Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui

Rating:
Summary: A great way to revisit Matsui's memorable first season...
Review: As a loyal Yankee fan that was present for Matsui's historic performance on Opening Day 2003, the final game of the World Series, and many games in between, I highly enjoyed this book. Jerry Beach does a very good job of making the many unforgettable moments of Matsui's first year in pinstripes come to life.

Dubbed Godzilla by his adoring fans back home, Matsui's signing with the N.Y. Yankees was international news. Beach's book takes us step-by-step through what it took to make such a deal happen, how fans and industry insiders on both continents took the news, and the subsequent season that had more ups and downs than your average roller coaster.

Whether you're an avid Yankee fan, a fan of the Japanese phenom, or just a baseball fan that enjoys a good baseball book, this one is the one to get.

Rating:
Summary: Great Sports Book
Review: As baseball becomes a very international sport, this will take its place as one of the well written and enjoyable sports books that documents this occasion....

Rating:
Summary: Poorly researched book
Review: I just finished reading this book and I have to say in all honesty that this is one of the most poorly researched books I've ever read in my life.

Basically, this book covers everything that happened to Matsui in the 2003 season with the Yankees. There's the usual game-by-game detail and the usual quotes from the Yankees praising Matsui. The author also talked to former Yomiuri Giants stars Warren Cromartie and Darrell May so they are quoted a couple of times throughout the book.

My problem with the book is that it didn't offer any new insight into Matsui. If you read the newspaper or watched the sports news at all in 2003 you basically know the whole story before you read the book.

Not only that, but there were numerous errors throughout the book that showed that the author has no idea what he's talking about when it comes to Japanese baseball. For example, on pg. 2, the author claims that "Matsui used to receive standing ovations in Japan even when he struck out." Say what? When did that ever happen?!?! I watched tons of Giants games when Matsui was here and I can honestly say that I have NEVER witnessed this.

On pg. 27, the author claims that in Japan, "if two teams are deadlocked after nine innings, the game was over." Say what again? Games used to end in ties after 12 innings, but now they go on longer.

On pg. 40, it says that Darrell May went 10-8 for the Royals in 2002. As a Royals fan, I can say with confidence without looking it up that he didn't come close to that in 2002. He was something like 4-11 that year.

Darrell May's quote about Shinjo appears on pg. 44... and the same quote appears verbatim on pg. 131. It's deja vu all over again!

This is the best one: on pg. 98, it says, "Matsui and (Ichiro) Suzuki played against each other in Japan just once, during an exhibition called the Nippon Series in 1996." I guess the Nippon Series must be the equivalent of the exhibition World Series in MLB...

On pg. 166, it says that Matsui batted .333 with 4 RBI in leading the Giants to a four-game sweep of the 2003 Japan Series. Hello! This book covers Matsui's 2003 MLB debut season! Could it be a typo? Apparently not. On pg. 173, the author writes the same thing! Unbelievable!

On pg. 194, the author writes that Cromartie started a fight in 1987 against the "Junichi Dragons." It's the Chunichi Dragons! I was fully exasperated by this point in the book.

Finally, the author make several condescending remarks regarding Matsui's interpreter, Roger Kahlon. He harps on the fact that Kahlon's translations of Matsui's comments are brief. He mentions this about 3 times throughout the book. As a friend of Kahlon's I did not appreciate this. Interpreting is not easy but the author gets off on the fact that Kahlon may have liberally interpreted some of Matsui's comments. I'd like to see the author try to interpret for someone day in and day out.

This book is for kids aged 9-15. This is not a book for adults. I don't recommend this book to anyone.

The author should've used a good proofreader to save himself some embarrassment...

Rating:
Summary: Godzilla Takes The Bronx
Review: I purchased this book, because my husband and I are both Yankee fans. and have been following the Yankees for many many years..

This book - has all the qualities of becoming a best seller.. The writing is excellent. and the author.. Jerry Beach, captures Hideki Matsui, in ways.. that we, as Yankee fans..just want more and more info on this very valuable player.. I would hope to see a second book, on this player, as his career with the NY Yankess continues..

I give this book(as does my husband) a 5 STAR Rating.. It's a great book.. and we have both thoroughly enojoyed it..

Jerry Beach, is an author to follow.. because his writing style.. made this book a GREAT READ!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Godzilla have great pesonality.
Review: I think it is natural that Godzilla get to be parson written by many books. In second year as NY Yankees, he blashed up his potensial ability:the homerun over 30, almost 3.00 average and over 100 RBI. I have tought it was natural that he extended hisself figure. Because he got many beseball title in Japan: the homerun king over 50, MVR, RBI king....

But I did not think that he get to be the fourth batter of Yankees. Certainly he was the fourth batter in Yomiuri Giants Tokyo, however Japanese think that the skill gap between Japanese baseball and MLB is clear. I think so too. But in the second year, he obtained the fourth batter in Yankees, the top team over the world.

U.S.A people may think why Japanese are excited to Japanese major leaguers. I think that Japan is a island country enclosed in the sea, additionaly a single race nation unlike U.S.A.

But the truth Godzilla's wonderful things is not only his baseball playing ability, but also his nice character and pesonality. I hear that he is very popular with U.S.A children. I think that he is loved by children because of his truth personality. I think that the men that can see through the truth goodness is children rather than adults because they have pure mind. In fact he have done many charity activity, besides, he have done the activity personally, not public: the donation for intellectual disorder men, the donation for the victims of the Hanshin big earthquake(Hanshin Daishinsai).

And he never refuse the press interview even if whether that is Japanese media or foreign media. He take the interview every day neverthless his lost game or no hit game.

in old days when he was high school student, he advanced to high school baseball championship(Koukou Yakyuu). In those days, other highshool students was fear for Matsui's incredible power hitting, and his opponent team gave him the consecutive intensional five walking, it was natural that his team lost the game. The ordinaly person will be very angly. But after the game, his face was very calm and he said such[I can understand the motive of the opponent team, and If the team did not the intensional walking, I that exist now will not exist(at that time he played as Japanese professional player).
I think that he have great personality.

Thank you for reading poor writing.


Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!!!!!
Review: This book is a MUST READ... Although, not usually a baseball fan.. I've been following the Yankees.. because of Hideki Matsui.. Last season was great. and this book, is written by a very talented writer. I feel the writer has captured the "true Matsui" and it's really interesting to read about him"..

Get this book FAST before it sells out. It's a MUST for Fathers Day.. for all Yankee Fans.. and ALL sports fan.. to read..

Great JOB!!!!! Exciting book.. I give it 5 stars..

Rating:
Summary: Godzilla Takes the Bronx: The Inside Story of Hideki Matsui
Review: This is a great book
It should not be classified as a biography.
You screwed me on a school report.!!!!!