1) I will too. He looked like an Elvis impersonator. I'll always remember when he hit a Blue Jays batter after Jeter got nailed by Clemens and then Irabu charged the plate! Mike Stanton had to hold him back and I could swear Stanton was holding in a smile.
Irabu was, in a roundabout way, the way I found Bronx Banter. I was trying to find a news story for a friend, about the Cleveland batboy who worked so hard cleaning the dugout that Randy Johnson told him to sit down and took over the sweeping. I found it mentioned here, with the comment that the kid looked like Hideki Irabu.
Terrible news. It sucked that he didn't turn out to be a great pitcher. But it's worse that he drank too much and his wife left him, taking his kids with her. All too much for him to bear I guess...
[16] Thanks so much Alex. Sorry for the self-serving post, but we are just devastated, out here. My friend was a larger than life dude in so many ways...and he left behind 2 little ones. Then I come back from the funeral, where I spoke and was a pall bearer, and my wife sends me the Irabu story. Is it just you notice these things more at certain times or....? Hmmm...not sure.
So nice to be a part of the Banter Community in some little way. Thanks again for sharing so much of your personal life with us.
17) You bet, man. And your comment was't self-serving at all. No need to apologize. You've got a home here, bro. Again, sorry to hear about your loss. You da MAN.
He was pretty decent for the greatest team of all time. I will remember him fondly.
1) I will too. He looked like an Elvis impersonator. I'll always remember when he hit a Blue Jays batter after Jeter got nailed by Clemens and then Irabu charged the plate! Mike Stanton had to hold him back and I could swear Stanton was holding in a smile.
that debut against the Tigers was one of the more wild 24-48 hour stretches I can remember as a Yankee fan
[1] Yep.
I never thought badly of him, even if he didn't quite match the hype (the Japanese Nolan Ryan). What a shame. All the best to his family and friends.
My friend Hank went and he still has his Hurricane Hideki t-shirt.
Here's a story in English.
Irabu was, in a roundabout way, the way I found Bronx Banter. I was trying to find a news story for a friend, about the Cleveland batboy who worked so hard cleaning the dugout that Randy Johnson told him to sit down and took over the sweeping. I found it mentioned here, with the comment that the kid looked like Hideki Irabu.
[6] haha I remember that kid! It was one of the few times Johnson appeared, dare I say, likeable
Very sad.
[4] Yeah. I don't think any Japanese pitcher has really lived up to their hype, at least not for an extended length. And he was part of 1998.
Irabu had a decent 1998.
Oh man..that's terrible. Going to check the morning tv news here.
I was really sorry to hear about Hideki Irabu's death. My condolences to his friends and family. Sad.
Terrible news. It sucked that he didn't turn out to be a great pitcher. But it's worse that he drank too much and his wife left him, taking his kids with her. All too much for him to bear I guess...
So Sad. I remember wanting him to be a success. Steinbrennner certainly let him know what was what. Then again, did Steinbrenner ever hold back?
A Japanese man who drank to excess.....hmmmm. I have some great lines, but will show restraint, under the circumstances.
Very sad.
Jesus. We lose Amy Winehouse. Then on Monday I lost one of my best friends (he was only 49). Now this. What a crappy month this is has been.
15) Sorry to hear about your friend. Best to you, man.
[16] Thanks so much Alex. Sorry for the self-serving post, but we are just devastated, out here. My friend was a larger than life dude in so many ways...and he left behind 2 little ones. Then I come back from the funeral, where I spoke and was a pall bearer, and my wife sends me the Irabu story. Is it just you notice these things more at certain times or....? Hmmm...not sure.
So nice to be a part of the Banter Community in some little way. Thanks again for sharing so much of your personal life with us.
17) You bet, man. And your comment was't self-serving at all. No need to apologize. You've got a home here, bro. Again, sorry to hear about your loss. You da MAN.