Los Angeles(1) / U.S.A.
Sports Heaven LA - Both the Weather and Facilities are Great
Satoshi Uchidaya/MIECO INC.
It rains very little throughout the year in Los Angeles. Even if it become foggy due to a cold current sends a cool breeze in the morning, the sky is a bright blue by the middle of the day. In addition, since the air is dry, people rarely become sweaty. It is a perfect environment for sports.
Around housing areas along the beach, one can regularly see joggers with headphones on. Other unique scenes of Los Angeles are the junior-high school students going to school on skateboards and policemen wearing shorts and riding mountain bikes.
The Long Beach Grand Prix,
a race in the city, is visible
from the company
A future boxing
champion? A LA
boxing gym
This great sports environment was my first surprise upon coming here. In the housing area is a baseball field that anyone can use if it is empty and beach volleyball courts that are always in use. In addition, there are numerous golf courses within a bicycle ride that can be played for about 20 dollars. I found myself laughing at the fact that there were even fitness clubs operated 24 hours a day.
A horse-riding area in a housing area-Palos Verdes
A father and child watching Ichiro at Dodgers Stadium
Major league baseball, NBA, NFL and other pro sports are carefully scheduled so that the seasons overlap as little as possible. The games are popular for the thrill of the games and their entertainment value and are an integral part of people's lives throughout the year.
During the basketball season, "Go Lakers" is displayed on the destination part of the publicly operated busses. I first thought this was only the case with busses bound for the game arena, but, in fact, the whole town is cheering them on. Another unique feature of Los Angeles is that more and more people start hanging flags of the team they support on their cars as a critical game approaches. When the Lakers become the champions, the area around the Staples Center - its home court - takes on an atmosphere near that of a riot - and is even broadcast on the news.
Within this environment, it is impossible to focus on just one sport and I am very envious when I see the many people comfortably enjoying a variety of different sports.
The other day I went to the Cypress Golf Club, former home course of a young Tiger Woods. I was shocked by the difference in the results on my scorecard and the commemorative scorecard of Tiger in his childhood that they have displayed. Somewhere inside me I was trying to pass it off on the different environment.
Marubeni Group magazine "M-SPIRIT" VOL.6 (Nov.,2001)
