【米紙LAタイムズ】にしこり終了、今はイチローの時代!
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-wbc-japan5-2009mar05,0,4629002.story If it was a rivalry for popularity in Japan, it wasn't really close. For years after leaving Japan,
Matsui grabbed the headlines and the big endorsement deals back home
Then came the first World Baseball Classic in 2006, and the baton was passed.
Matsui had a new contract with the Yankees and an unfulfilled dream of a World Series ring.
Despite personal pleas from Sadaharu Oh, Japan's national manager and an icon himself,
Matsui opted to skip the tournament. He put Steinbrenner before country.
Japanese fans repaid the love. Ichiro became the national hero, and it has never been quite the same for Matsui,
who broke his wrist early in the 2006 season and has struggled with injuries ever since.
He's still a celebrity in Japan. But now there are other names that tumble from kids' lips -- not just Ichiro but (Daisuke) Matsuzaka, (Kosuke) Fukudome
and the latest pitching star, Yu Darvish.
2006年に王監督から直々にお願いされたにも関わらず、日本と王さんを蔑ろにして
自分のヤンキースの契約とオーナーのスタインバーナー氏を優先させて日本代表としてWBCに出場をする事を拒否した松井、
一方イチローはWBCに出場してチームを引っ張り日本を優勝へと導き、
それ以来日本での松井の扱いが冷たくなり二人の間に大きな差ができた。
今でも松井は日本では有名人だけど、子供達の口から出る選手の名前は、イチローや松坂やダルビッシュの名前で、
松井の名前は出てこない、時代は松井では無くイチローや松坂を求めている。