"Big Apple, here comes Godzilla"

The first challenging season of a Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui's in Major
League Baseball has ended. Quite honestly, when Matsui decided to join the
N.Y. Yankees, I remember thinking that he would never succeed. However it
seems that this man of heart betrayed my anticipation in the good way.

There is a well-known episode about Matsui, who's been called a monster
since his high school days, that in the summer of 1992 at the "koshien" - a
national high-school baseball tournament final which is also considered as
a gateway to professional baseball, the opponent team made an intentional
pass for five consecutive times at his bat, which eventually cost his team the
game. Despite receiving such unfair passes, he walked to the first base five
times without expressing a single dissatisfaction. In the world of Japanese
sports, the social hierarchy is absolute and disturbing the order of an
organization is never allowed. High-school baseball is the epitome of such
behavior, for example, a player who hit the home run was called out by the
umpire due to the fact that he jumped for joy while running the diamond!
If Matsui is a real monster as he is called, instead of silently stepping the
bases, I would have wanted him to express his feelings directly or even go
as far as to swear at the opponent pitcher and let it out.

Even after joining the professional baseball, Matsui remained an honor roll
student - his attitude never changed, and I felt that his comments about
games were rather boring compared with the "Bancho" Kiyohara, who is a
contrasting player that Matsui is often compared to due to his wild behavior.
Compared with other baseball players who crossed the pacific ocean earlier
such as Nomo, Ichiro, Irabu and Shinjo, who would not put up with the culture
of Japanese baseball because of their strong individuality and self-assertion,
the comments of Matsui at the time of declaration of Free Agent for the
challenge of Major League Baseball was starkly humble: "I am awfully sorry
for the fans. I have no words. Although I feel equally uneasy toward the
teammates, I want to dedicate my life and to do my best." If he had stayed
in Japan, his future would have been no doubt guaranteed. But when I heard
this comment, I thought that his will to challenge in the MLB was so strong
that he had even chosen to overcome his ties to the fans who he had cared
strongly over the years. It is also the reason why I thought his conventional
Japanese composure of self-sacrifice and humbleness might interfere with
his success in M.L.B where strong individuality is required to succeed.

However, while encountering many pressures from the beginning, such as
repeated interviews from Japanese media who were indifferent of the game
results, poor physical conditions, severe mark from opponent pitchers, heavy
criticism from N.Y. media, and not to mention having to deal with a grumpy
owner, Matsui blended into the team more than any other Japanese player
and left a result worthy of his ability.

When he showed a never-before-shown expression of victory and joyous leaps
while running a tying score in the 8th inning of the league play-off of 7th game
against the Boston Red Sox, I was sure that he has finally found what he has
been truly looking for. Though his team did not achieve would champion this
year, nor did he receive the rookie of the year prize, it is certain that his humble
nature and modest character caught the heart of people in N.Y. and left a lasting impression. Now Ifm all wondering how this tender hearted Godzilla will perform
next year.

End

Key Word

betray		honor roll student
gateway		put up with
intentional pass		self-assertion
five consecutive times		starkly humble
cost		will
despite		overcome
without expressing a single dissatisfaction		composure
hierarchy		self-sacrifice
absolute		grumpy
epitome		blend into
diamond