Ichiro speaks Spanish ... just so he can talk trash

By Michael Clair

September 3, 2014

There has never been and there will never be another player quite like Ichiro. But the outfielder's blazing speed, already-out-of-the-box swing and powerful arm are just part of what makes him so special. The other parts include his completely unique training regime, his Japanese game show Ichiro Versus and his endless quotability (it literally filled a book).

Turns out, Ichiro possesses another skill that none of us knew about: he speaks Spanish.

Though he's not fluent enough to carry on a conversation, Ichiro has memorized a few choice phrases that he'll use when chatting with Spanish-speaking players. As passed along by the Wall Street Journal, Ichiro has dropped a "What the hell are you looking at?" to Carlos Pena, a sarcastic "Very dangerous" with Victor Martinez, and an unprintable response to Miguel Cabrera.

But it's not just to talk trash. Said Ichiro:

"I feel a bond with them. We're all foreigners in a strange land. We've come over here and had to cope with some of the same trials and tribulations. When I throw a little Spanish out at them, they really seem to appreciate it and it seems to strengthen that bond. And besides, we don't really have curse words in Japanese, so I like the fact that the Western languages allow me to say things that I otherwise can't."

If you know Ichiro's favorite American expression, then it's probably a safe bet that the real reason he does it is so he can swear.

Before you ask, yes, the video contains language that is not safe for work.