Thursday, January 4th, 2001, Eden Prairie, MN. As soon as Masami Jouda stepped up to the podium every camera flashed and the media that was packed elbow to elbow in the press room surged forward all at once. He had to raise his hand to shield his eyes from the brilliant flashes pulsating throughout the room. A great roar ensued as he was bombarded with questions.
All at once, a sensuous young female reporter broke free from the crowd and ran up to the 30 year old and kissed him on the cheek. Cat calls rose from the room as he sheepishly took this opportunity to pose for the media with a young and beautiful woman at his arm.
Such is the life for a player that was famous as a Japanese league ball player but absolutely adored as a new United Baseball Association player.
