Chapter 36

I thought that he just wanted to spend more time with Preeda but if he did one, the other or both, it was his own business. Speaking of business, Mi informed me that she had started or bought a car service business and was now renting out some space on the first floor. She told me, “Nick, we use a car service for every pick up and drop off of clients staying in your rentals that fly in. We also pick up Japanese clients that come in by train. Then there are the people that are coming and going from the club on the top floor. You made me more money in the currency market, I wanted to make it work for me.”

Not having driven my own car lately, I could see the logic in what she had done and was happy she was making her future brighter. After signing Dan and Tony, Enji, Ikki and I had a meeting. Enji said, “We have a few spots on the roster that still need to be filled for the upcoming season. Dan’s bat and performance behind the plate gives us the ability to trade Jukichi, our catcher from last season for some real value. His backup is a good player and can back up Dan just as well.”

Ikki said, “I can always use good pitchers. The infield is solid and with Tony covering all that ground in the outfield, we look solid out there as well.”

“We have a few players that we need to resign and a few we have an option to renegotiate with.”

I said, “I’ll let you both pick the players that you want to make us a better team. I know that there’s more to the game than the players but I’m willing to do what we can to win. That being said, I have some ideas about what to do to make the team more popular and fill the stands.”

Ikki laughed, “I was a little worried when they said that an American bought the team. Then I saw you and was more worried that a kid bought the team. Then I saw how you handled Dan’s agent. I saw the way the other business owners have treated you and now I only worry about what you might have planned to fill the stands.”

“I plan to give away tickets to the kids for the games when we know we’ll have low attendance. I plan giveaways. I plan to have the team more accessible to the fans. There are a few teams here in Tokyo. If a fan will pass one stadium to come to ours then that is better for us in the long run.”

Both men just shook their heads and Enji said, “I know a few people and one said that you were a miracle worker and never doubt what you say.”

“I don’t know who your friends are because I make mistakes all the time but in the long run things tend to work out.”

It was fun learning a new industry. I was having lunch one day and Rodney mentioned that at the English soccer games they have like a chant or a song that they sing during the games that keep the fans in the game and the players know they are being supported. I thought that would be a cool idea for the Dragons.

The next day, I walked in to see a few players in the main office and the receptionist, Kiyo, told me to go back to the conference room. I’d been studying the contracts of our players and what each position was making. I’d read the bio’s on the players too so I would know their ages, family situations and hobbies.

When I entered the room the star pitcher from the previous year was in the room and they were just starting to discuss salary. I said, “I’m sorry I’m late. No one told me what time we were starting.” Enji blushed a bit and I looked at the player. “Joji, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Nick, the new owner. You had a good season last year. How do you feel about the upcoming season?”

“I feel strong and have been training hard during the offseason. My fastball has gained a little speed and my slider and curve will both be harder to hit.”

“That’s great. I’m sorry to interrupt, but where were we in the signing?”

His agent said, “Joji is still under contract for this year but has been with the team for two years and has the option to renegotiate this year. We would like to have a new multi year contract. We would like a twenty-five percent raise from last year and then a ten percent raise for each additional year.”

“If we did a five-year contract, that would be a sixty-five percent raise in the final year of the contract.”

“That’s correct but we think that he’s worth it.”

“Let me talk to my Enji and Ikki for a minute if you don’t mind?”

“Sure.”

After Jijo and his agent stepped out I said, “I thought that he’d be asking for more after the great year he had and he says he has been working hard to improve.”

Enji said, “He has a family and would love to stay where he is with his kids and school situation. He has come up through our farm system and I think would like to be here until he retires.”

“That’s all good but if he is at his peak, I would rather pay him now in case we need to trade him later. So, let’s flip it and pay him double today and drop his salary ten percent a year. Then four years from now his salary will be easier to absorb by another team if we want someone younger but less proven.”

Ikki smiled, “I don’t think that has ever been done but makes more sense than the way we do things now. We just bought out two contracts at the highest point after they were hurt.”

Enji said, “Sounds good to me. Let’s see what kind of reaction we get from Joji.”

We called them back in and Enji made the offer. They thought about it and couldn’t see any downside except that inflation was going up while his salary was coming down. I pointed out that he could buy things now while they were cheaper and in the end we all shook on the deal and it was signed. They were both smiling as they left.

The next player was the third baseman. He had a solid year the year before but was at the point in his career where no one expected him to get better but hopefully there would be a slow drop in his performance and not fall off a cliff. His agent was asking for a twenty percent increase and a two-year deal with a third-year option with a ten percent increase each year.

I had read about him. His name was Kin’ya. He was thirty-two, somewhat of a playboy. He was single and liked cars and had been known to make the tabloids with a model on his arm. I didn’t see any problem with the proposal and looked at Enji. He gave me a nod. I said, “That sounds fine. We appreciate what Kin’ya brings to the team.”

We were almost done signing the deal and I reached in my pocket and pulled out my car keys. I tossed the Mustang key to Kin’ya and said, “I read that you had a six-car garage at your house. Here’s a present as a thank you for your commitment to the team. I’ll get the title to you after I find a ride home.”

He looked at the key but couldn’t tell the year or model. Just that it was a Ford. He smiled and said, “It’s lunch time and I rode in with the agent.” He had a hopeful tone to his comment.

I looked at Enji and said, “I’ll be back in two hours. I’m taking Kin’ya to lunch.”

When we walked out and he saw the Mustang Boss 429 fastback in a shiny black finish he smiled and turned to thank me. I hopped in the passenger side and he cranked it up and just listened to the engine for a minute. “I can’t believe you gave her to me. This is a great car.”

“She needs to be driven more than I drive her. I didn’t plan to let her go but then I saw you and knew that you would appreciate her.” After that I gave him directions to the building and he rode up to my place. He liked my condo and the way it was decorated.

“I have a nice house but the furniture doesn’t all fit together. I just buy stuff that I like and put it in a room.”

“If you want, I’ll introduce you to my decorator. Look around while I get the title and spare key to the car.”

After that was done, we went up to the top floor and had lunch at the club. Cho was there as hostess and I asked her about school. She said, “Katherine and Hana both made me study and read ahead. I have had a few B’s but mostly A’s in all my classes.”

“That’s great. Kin’ya and I would like a table for lunch.”

We had a good lunch and he asked a lot of questions about me and the United States. I answered them as well as I could but explained that I had been traveling all over the world as I grew up.

Over the next few days we added a few free agents and traded the catcher and a draft pick for a great pitcher from one of the lower payroll teams that didn’t want to pay for the talent they had. It cost us but it should be a good investment.

Adam and Tiffany flew in the next week as they finished their trip around the world honeymoon. It was good to see them and we spent a few days catching up. They went down to Osaka to see the bamboo forest. They went to see a few castles and did a night or two down at the hot springs. We had a great sushi dinner at the small restaurant and we went by and saw the baseball complex. Mika and Katherine were around more often and it was good for all of us to catch up. The couple was enjoying their marriage so far and that made me happy too.

It was only a week in Japan total but Adam and Tiffany had been on the road for a while and were looking forward to getting back to Boston and setting up their family routine. After they were gone, I was playing cards one night and I asked, “If I wanted to borrow some of the girls that work here, who would I need to talk to?”

Ishii smiled and asked, “Don’t you have enough girls without taking these girls home with you?”

The table all laughed at me. I said, “I bought the Ginza Dragons. I think that the girls here are the prettiest in the country as a group. I was thinking about putting them in some tight Dragon t-shirts and spreading them out around the stadium. Whenever the camera pans the audience they would just happen to focus in on one of the beauties. I think it would go a long way towards getting more guys out to the stadium to watch the games.”

It was quiet until one of the regulars said, “I think it’s a great idea. I’d talk to Mahiro, the manager here. Can we get some tickets?”

“Sure, just tell me the game and how many you need.”

“My grandson plays little league.”

“If you tell me how many kids and parents are on the team, they can all come to a game or two. In fact, have the head of the little league give me a call and we can invite all the teams.”

“I wasn’t expecting that but that would be wonderful. I’m sure that all the kids would love to go to a live game.”

“If you wanted to attend a game without the grandkids, I do have an owner’s box and have taken enough money from you here at the tables that you’ve more than earned a game in the owner’s box.”

He laughed and said, “Does that mean that you will take Chikao to every game in the owner’s box?” The whole table laughed loud enough for other players to look over our way. Chikao played every night it seemed but he seldom won. He made enough to keep playing but he never got lucky according to him. In reality he just played too many hands with crappy odds of winning.

I played late that night but the next day I stopped by in the early afternoon and spoke to Mahiro the manager. I ran into a little trouble when I paid Preeda and Mizue after winning a car race and they bought out their contracts with the club. Mahiro had a couple boys and also was interested in sitting in the owners box and said that he would make an offer to the girls not scheduled to work. I would pay the club and not the girls. We shook on the deal and we would work out the logistics as opening day drew closer.

Spring training started and I hired a girl to run the PR for attendance. We hired a drummer to play in the outfield. He was about my age and actually loved baseball and the Dragons. He offered to play for just a ticket to the game but I made him take a small salary and wear a Dragon scarf around his head like the kamikaze pilots used to wear but with a dragon and not a Japanese sun. We had a music writer create some chants to music like they did at the soccer matches in Europe.

I was hoping to break even the first year but paid so much less than the team was worth that I was willing to spend more and even lose some if it meant a larger fan base and long term attendance. I knew that some of my season ticket holders might get upset if I started selling discount tickets or giving away free tickets. I made sure that all season tickets were a different color than single game or discounted tickets.

All season ticket holders were invited to an open house the week before opening day. We introduce the team and new owner to the faithful. I was asked to speak and said, “I want to thank our loyal season ticket holders. I want you to know how much you are appreciated. I have some plans this year that may make you second-guess that. I’m trying to bring on new and more season ticket holders and fill the stands so that our team can feel the support of Ginza and Tokyo whenever they take the field.

“I want you to know that next year your tickets will cost you the same where new season ticket holders will have to pay more. If you’re season ticket holders this year, you will drink beer for free during the games. I would appreciate it if you didn’t pass your tickets around to non-season ticket holders.” That got a cheer and a laugh.

“I am going to invite a lot of kids to watch maybe their first Nippon League game, so they’ll become Dragon fans. I plan to have more fun in the stands in support of the team. I would love for both the players and my loyal season ticket holders to embrace and enjoy the fun. We’re always open for comments and concerns. We’ll make changes as we go but a stadium that is half full is common in this league and I don’t want that to be the case here. If you want to go to any away games, we’ll try to get some tickets from the home team so that our Dragon fans can sit as a group. It will be first come, first serve if we can get the program up and running.”

There was a cheer that went up. After that, the players stood around the wall and signed autographs for a couple hours and then the day was a wrap. After the event, we all went into the locker room with the coaches, players and Enji. I said, “I’ve met some of you but want to welcome everyone to what I hope to be a great season. We have some old players, new players, acquired players from other teams and a few that I flew in from across the Pacific. We’re all Dragons and all here for the same reason. We all want to win and I’m doing what I can to help that cause. You heard me mention getting more fans in the stands and getting more revenue for the team. That means that when contracts are resigned, there will be more money for raises and bonuses. If you need a ticket for a wife, girlfriend or your kids, let the front office know and you can get what you need during the regular season and we’ll see what we can do for the division, league and series games. I do plan to win the series. I hope you do too.”

There was a big cheer and a door was opened to a catered meal for the team with drinks as well. Their families were invited in and they enjoyed the party as well.

It only took a few weeks before more and more people were at the games. The pretty girls, the Dragon t-shirt giveaways, the free tickets, discounted tickets after the second innings and many other gimmicks to fill the stands. Soon more tickets were being bought and less given away for each game.

Things were on a roll and I had even brought a few friends to the baseball game from my nightly poker gang. They had fun and others wanted to go as well. Katherine brought kids from school, as did Mika. We spread the net wide when inviting clubs, schools and youth teams to the games.

Everything came crashing down when I got a call at 2am after just getting home from the poker game. I answered the phone wondering who could be calling. It was my mom. Dad had a stroke and didn’t even make it to the hospital. He’d passed away. I asked a few questions but really I just needed to pack and get to New York. I called Adam and told him what was going on and then called Mi to let her know what had happened and that I’d be gone but didn’t know how long.

She said, “I’m so sorry Nick. I think most of your friends are members of the club and I’ll let Yuto know what is going on. If there is anything at all that I can do for you, please let me know. I’ll book you out on the first flight and have a car waiting for you downstairs. The first flight is at 5am and at that time of day if you leave here by 3:30am you should be fine.”

“Thanks’ Mi. I’ll be ready to go then.”

There was a knock at the door ten minutes later and Mi was there. She gave me a hug and told me that the car would be waiting at 3:30am and to stop by the ticket counter to pick up my boarding pass. “Have you packed? Bring a suit and clothes for the funeral and put on something casual for comfortable travel. Go take a shower after you get out your suitcase and I’ll help.”

I just nodded and got out my suitcase and went to the shower. When I was showered and shaved, I walked out to see Katherine and Mizue there as well. Katherine was dressed and had a suitcase with her. Mizue was making me some coffee and toast. Mi was closing my suitcase and had my passport and wallet sitting on the countertop in the kitchen. All the girls wanted to hold me and help me but I still had a long way to even accepting what had happened.

“Katherine, why are you packed? You don’t have to go.”

“I love your mom and dad. If I am going for the funeral, I might as well go early and be there to help you and your mom. I’m going and Mi bought me a ticket.”

Arguing wasn’t what I wanted to do just then. At 3:30, we got into the back of a town car. By 4am we were at the ticket counter. By 4:30 we were boarding the plane and sitting in our seats in first class. It would take us to LAX where we would board a direct flight to JFK. We landed in Los Angeles just before we took off if you take into account the dateline and time zones. It can be funny that way. There was a two-hour layover and we landed in New York at 3pm in the afternoon.

I’d called Mom when we landed in Los Angeles and she had a car waiting for me when we came down to the baggage claim area. Katherine and I rode into the city. I didn’t have much to say on the flight. I was in turmoil. I could rescue slaves from the bad guys, I could change the world with software, but death and taxes seemed to be unavoidable no matter how much money you had.

Mom looked like she’d not slept the night before and had been crying even though she wasn’t crying when she walked into my hug. I held her for a while as Katherine moved past the doorway and moved both of our bags into the apartment. When we broke our hug, Katherine stepped in and gave Mom a hug as well.

We sat down and Mom told me that Dad had treatment earlier in the morning and came home. He wanted to lie down and take a nap. He had a stroke while he was sleeping and when she went in to check on him, he had passed away. “He hadn’t been enjoying his life with his treatments and sickness but I wasn’t expecting it to end this way. I guess we never know when our time will be up.”

“I could have and should have been here. I don’t need more money. I don’t need more businesses. I should have been here to help out, to say goodbye or something.”

“Your father would have hated that and felt worse about his condition if you were sitting around waiting for him to die. He loved to hear about your work and the calls we had every week or two were the highlights of his week. He would talk to me and his friends about his son and the great things you were doing.”

I’d been up for over twenty-four hours. After sleeping for about two. I was exhausted and it was still early. I asked, “Mom, have you eaten anything?”

“Not really but I’m not hungry.”

“Let’s order some food. If we eat it great, if we put it in the fridge for later, fine, if we end up trashing it, so be it.”

Just then there was a knock at the door. I walked over and opened it to find Adam and Tiffany with bags of food. He set down the bags and gave me a real hug. There were tears in my eyes and his. He whispered, “I’m sorry brother. I’m so sorry.”

All I could do was nod as he picked up the food and carried it to the kitchen. Tiffany was next and was crying as we held each other as well. Adam went to hug Mom and then Katherine was next in line. They’d brought trays of sandwiches and snacks for us and anyone who visited. I told them, ‘I wasn’t expecting you but was just thinking that we should get some food.’

“We’re staying with Tiffany’s parents but are here for you, as long as you need us or want us around.”

We all got some food and sat down with each of us having a drink. We talked about Dad and what was next for the funeral, and what would be the plans for Mom. She said, “He will be cremated and we’re going to have a service for him on Saturday. Nick, you can speak if you want but the Secretary of State offered along with a few of his friends. I don’t want it to go on all day so I asked that just two of them say a few brief words. If you want to get up and talk you can, if not then I’d like you to sit with me. President’s Reagan and Carter will both be there along with others from government, business and family friends. Monday we’ll meet with the attorney to talk about his trust and then you can fly back.”