Step Aside Confucious, Ichiro Has Something to Say

Trying to interview Ichiro has to be one of the most frustrating and confusing assignments a beat writer can ever get. I mean, really, as much as I love watching him play, he's a total enigma (intentionally, I believe) who seldom speaks and, when he does, he speaks in riddles. Take this latest bit for example.

While at the All-Star festivities yesterday, perrenial All-Star Ichiro was asked about the Mariner's inconsistent first half of the season.

"If there is a problem," he said, "we need to notice it, what creates the problem. The problem usually isn't just on the cover. You need to look much deeper.

"For example, if we're taking about a tree, and the tree has a problem, you need to look at the root. But you cannot see the root. The mistake is to keep watering the fruit. That's not going to solve anything. You need to find where the problem is first."

Ichiro was then asked about the conclusion of his 4-year extension next season and what it would take to keep him in Seattle.

"No way I can answer that," he said. "No matter what I see, you guys [the media] will make it into a problem, make it bigger and bigger, and create a big mess."

The reporter replied that he was just trying to find the roots under the tree.

"If I answer that, basically, what I'm doing is ruining the fruit," Ichiro replied.

You got to say this about Ichiro, nobody ever accused him of talking in cliches like nearly every other pro athlete to ever be interviewed.

You can read the whole article that appeared in today's Seattle Times here: Ichiro Goes Deep.