Note to Sox Nation: It's Dice-K, Okay?
I have to say I feel a little sorry for Daisuke Matsuzaka, even with the gazillions of dollars the Sox are going to be paying him. Becoming a naturalized citizen of Sox Nation ain't easy, even for a gazillionaire. The Nation holds itself in such sentimental self-regard that they will surely put even the best player through his paces before elevating him to Lord-and-Savior status, and then feeling mortally betrayed when he dumps them for the Yankees, which, if he's really as good as they say, rest assured he eventually will.
I have to say that while I'm really not all that surprised, I am impressed it has only taken a week of being constantly in the news for local newscasters to get his name right. It's as if no one at the news station knows any Japanese or Japanese-American people—in a supposedly world-class city like Boston—that they could call up and ask, "am I getting this right?" World class, guys!
Japanese names are really not that difficult to say, but for those who still don't know it's Dice-K.
But that's too hard for Sox Nation, where they're busy cutesily figgerin out what kinda diminutive little nicky-name they can give him, since his ornery ol' name is jess too dern hard to pernounce! "Suki" is pretty good. How about "Nipper"? Actually, "suki" is a word in Japanese, and translates roughly to "I like." But be careful! "Sukiyo" means "I love you!" Don't come on too strong, Sox Nation, you might scare him off!
I like Theo's solution, and I think Sox Nation should follow suit. He is a professional, after all, and he makes a lot more money than you do. So show some respect and start by calling him by his name. If you put your heart into it, Sox Nation, I know you can do it! Matsuzakasan.
That's Mr. Matsuzaka to you.
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