Since coming to Washington, D.C. I’ve had a chance to cover the Washington Nationals. It’s been interesting. I know more about Chien-Ming Wang then I ever thought I would.
But I’ll be honest, I didn’t know this…
I received a comment on the site late Friday night / early Saturday morning from Dan Bloom that caught my attention – for multiple reasons.
It read as follows:
Fast forward to August 2011. The grandfather of Chien-Ming Wang was found dead in a Taiwan park. Police suspect suicide.
News report: An elderly man who was found dead Sunday in the southern city of Tainan has been identified as the biological grandfather of Taiwanese baseball pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, police said.
A paperboy reported around 5 am Sunday that he had seen someone hanging by the neck from an electric cord tied to a horizontal bar in a park in Tainan’s Guanmiao district.
When the emergency response team arrived on the scene, they found that the man had no heartbeat and was not breathing, according to the district police.
The police later identified the body as that of an 82-year-old man surnamed Huang.
There was no suicide note and the Huang family said Huang did not show any abnormal behavior before the incident. Huang was known to suffer from high blood pressure.
He was the father of Wang’s biological mother. Wang was adopted at birth and raised by his uncle.
According to Huang’s neighbors, he never boasted that he had a grandson who played in the Major League but he did care a lot about the 31-year-old baseball star.
The 19-game winner returned to the Major mound July 30 after a serious shoulder injury that kept him out of competition for more than two years.
Baseball pundits have expressed worry that the news of his grandfather’s death could pose a setback for the right-hander.
But so far, there has been ZERO media coverage of this family matter in USA newspapers or sports channels.
If you google: “Chien Ming Wang, grandfather” there is a single entry from a Taiwan news outlet that is nearly (if not completely) identical.
Yet, as stated above, no word in any American sports outlets. Interesting. Usually the Associated Press or Reuters usually has a pretty good finger to pulse of things like this. Then again, if this happened when Wang played for the Yankees, I’m sure it would have been all over the news. But since he plays for the Nationals… fewer people seem to care.
So few that it hasn’t been reported. Unless it’s a hoax.
There is a man named Dan Bloom in journalism. He is a respected writer for Reuters. He recently published a piece, No, It’s Not Steve Jobs Hawking Tea in Taiwan. So, being that he has reported on issues covering Taiwan before, he might have the inside track.
But who “he” is, is still in question.
“He” even sent a follow up comment reading:
”Dan, I intend to ask Wang Chien-Ming about his grandfather SUICIDE IN TAIWAN LAST WEEK before I write a story for my newspaper, if I do write it at all. Can I ask what makes u so passionate about the topic?”
— TOP SPORTS WRITER AT TOP SPORTS NEWSPAPER SECTION IN USA
MY ANSWER: I feel there is a good family / human interest angle here that focuses on Wang’s Taiwanese roots and how much he is loved by his fans in Taiwan. So i just feel there is a good human interest story here, to make sports heroes more humanized….it’s NOT all about winning games or making oodles of money…there are FAMILY SAGAS here too…… sports is not just a money making machine ….there are real people invovled with real family stories….no?
It’s a head-scratcher. Why is “he” sending me these comments? Well, I did a little internet snooping. Turns out Dan Bloom could be two people. Or one. Or five. I found the “Dan Bloom” blog site, http://northwardho.blogspot.com/ and discovered “he” even wrote for the Taipei Times in 2006.
So maybe “he” knows what “he” is talking about?
I put Dan’s name in quotes because as of now, It’s uncertain if this Dan Bloom is the same person as the writer for Reuters – though I doubt it.
Interesting, to say the least. Puzzling is more the word I’d use, though.
http://www.hollywoodstarshoney.com/cultural-commentary/us-media-fail-report-chien-ming-wang-family-tragedy.html
Good post. Dan Bloom *does* know what he’s talking about most of the time, but he has been known to make mistakes, too. On this story, he’s dead spot on. Developing. You are the first to report on this stateside. I think the WAPO and WATIMES will do so tomorrow, following your lead. Not a big story, just minor family tragedy, but interesting at the same time. Said one commenter to me already:
”Americans have a hard time thinking outside the bubble. Look at our weather maps, Canada and Mexico cease to exist. We just want to know how it’s going to be in our own little worlds.
Very sorry to hear of Wang’s loss. My thoughts are with his family.”
PS: yes, writer for Taipei Times in 1999 and freelancer today. Reuters wire too.
That’s me. But yes, at the same time, there are over 10,000 “dan blooms” in the internet phone book. So i want to be careful and only claim responsibiity for stories that appear under my byline. There’s a Dan Bloom in the UK who writes for the Kent newpapers, too. Who knew there would be so many Danny Dan Daniel Blooms in the world when I was a kid growing up in western mass and rooting for Ted Williams on the Red Sox? Life is an amazing ride. — dan bloom, 1949-2032
http://www.hollywoodstarshoney.com/cultural-commentary/us-media-fail-report-chien-ming-wang-family-tragedy.html
Good post. Dan Bloom *does* know what he’s talking about most of the time, but he has been known to make mistakes, too. On this story, he’s dead spot on. Developing. You are the first to report on this stateside. I think the WAPO and WATIMES will do so tomorrow, following your lead. Not a big story, just minor family tragedy, but interesting at the same time. Said one commenter to me already:
”Americans have a hard time thinking outside the bubble. Look at our weather maps, Canada and Mexico cease to exist. We just want to know how it’s going to be in our own little worlds.
Very sorry to hear of Wang’s loss. My thoughts are with his family.”
PS: yes, writer for Taipei Times in 1999 and freelancer today. Reuters wire too.
That’s me. But yes, at the same time, there are over 10,000 “dan blooms” in the internet phone book. So i want to be careful and only claim responsibiity for stories that appear under my byline. There’s a Dan Bloom in the UK who writes for the Kent newpapers, too. Who knew there would be so many Danny Dan Daniel Blooms in the world when I was a kid growing up in western mass and rooting for Ted Williams on the Red Sox? Life is an amazing ride. — dan bloom, 1949-2032
Wang ‘s biological father was a man he knew as his uncle, Ping-Yin Wang. Grandpa Huang was the father of Wang’s mom, and as a married Taiwanese woman she keeps her family name of Huang, even though she married into the Wang family.
Wang ‘s biological father was a man he knew as his uncle, Ping-Yin Wang. Grandpa Huang was the father of Wang’s mom, and as a married Taiwanese woman she keeps her family name of Huang, even though she married into the Wang family.
The 82-year-old biological grandfather of Washington Nationals star
pitcher Chien-Ming Wang was found dead hanging from a tree in a local
neighborhood park in
Taiwan recently, according to police reports, and while there was no
suicide note found at the scene or at his home, police observers
suspect it was
a suicide, as foul play has been ruled out.
While the news hit all the
national newspapers in Wang’s homeland of Taiwan, in both Chinese and English
editions, not one American
newspaper
or sports blog in Washington DC or Manhattan — where Wang also
pitched for the Yankees — has reported the sad family saga.
As readers know, Wang started playing baseball as a kid in the
fourth grade in Taiwan, and it was through baseball that he learned an
important part of his personal story, according to a 2006 story in the
New York Times.
“We were going out to a competition and needed our personal
documents,” Wang told the New York Times, explaining that meant
the names, relationships and birthdates of family members. “When I got
my documents, I learned who my biological parents were. My parents
didn’t tell me.”
Wang found out then that his biological father was the man he knew as
his uncle, Ping-Yin Wang. Wang’s parents had no children of their own
and offered to raise him.
Fast forward now to August 2011 and this news item: “The biological
grandfather of Chien-Ming Wang
found hanging in Taiwan park; police suspect suicide.”
The 82-year-old biological grandfather of Washington Nationals star
pitcher Chien-Ming Wang was found dead hanging from a tree in a local
neighborhood park in
Taiwan recently, according to police reports, and while there was no
suicide note found at the scene or at his home, police observers
suspect it was
a suicide, as foul play has been ruled out.
While the news hit all the
national newspapers in Wang’s homeland of Taiwan, in both Chinese and English
editions, not one American
newspaper
or sports blog in Washington DC or Manhattan — where Wang also
pitched for the Yankees — has reported the sad family saga.
As readers know, Wang started playing baseball as a kid in the
fourth grade in Taiwan, and it was through baseball that he learned an
important part of his personal story, according to a 2006 story in the
New York Times.
“We were going out to a competition and needed our personal
documents,” Wang told the New York Times, explaining that meant
the names, relationships and birthdates of family members. “When I got
my documents, I learned who my biological parents were. My parents
didn’t tell me.”
Wang found out then that his biological father was the man he knew as
his uncle, Ping-Yin Wang. Wang’s parents had no children of their own
and offered to raise him.
Fast forward now to August 2011 and this news item: “The biological
grandfather of Chien-Ming Wang
found hanging in Taiwan park; police suspect suicide.”
this is a good point….i also would have thought that the AP or Reuters wire bureau in Taiwan would have put this story on the intl wire, but no. I think they will now……SMILE…. sigh….sad story……
re
”Yet, as stated above, no word in any American sports outlets. Interesting. Usually the Associated Press or Reuters usually has a pretty good finger to pulse of things like this. Then again, if this happened when Wang played for the Yankees, I’m sure it would have been all over the news. But since he plays for the Nationals… fewer people seem to care.”
”So few that it hasn’t been reported. Unless it’s a hoax.”
NOT A HOAX. But it’s always good to be suspicious of stories that cannot be nailed down completely. In this case, a real tragedy, and how it effects Mr Wang , we shall see. I suspect he will be of course sad about the news, he loved his grandpa, but he will say some Buddhist and Taoist prayers for his akang, and life will go on. They were not that close because Wang was adopted by relatives AT BIRTH, but he did know who his grandpa was and often visited him on trips home to Taiwan. The suicide had nothing to do with Wang, it was old age health problems, the old man probably was just tired of living, health problems, high BP, maybe diabetes, so he ended it all. SAD.
this is a good point….i also would have thought that the AP or Reuters wire bureau in Taiwan would have put this story on the intl wire, but no. I think they will now……SMILE…. sigh….sad story……
re
”Yet, as stated above, no word in any American sports outlets. Interesting. Usually the Associated Press or Reuters usually has a pretty good finger to pulse of things like this. Then again, if this happened when Wang played for the Yankees, I’m sure it would have been all over the news. But since he plays for the Nationals… fewer people seem to care.”
”So few that it hasn’t been reported. Unless it’s a hoax.”
NOT A HOAX. But it’s always good to be suspicious of stories that cannot be nailed down completely. In this case, a real tragedy, and how it effects Mr Wang , we shall see. I suspect he will be of course sad about the news, he loved his grandpa, but he will say some Buddhist and Taoist prayers for his akang, and life will go on. They were not that close because Wang was adopted by relatives AT BIRTH, but he did know who his grandpa was and often visited him on trips home to Taiwan. The suicide had nothing to do with Wang, it was old age health problems, the old man probably was just tired of living, health problems, high BP, maybe diabetes, so he ended it all. SAD.
Nick, dan bloom here again..with minor question: according to AP and Reuters style books, and WashPost copy desk, all names of Chinese or Taiwanese nationals who carry a China or Taiwanese passport should be written in English as LAST NAME FIRST NAME, the reverse of Western name order, ie, Dan Bloom or Nick Lilja. The former president of Taiwan is called LEE TENG-HUI in all English newspapers and TV broadcasts worldwide, from Wash Post to CNN tv…….so Mr Wang should really be called WANG CHIEN-MING on your blog and all USA newspapers and Adam Kilgore’s blog and reports in WAPO, no? To show proper respect to Taiwanese nationals, be they politicians or ball players, the proper name order even in English to show respect is WANG Chien-Ming………imagine if they called you Lilja Nick in Taiwan newspapers and blogs? so my question is this: who allowed this name order disrespect to start and why is it now accepted,,,when it is in fact wrong and disrespectful to Taiwanese people? Can you explain when this name order change happened and why? Maybe Wang’s agent asked for it? Maybe Wang himself said call me that way? Who did this and when and why? iti is wrong….the current president of Taiwan is Ma Ying-Jeou…..pronounced ma ying joe…..and his name is pronounced and written that way on USA TV channels and in the WASH POST….
I don’t know if it’s a disrespect thing. I respect their customs, but at the same time I have a responsibility to report the news – in the most easily understood manner – to the Western world who read first name – last name.
So, it’s not a matter of disrespect, more a matter of reporting the news in the quickest, easiest ad most understandable way.
Nick, dan bloom here again..with minor question: according to AP and Reuters style books, and WashPost copy desk, all names of Chinese or Taiwanese nationals who carry a China or Taiwanese passport should be written in English as LAST NAME FIRST NAME, the reverse of Western name order, ie, Dan Bloom or Nick Lilja. The former president of Taiwan is called LEE TENG-HUI in all English newspapers and TV broadcasts worldwide, from Wash Post to CNN tv…….so Mr Wang should really be called WANG CHIEN-MING on your blog and all USA newspapers and Adam Kilgore’s blog and reports in WAPO, no? To show proper respect to Taiwanese nationals, be they politicians or ball players, the proper name order even in English to show respect is WANG Chien-Ming………imagine if they called you Lilja Nick in Taiwan newspapers and blogs? so my question is this: who allowed this name order disrespect to start and why is it now accepted,,,when it is in fact wrong and disrespectful to Taiwanese people? Can you explain when this name order change happened and why? Maybe Wang’s agent asked for it? Maybe Wang himself said call me that way? Who did this and when and why? iti is wrong….the current president of Taiwan is Ma Ying-Jeou…..pronounced ma ying joe…..and his name is pronounced and written that way on USA TV channels and in the WASH POST….
I don’t know if it’s a disrespect thing. I respect their customs, but at the same time I have a responsibility to report the news – in the most easily understood manner – to the Western world who read first name – last name.
So, it’s not a matter of disrespect, more a matter of reporting the news in the quickest, easiest ad most understandable way.
Nick, good answer, and I agree with you on that level…..and i know you do respect their culture…and i know the WASH Post and Was Times also respects Taiwan…but my qusetion is why are the names of Taiwanese politicains written in English newspapers as LAST NAME FIRST NAME, such as Lee Teng-hui….but for sports stars like Wang his name, which also sould be LAST NAME FIRST NAME he gets called Chien-Ming Wang….and yet YAO MING of CHina, he gets to keep his LAST NAME FIRST NAME order and is never called MING YAO in USA newspaper…so my question is i guess, why treat China different from Taiwan? and of course, i dont’ meant YOU, Nick, I mean
the big editors at the WASH POST…so far not one person there is man enough or woman enough in the case of Amanda Comak at WASH TIMES to answer my politre emails….Weird? I just want to know whty they treat CHina different from Taiwean? what’s there to be afirad of…i plan to get to the bottom of ths…SMILE..g.enlty…
Nick, good answer, and I agree with you on that level…..and i know you do respect their culture…and i know the WASH Post and Was Times also respects Taiwan…but my qusetion is why are the names of Taiwanese politicains written in English newspapers as LAST NAME FIRST NAME, such as Lee Teng-hui….but for sports stars like Wang his name, which also sould be LAST NAME FIRST NAME he gets called Chien-Ming Wang….and yet YAO MING of CHina, he gets to keep his LAST NAME FIRST NAME order and is never called MING YAO in USA newspaper…so my question is i guess, why treat China different from Taiwan? and of course, i dont’ meant YOU, Nick, I mean
the big editors at the WASH POST…so far not one person there is man enough or woman enough in the case of Amanda Comak at WASH TIMES to answer my politre emails….Weird? I just want to know whty they treat CHina different from Taiwean? what’s there to be afirad of…i plan to get to the bottom of ths…SMILE..g.enlty…
Nick
there is an oped commentary in the Tapie Times newspaper today SUNDAY in Tawian in English about this brouhaha, and while I did not menton your blog or name in particular, to protect the innocent, I did mention names like Adam Kilgore and Amada Comak and Wash Post sports section.. ggogle “taipei Times” and “dan bloom” and “wang chien-ming” to see it.
Nick
there is an oped commentary in the Tapie Times newspaper today SUNDAY in Tawian in English about this brouhaha, and while I did not menton your blog or name in particular, to protect the innocent, I did mention names like Adam Kilgore and Amada Comak and Wash Post sports section.. ggogle “taipei Times” and “dan bloom” and “wang chien-ming” to see it.
Dan Bloom is well-known in Taiwan’s journalism circles for being a little obsessive, sending dozens of e-mails to targets over the course of a few hours, expecting a reply IMMEDIATELY, asking random, inappropriate, personal questions, even if he isn’t writing a story about the topic(s) he seems interested in. If you are beginning to feel overwhelmed by him, you aren’t the only one.
Dan, it’s ironic that you complain about name order as disrespectful and unethical when you are so obsessed with this family’s personal tragedy. There are journalism guidelines that are supposed to be put in place when writing about suicide, though most reporters and editors do not follow them. Please take a step back and ask yourself if the level of your interest is still within ethical bounds for a “professional” journalist.
Dan Bloom is well-known in Taiwan’s journalism circles for being a little obsessive, sending dozens of e-mails to targets over the course of a few hours, expecting a reply IMMEDIATELY, asking random, inappropriate, personal questions, even if he isn’t writing a story about the topic(s) he seems interested in. If you are beginning to feel overwhelmed by him, you aren’t the only one.
Dan, it’s ironic that you complain about name order as disrespectful and unethical when you are so obsessed with this family’s personal tragedy. There are journalism guidelines that are supposed to be put in place when writing about suicide, though most reporters and editors do not follow them. Please take a step back and ask yourself if the level of your interest is still within ethical bounds for a “professional” journalist.