The American League has never lost an All-Star Game in which Ichiro Suzuki has played, and several players (including Ichiro) credit it to the usually taciturn star's expletive-ridden tirade to his teammates before the game.  Apparently, the Mariner has a mouth like a sailor.  And that's why it's free to read this site.  You get what you pay for, folks.

He crafts his public portrayal similar to the image he projects on the field: a technician, a warrior, a Ph.D. in stoicism. In reality, Ichiro’s All-Star teammates love him for his wicked sense of humor and sly deceit, shown with a vocabulary far more expansive than he leads on…

“If you’ve never seen it, it’s definitely something pretty funny,” [Justin] Morneau said. “It’s hard to explain, the effect it has on everyone. It’s such a tense environment. Everyone’s a little nervous for the game, and then he comes out. He doesn’t say a whole lot the whole time he’s in there, and all of a sudden, the manager gets done with his speech, and he pops off.” [...]

Ichiro was asked how much he believes the speech has contributed to the AL dominance that has stretched more than a decade now. “I’ve got to say over 90 percent,” he said.

I know I'm a prissy little fanboy for Ichiro, but that's still pretty awesome.  I'm disrespectful to the NL!  Can you see I am serious?  Get out of my way, all of you!  This is no place for loafers. Join me or die. Can you do any less?

[The Slanch Report]