Thursday, October 1, 2009

In a much-anticipated news conference today in Naha, Japan, the capital of the Okinawa prefecture, Brinnon Morrison, President of Morrison Management Company and new owner of the Magami Akos, announced through a Japanese translator that the Akos will relocate to Naha and will also adopt a new nickname: the “Shisas”, paying homage to the Okinawa culture of displaying the half-lion/half-dog guardian throughout homes and businesses.

The crowd cheered and was roused into a near riot fervor as Morrison announced, "Naha will show the league… Naha will show the world the Okinawa way!"

Cheerleaders dressed in black and red used hand cannons to shoot into the crowd newly minted #14 Naha Shisas jerseys with “Nakamura” or “Dracula” across the back, which is the jersey of Ton "Dracula" Nakamura, the 28-year-old 3B who has averaged over 40 HR the last three years.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima spoke to The PEBA Gazette, indicating that he is very fond of Morrison due to his sensitive approach in bringing an American-owned Japanese team to Okinawa.  "We had many stipulations to bringing a team here – no reference to American military, no name that indicates Okinawa trying to gain independence from Japan, such as a name like the “Nationals” or “Okinawans” – but he came in with a name that was representative of our culture.” 

The day was not without controversy as Charlie Rader, who was earlier introduced as the Naha Shisas Vice-President of Baseball Operations said during the end of his speech to the crowd of thousands "Ich Bin Ein Berliner", which confused the crowd immensely.  Rader is the former Vice-President of Morrison Worldwide Trucking, a Division of MMC.