Time Machine: Godzilla vs. the Americas

This story originally appeared in TIME magazine in 2003.

TOKYO — It was finally time to face the cameras, baseball slugger Hideki Matsui looked at the heaving battery of reporters in the banquet room of Tokyo’s plush Imperial Hotel and cleared his throat. Into the breathless silence, he delivered a grim-faced, 40-minute monologue. His words were unrehearsed, and he occasionally stuttered with emotion. He had consulted with scores of family members, friends, teammates, former teachers; he had even asked God for guidance. He had tried to tell himself he needed to stay for the prosperity of Japanese baseball. But in the end, the nine-time All-Star’s love for his team, the legendary Yomiuri Giants, had given way to his own self-interest. He was going to become a free agent and go to America to play for the even more legendary New York Yankees. Matsui bowed his head and apologized profusely to team management, teammates and the fans. And then he expressed more contrition for his selfishness. At one point, on the verge of tears, he said: “I hope people don’t think I’m a traitor.”