Matsui has surgery on broken wrist, apologizes

[brinkeguthrie]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/base...n=si_topstories

Apologizing for getting hurt. Can't say you'll see this very often in American sports. WE could learn a lesson in humility from Japanese sports stars.

[See Red]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/base...n=si_topstories

Apologizing for getting hurt. Can't say you'll see this very often in American sports.

He's a class act. I hated to see him get hurt -- even being a Red Sox fan as I am. He's one of the few Yankees I like.

[Eye]

Yeah, here in New Jersey, I hate the Yankees and their fans, but ever since Matsui came to the Yankees, he's been one of the few that I like. He's a class act. Someone who actually plays the game the way it's supposed to be played, and the ultimate team player. I feel bad for him, but hopefully he'll be ok and will come back soon.

-- Get well Godzilla.

[HedleyLamarr]

Who will be the first Yankee to take himself out of the lineup because of "flu-like symptoms"?

[winghaz]

Apologizing for getting hurt. Can't say you'll see this very often in American sports. WE could learn a lesson in humility from Japanese sports stars.

Well said, brink.

And I just gained a LOT of respect for Mr. Hideki Matsui.

[The_Admiral]

Someone who actually plays the game the way it's supposed to be played

What does this even mean? That's one of my big announcer pet peeves. "Oh, wow, look at Scott Rolen/Aaron Rowand/Jim Edmonds/Derek Jeter, you gotta love him! He really plays baseball the right way!"

Well yeah, insofar as he's not running the bases clockwise or pitching like a softball player. This ringing endorsement always seems to follow plays like Edmonds hurling himself at the wall when he didn't need to, or someone laying down a sac bunt. What's "right" about costing your team an out? What's "right" about throwing your body into a wall when you don't need to, costing your team your health in later years? "Playing baseball the way it's meant to be played" is nothing more than antiquated thinking from crusty old scouts who judge players by their cheekbones.

[sekuloguy]

Someone who actually plays the game the way it's supposed to be played

What does this even mean? That's one of my big announcer pet peeves. "Oh, wow, look at Scott Rolen/Aaron Rowand/Jim Edmonds/Derek Jeter, you gotta love him! He really plays baseball the right way!"

Well yeah, insofar as he's not running the bases clockwise or pitching like a softball player. This ringing endorsement always seems to follow plays like Edmonds hurling himself at the wall when he didn't need to, or someone laying down a sac bunt. What's "right" about costing your team an out? What's "right" about throwing your body into a wall when you don't need to, costing your team your health in later years? "Playing baseball the way it's meant to be played" is nothing more than antiquated thinking from crusty old scouts who judge players by their cheekbones.

Cry me a riverrrrr...Cry me a riverrrrrr

[jkrdevil]

As a Yankee Fan I like Matsui. To me he is the type of player that would ahve fit well in the Championship era (1996-2001) teams. He certaintly didn't need to to apoligize. He didn't injure himself the way Kevin Brown did in 2004, he got hurt trying to make a play.

I wish the Yankees would have signed more guys like Matsui in recent years instead of the Giambi and Sheffield type players.

[NJTank]

Even though GIambi was a juicer he seems like a nice and seems contrite. Sheffield is juts a sour puss always been a sourpuss and his sulking if teh Yankees are not careful will drag down the team.

[slapshot]

Giambi only seems contrite because he was caught with "something" and is using the apology method of getting back with the fans' good graces. Granted, he is not a jerk like Sheffield, but I remember he had a bit of a swelled head (no pun) before the steroid incidents.

Matsui is a classy player, and his apology is typical of the Japanese players. They all seem very humble and want nothing more than to please the fans and be honorable to the owner and manager.

[The_Admiral]

It's just a general example of shame vs. blame: the Japanese seem much more likely to take it on the chin when something goes wrong in a business setting, whereas over here, we pass the blame like a hot potato.

[FiddySicks]

Matsui is a classy player, and his apology is typical of the Japanese players. They all seem very humble and want nothing more than to please the fans and be honorable to the owner and manager.

I dunno about that. Ive heard some stories about the way that Japanese players treat Japanese fans that make me assume differently.