Fukudomania

by Al Yellon on Apr 9, 2008 2:52 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs News

NEW YORK -- You can still go back to the game thread once the game starts. But this was too good to not post on the front page.

I was walking to my gate at O'Hare this morning, and passed one of the newsstand/gift shops you see at every airport. Usually they have a table full of shirts featuring the city you are just leaving.

The shop at O'Hare had this prominent display:

Click on photo to open a larger version in a new browser window. Photo by Al

And it's only the second week of April.

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Thats crazy.

FUKUDOMANIA

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan, the one and only...

by LPLancer23 on Apr 9, 2008 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

Upon seeing this, I can't help wondering...

...what are Chicago's citizenship requirements for Mayor?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 9, 2008 2:55 PM CDT reply actions

MLB

wouldn't let me order my FUK U DO ME shirt. Like it's innapropriate or something.

"Sometimes an intelligent man is forced to be drunk in order to spend time with fools." -Hemmingway

by IndyDiehard on Apr 9, 2008 3:05 PM CDT reply actions

I for one and happy they didnt

Im sure you can buy one of those from the overpriced vedors that walk up and down the bars and bleacher line.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 9, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's lame.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 9, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

but ill probably end up with one of those shirts like the one in the pic above. I like that style of shirts and I have very quickly become a fukudome fan. my guess is ill have one by the end of the month,

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Apr 9, 2008 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

yep.....

broke down and bought a jersey on ebay yesterday.....the mania has defintately set in.....but it makes me sad to say that I may have to retire my Murton jersey.....

All things great in 2008!!

by By Santo's Grace on Apr 9, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

There are a ton of Fukudome jerseys on ebay right now

just a heads up because there are several auctions ending in the next couple of hours with what right now are very good deals.

"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic" Crash Davis - Bull Durham

by hoppy91 on Apr 9, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

what is a good price?

I'm thinking of getting a jersey. What is a good price, and are there any jerseys that suck or are knock-offs not worth getting?

by dr stabbingworth on Apr 9, 2008 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

HAVENT RECEIVED IT YET...

However I got mine for 50 bucks on a best offer deal....they were asking 90.....and the seller only sells jerseys and had excellent comments and feedback on the others they had sold....

All things great in 2008!!

by By Santo's Grace on Apr 10, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Damnit!

I was travelling on Monday back to San Antonio from Omaha and connected in MSP with NW instead of Chicago with United like I usually prefer because of ticket prices... I would of liked to be able to pick up a shirt like that... I know I won't be able to find 'em when I'm in England next month.

In other travel related news, I'm glad I haven't been flying out of San Antonio the past two days... yesterday was the busiest day since 9/11 with all the Final Four fans leaving town (busier than the day before thxgiving), and today American cancelled 19 of their flights out of town stranding a few thousand people.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Apr 9, 2008 3:42 PM CDT reply actions

I can't think of anyone more deserving

Of all the positive attention. He seems like he has the right attitude on and off the field.

The last time I was this excited about a Cubs position player was D-Lee's monster year in 2005.

by SuperContext on Apr 9, 2008 3:51 PM CDT reply actions

FUKODOME TAKES CHICAGO

I loves me a good asian invasion. It's also nice to have, what i figure at least, a humble star. I hope he tears it up all year.

Btw does anyone know how to type "W" in a Japanese character? I want to put it up as my away message when the cubs win.

by louisiana lumberman on Apr 9, 2008 3:59 PM CDT reply actions

Check through the threads from yesterday....

... dragonsfanatic, our poster from Japan, posted one.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 9, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I've got it as my avatar.

Check through the Fanposts. As Al noted, dragonsfanatic wrote one and posted the image (via Flickr) there.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 9, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Came in the mail yesterday

I'll be proudly wearing it at the game next Thursday.

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. -- Dave Barry

by bluebythebook on Apr 9, 2008 4:16 PM CDT reply actions

WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?!?

"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"

by lostinthevines on Apr 9, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

DUH.....THE MAIL

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 9, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

CUBWORLD.COM!

LINK!

Isn't it freaking sweet? They have actual jerseys with the kanji, and those fake v-neck jersey t-shirts too.

If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. -- Dave Barry

by bluebythebook on Apr 9, 2008 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

wow!

I must have one!

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Apr 9, 2008 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

holy graduation present batman

That will be mine once I graduate and get a job and such

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Apr 9, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions

FUKUDOME

Having lived in LA in '95 when Hideo Nomo broke into the big leagues. I can honestly say I never saw anything like what I saw this last week around Wrigley. There were sooo many people trying to capitalize off Fuku's likeness. Now I am all for capitalism & making money, but there were just so many ridiculous items it was like they were turning Kosuke into a circus show or sort of freak show.

~md

by Cali2Chi on Apr 9, 2008 5:10 PM CDT reply actions

It's the American Way, Cali

If it works, overdo it.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Apr 9, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Did you say Fukudome in a circus?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 9, 2008 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

???

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 9, 2008 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

FUKUDO-LICIOUS!

If anyone wants to make a candy bar and use that trade name, be my guest.

Hector Villanueva's Career Stolen Bases: 1

by IowaCubs- on Apr 9, 2008 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

That would be cool if....

he was the #1 in jersey sales this year... (I don't know anything about it in MLB but it is possible with an entire country on your side).

by bap on Apr 9, 2008 5:30 PM CDT reply actions

Since Nomomania...

... there was Ichiromania, Gozillamania, Matsuzkamania.... now Fukudomania? "Domemania" sounds good to me.
Are there Japanese group tour watchig Dome at Wrigley and sightseeing around? That's what the city of Chicago really want to have...

by dragonsfanatic on Apr 9, 2008 6:57 PM CDT reply actions

I certainly prefer the Domemania

.. and since I'm trapped in Tennessee over 580 miles from sweet home Chicago, I surely am in no position to say I saw Japanese tour groups outside Wrigley. I wouldn't be surprised one bit.

BTW, Dragons, my family and I went to go watch Hideo Nomo trying to make a comeback on the Yankees farm team in Columbus, Ohio a few summers ago .. a FARM TEAM, mind you .. and the contingent of Japanese fans was unbelievable. Maybe 1/4 of the crowd was Japanese and when Nomo came out of the dressing room, he was mobbed by Japanese media and fans

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Apr 9, 2008 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I know he's struggling to come back

He is now with Royals with minor leaguer contract, and recently called up to majors.
Not showing up in the game yet, but surely in the Royals pen and get ready against Yankees this week.

by dragonsfanatic on Apr 9, 2008 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cubs had him in the minors in 1999.

Ed Lynch wanted him to make one more start at Iowa. He had the option to decline this at the time and become a free agent, which he did. He wound up signing with the Brewers and had a decent 12-8, 4.54 season with them, including this win over the Cubs in Milwaukee.

That was just one of Lynch's major mistakes. He wouldn't have made much difference for that 1999 Cub team (they were awful), but Nomo had three more pretty good years (2000, 2001 and 2002). He'd have looked pretty good for the 2001 Cubs, who were contenders before fading in September.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 10, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions