The World Series kicks off Friday, marking the end of a long baseball season.
Two legendary teams, the LA Dodgers and New York Yankees, are ready to clash in what could be a seven-game showdown at Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, two devoted fans will be watching closely.
Max Homa and Collin Morikawa hail from Los Angeles and have always cheered for the Dodgers. Homa even had the honor of throwing the first pitch at a 2019 game against the Washington Nationals. Despite their love for baseball, both players hope to miss the first few games of next year’s World Series because they are competing in Japan’s Zozo Championship .
Homa is eager to win his first tournament this season but promises to catch as many early World Series games as possible. Fans might wonder how he manages to juggle both passions so effortlessly.
Baseball Passion Meets Golf Ambitions:
At Narashino Country Club, Homa shared his excitement: “I’m hopeful [of being able to watch]. They play in the morning here, which is tough because we also play in the morning.” He recalled listening to a game against the Mets on radio before finding it online.
Being in Japan feels special for Homa since two Japanese stars play for his beloved Dodgers. One of them is Shohei Ohtani, whom he calls “the best baseball player I’ve ever seen.” Seeing LA hats around Japan adds a touch of home away from home for him.
Though he misses being at Dodger Stadium during this thrilling run, he’s thrilled by their performance and hopes to spot more LA hats around town.
The reigning champion at Zozo Championship has high hopes for another strong showing in a place dear to him and his family. Morikawa aims to defend his title while rooting for his Dodgers against their formidable rivals with 27 championships under their belt.
When asked about keeping up with other games over the weekend, Morikawa replied enthusiastically: “Yeah, absolutely. It’s been great watching the Dodgers play in Japan.” He enjoys waking up with baseball on TV and plans on sneaking peeks during golf rounds.
Do you think balancing sports fandom with professional commitments is tricky?
