persona as a Japanese version of The Great Cornholio: “Are you threatening me? The streets will flow with the blood of the unbelievers!”
Both of my dogs came from the good old Animal Rescue shelters. I highly recommend it. It’s interesting that Ichiro would play himself as a murderer. I would think it would be better publicly (for the image) to be sure the character is not his real name. Either way, I’m guessing some reader will come up with some way to get us a link to view a “promo” of this historic event.
I’m a bit mystified: “plays himself in a cameo… as a murderer”.
As in, “Ah, it is Ichiro, the notorious murderer”. Eh?
#5 – LOL! I never thought I’d see the day when a “Beavis and Butthead” reference made its way to USSM. There’s hope for you guys, yet. 😉
Now I just need to figure out how to get a copy of the episode…
That was my first thought, too.
My second thought was, “This is one place where having relatives in Asia comes in handy, and failing that, why P2P technology was invented.”
hmmm. pizza and a movie at the next feed?
oh, as one who was raised by shelties, I point to this one, too … because, c’mon, sheltie puppies 🙂
Furuhata Ninzaburo! Sweet! That totally doesn’t surprise me one bit that Ichiro would be a fan.
Well, um, if you’re patient, the episodes will be out on DVD eventually… otherwise, they’ll probably be on the net soon enough.
This is even funnier to me since the other day I was watching a Japanese police drama from a few years ago, and these two cops notice two guys having car trouble, and they’re like, “Oh my god! It’s Motoki and Takahashi of the Giants!” …and it actually WAS Daisuke Motoki and Yoshinobu Takahashi, players from the Yomiuri Giants, in cameos as “dumb guys who can’t fix their own car”. Priceless.
7 – you should have been around for Jim’s “I AM BLOOMHOLIO!” thing last year. heh heh.
Also, puppies!
Jeez, am I a leper because I like cats?
(The Great Bloomholio: “I need BP for the nine-hole!”
it actually WAS Daisuke Motoki and Yoshinobu Takahashi, players from the Yomiuri Giants, in cameos as “dumb guys who can’t fix their own carâ€Â. Priceless.
ok, that has to link to the classic
#12– well, I didn’t want to push too much, but …. speaking of cats, you can go from the fancy to the regular joe
I got a frivolous link for kittens, saw it off the Cute Overload site that DMZ linked to. If you are bored and like kittens, here you
Hmm guess the I messed up the link, oh well here it is
preview of Ichiro’s episode:
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/bangumi/mov/variety/2005winter_tokuban/060104furuhata.asx
and speaking of dramatic fiction, the Daily News has come up with a snazzy 4-way deal to get Manny to the Mets…..
Boston gets royally screwed in that deal. They basically swap Andy Marte for Joey Freaking Gathright! I’d be tempted to swap REED for Marte, if you ignore our 3B logjam.
Tampa Bay makes out though. Lots of cool stuff for a peaking shortstop and a Jamal Strong clone.
And I didn’t even see Clement included. That’s just flat insane.
#6 totally…Skeletins in Suzuki’s closet?
I like cats too Jim…I’ve got mine better trained than most dogs…
The 4way looks like a pretty good swap to me. Heilman and Sao are good young pitchers. I’d be ecstatic to hear the M’s got either, and from what I understand that was what the Mets were looking at is trading one (prefferably Sao.) The amount of money off the books for Boston seems to even up the Marte for ‘Joey Freaking Gathright’ situation, somewhat. It is a bit light on Bostons receiving end even with that though.
Tejada’s six-year, $72 million deal included a $12 million signing bonus, half of which has been paid and the other half of which the Orioles would be responsible for in $2 million increments in 2006, 2010, and 2011. $48 million still is due in base pay. RamÃÂrez, meanwhile, is due $57 million. They’d get an extra year from Tejada for $9 million less overall.
2006
Tejada: $10 million
Ramirez: $19 million (+$1MM assignment bonus for being traded)
2007
Tejada: $12 MM
Ramirez: $18MM
2008
Tejada: $13 MM
Ramirez: $20 MM
2009
Tejada: $13 MM
Ramirez: Free Agent
oh…this is where I got that info from…
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/12/10/ramirez_offered_for_tejada/
I just don’t think Tejada is as good as Ramirez all in all, but they’re closer than $22 Million apart over 3 years.
DUUUUUUUUUUDE…That preview rocks. Not only does Ichiro look like a stone cold killer but you get to see his GUNS while he pumps iron! He beter damn well get away with in and not get caught or anything.
This is the 4th time I have checked site today. Only now for the first time have I noticed the Google ads. Did not notice at all previous days.
What application do you need to see that preview?
to #27, I think a Window Media Player works. I don’t know what should be used on Linux/Mac platforms.
It played on Windows Media Player for me.
Well, damn me to eternal hell for having a Mac.
By the way, I persuaded my newspaper to publish this item today.
LF Monster, you are probably unaware that $12M of the remaining dollars on Manny’s contract are deferred until after 2011. I don’t know how to compute the present value of Manny’s contract without the appropriate factors and specifics of the deal, but sufice to say, his contract is worth a LOT less than $57M in present day $’s.
http://www.mlb4u.com/bos.html
Regardless, Boston get’s screwed in that deal and knowing what their FO thinks of Marte, it won’t happen.
I heard in this TV show that Bill Bavasi is also in it briefly. It appears that Ichiro’s victim is none other than Bill himself, you see in this alternate reality Bill signed Washburn to a crazy contract, and then added left hand sock in the form of Carl Everrett, then continually had trade talks about Jeremy Reed. Murderer Ichiro couldn’t stand the thought of such poor moves by the front office so he took out the GM, before a trade of Reed could take place or other poor moves.
Should be a good episode.
all I could get was th audio, oddly… I’ll try it again with a newer version of the media player…. as a fyi:
“Seattle Mariners star Ichiro has provided plenty of drama in his career, but he is soon to make a dramatic debut of a different kind. He will play himself in a 3-night special of the popular Fuji TV detective series “Furuhata Ninzaburo,” which will air over the New Year. In typical Ichiro fashion, he will be trying to pull off the perfect crime. The outfielder is said to be a huge Furuhata fan and has all the DVDs of the series. Since 1994 there have been three series and five specials, with big-name celebrities playing the villain each time (basically a ripoff of the Columbo concept). Star Tamura Masakazu (62) is perhaps one of the most impersonated actors on Japanese TV.”
“The Lieutenant is collection of true mystery stories in which the detective, Ninzabuto Furuhata, must solve ingenious crimes and outwit elusive criminals. Although Ninzabuto Furuhata is a government officer, he does not wear a tie. Although he specializes in murder cases, he does not carry a gun. He does not use violence. More than anything, Ninzaburo Furuhata conducts himself as a gentleman, and uncovers the tricks which outwitting genius criminals play by cool reasoning and smooth talking.”
#32– here is another link to the contract info that popped up today:
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/01/01/road_to_future_marked_by_dollar_signs/
Thanks MSB…I heard it on Boston’s infamous talk radio (WEEI), but I’ve never been able to find a site that explains it thoroughly.