10:38 and I'm back in the room. That, in and of itself, is a sad commetary of my current state in life. Saw lots of old friends. What has always amazed me, is that we cannot see each other for five years and pick up, just like we had never left this place. Its a phenomenon that has to be seen to be understood. Amazing. The S.O. has met so many people tonight.
Speaking of the S.O., its been all Matsui all day. Enough already. I like Matsui too-I'd like him him more if he did not play for Satan The Yankees. However, from looking at the news, he is something of a hero in Japan.
If New York toasted Hideki Matsui all night and morning after the Yankees' 7-3 World Series-clinching victory in Game 6 last night in The Bronx, imagine the reaction in Japan, which has 20 Japanese media affiliates regularly covering the Bombers and which has sent 28 affiliates and more than 100 journalists to cover the World Series.
"This is unbelievable," said Sataru Kagenezawa of Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper. "The biggest story in Japan for a Japanese player playing in the major leagues was Ichiro [Suzuki] winning the MVP (in 2001). "But I think this is even bigger.
While I was cussing into my beer last night, the S.O. was dancing in the living room. Matsui! Matsui! I had to remind her that if they were playing baseball as it was meant to be played-he would not have even been at bat.
Today has been lectures on the superiority of Japanese players over American ones.
But hey, I play golf and I see a parade tomorrow. And 30 years ago I was in the company of some great men too. We were champions then-and now.