Somehow, with all the clutter of politics and crazy world events, the press from time to time misses a really big story right under their collective noses. The same holds true for the entourage of wannabee athletes who write and report about the world of sports.  Today’s posting is a sports story, one that is so remarkable and unbelievable, yet remains under the radar

of the sports press.    I’m willing to bet that most of you have no clue as to the identity of the baseball player pictured above.  Well, let me fill you in.  His name is Ichiro Suzuki, age 41, who is fast closing in on one of the most coveted records in the sport of baseball, a statistic that normally yields a free pass to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.     Ichiro, who has played for the Seattle Mariners, the stinkin’ Yankees, and the Miami Marlins,  is fast closing in on his 3000th career major league hit.  He currently has 2,932 hits.  Yes , that’s a nice story you may say, but what’s the big deal ?  The big deal is that Ichiro only came to the USA in 2001 at age 28, after playing nine professional seasons for the Orix Blue Wave in the Japanese Professional League.   During those nine seasons, at a level of baseball rivaling our own MLB, Ichiro amassed 1278 hits. Now do you get it?   Add the two hit totals together, and you reach Pete Rose-like numbers.   One could make the case that Ichiro is the best hitter ever to play the game.    Oh, I forgot to mention that he is a ten-time All-Star, a ten-time Gold Glove winner, and remarkably the leading career active base stealer in the Major Leagues with 498 stolen bases.    Cooperstown will be getting a lot more Japanese tourists in coming years I believe.     WHAT THE HECK !