AN -- the Shocking Truth!

by Nick on Aug 28, 2005 5:43 PM PDT

Since the founding of Athletics Nation, we've all believed Blez's story about the origins of our commuity. To quote the blogmaster himself:

I started the site in November 2003 after several long drives to Los Angeles listening to KNBR-680.

But is this quaint little story really...a myth? Or worse -- a "cover story" for a heinous plot that reaches back into the depths of time and reveals the betrayal of the Nation?

See the shocking truth! Incontrovertible evidence connecting AN to a plot by...the despised Death Star from the Bronx!!!

Blez claims that AN was founded in 2003. But then what was Babe Ruth, star outfielder of the NY Yankees doing shaking the hand of a player wearing an AN uniform during a 1934 barnstorming tour by American players in Japan?

Here are the questions that Blez needs to answer:

If AN was founded in 2003, why was AN fielding a team nearly 70 years beforehand?
Why is this AN player publicly consorting with a member of the NY Yankees?
Who really founded AN, what was AN doing during the "underground years" between 1934 and 2003, and how did Blez come to control this ever-growing empire?
When, oh when, will AN learn the truth about our origins?

Babe Ruth -- you're not my father! You're not my father!

*this picture is real -- it appeared on page D-2 of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Saturday, August 27, 2005.

Poll

What are the Babe and "AN" shaking on?

An agreement not to try for extra bases when the Babe is busy eating a hot dog in right field.

22 votes

The Babe has just won the "all-Japan high socks visitor" title of 1934.

22 votes

Selling the soul of the Athletics Nation to the Bronx Bombers. No, Morihei Blezinski, don't do it!!!

22 votes

66 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

That's awesome...

I love Babe Ruth. He was an amazing player, and a great guy. He was a real player, and he's one of the reasons I still refuse to hate the Yankees completely - I hate the Yankees of today, but they Yanks of yesterday, before A-Rod? They were pretty incredible.

What for?

by Squeaky on Aug 28, 2005 5:56 PM PDT reply actions

Oh, you KNOW what I mean

:p He's cool, that's all.

As for your last bit of advice, there are lots of cute guys at my school - I have yet to speak to any of them. :P

What for?

by Squeaky on Aug 30, 2005 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

pretty sure

its a coincedence

goddamn crazy sunday driver- butters

by guy on Aug 28, 2005 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

I don't believe in coincedence

No, I'm kidding. I don't think Nick meant it to be serious, either. It's just a funny little quirk.

What for?

by Squeaky on Aug 28, 2005 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

It's more than a coincidence...

Apparently, Babe Ruth had a deal with Satan to become the most powerful hitter in the land, and be granted decades of drink and merriment. I'm amazed that the Prince of Darkness himself ended up on the photo film - usually he is transparent!

by louismg on Aug 29, 2005 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions

It's more than a coincidence...

Louismg clearly identifying himself as a scrabble player...

by Joe Pye on Aug 29, 2005 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Photo taken in Japan...Hmm...

Are you sure that isn't a fancy "P" that just looks like an "A"...Could it be that PN is 70 years AN's senior? (And still only gets 3 hits/day, even less than the A's were getting in May?)

Nico

by Nico on Aug 28, 2005 6:16 PM PDT reply actions

okay come clean

you photoshopped that picture. I know because I actually found the original and I'm posting it to expose your little scheme:

Although I confess the original raises more questions than it answers.

by Apricot on Aug 28, 2005 7:13 PM PDT reply actions

AN:

All-Nippon? Or All-Stars of Nippon? (Nippon being the Japanese word for "Japan") Notice how the hat just has "N" on it.

by OaktownTribesman on Aug 28, 2005 7:14 PM PDT reply actions

was Al Nipper on that team?

by rubin sierra on Aug 28, 2005 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually they call themselves

Nihon. Japanese (the language) in Japanese is nihongo. Sorry to be such a stickler but I wonder where Nippon came from anyway. In any case, I don't know how to say All-star in nihongo, but it probably is a word stolen from English. You're probably on the right track though.

"The difference between Jose Canseco and Kobe Bryant is that Kobe doesn't believe in giving his teammates any shots." -Jay Leno

by vignette17 on Aug 29, 2005 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Nippon

it's probably a bad transliteration that stuck, like Hong Kong. If you were to listen to the Cantonese it can probably be better transliterated as Heung Gong.

It has to be a bad transliteration, I should know. I'm a 100% Chinese and my last name is Louis.

"Damn kids" -Ron Flores

by secret ASian man on Aug 29, 2005 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually

"Nippon" is the archaic, therefore traditional/official term. "Nihon" is the more colloquial version. Sort of like "USA" vs. "America":

The Japanese names for Japan are Nippon and Nihon. They are both written the same in Japanese. The Japanese name Nippon is used for most official purposes, including money, stamps, and international sporting events. Nihon is a more casual term used in Japan. For example, Japanese people call themselves Nihonjin and their language Nihongo: literally "Japanese People" and "Japanese Language" respectively. In Japan today, Nippon has more of a nationalistic role, and is used more by the elderly, while Nihon is a casual term, and is used by the majority of the Japanese population.

http://www.encyclopedia-online.info/Japan

BTW I'm half-Nihonjin.

by OaktownTribesman on Aug 29, 2005 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions

konichiwa!

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 30, 2005 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

They're not shaking hands.

The Babe is clearly wasted. Drunk. Three sheets to the wind. He was trying to stay standing up and is using this photo op as an excuse to lean all over this poor, starstruck Japanese guy.

Have you seen the pictures taken shortly after this one? He's clearly groping Saduharuh Oh's cousin, Michiko OhMyGoodnessYes.

I'm OK with the Babe and you should be too. Haven't YOU ever been so messed up you were using a Japanese baseball player for support? I have. It wasn't pretty but at least I admit it. That poor somebeetch is probably platooning at SS for the Cancun Lobster Catchers by now.

by Mark H on Aug 29, 2005 12:52 AM PDT reply actions

Mr. Sparkle...

The Yankee's could use a no-nonsense cleaning agent to be GM... its not like it takes more than the IQ of a fish-bulb to have them miss the playoffs, right?

by gdub171 on Aug 30, 2005 2:32 PM PDT reply actions

At least we can say...

...that the A's have the Mr. Sparkle edge over the Yankees - every player in that clubhouse is disrespectful to dirt. Can't you see that I am serious?!

by Tornacious on Aug 30, 2005 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions