What Ever Happened To...Hideki Irabu???

It's been a week or 2 since my piece on the Pigeon Lady from "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York," (Check the archives on the blog if you haven't read it yet) so I figured it's about time I bring to the public's attention another once popular New Yorker who may be relinquished to the back of our minds. He played for the New York Yankees, was a native of Japan, and was named Hideki. No, I'm not talking about Hideki "With the Humongous Earlobes" Matsui A.K.A. Godzilla, I'm talking about our once hailed pitcher Hideki Irabu.

Irabu pitched for the New York Yankees from 1997-1999, netting 2 World Series rings with the Bronx Bombers in '98 and '99, though he didn't start a game in the '98 postseason and was shelled in his only '99 postseason appearance. Once dubbed the "Japanese Nolan Ryan," he was most notable for George Steinbrenner's public disdain for his laziness and weight in 1999. After failing to cover first base on a ground ball, Irabu made front sports page headlines when the Boss publicly called him a "fat toad." Irabu was traded to the Expos later that year then signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in 2002. In 2003 he went back to Japan where he pitched professionally until his retirement in 2005.

He was 34-35 for his career in the majors with a 5.15 ERA; I am somewhat confidently accurate in saying he won't be in Cooperstown anytime soon. Irabu currently resides in California, likely still living comfortably on the money the Yankees paid him.

The reason for this sudden trip down nostalgia lane is because Hideki Irabu made headlines on Sports Illustrated's website this morning. Irabu was arrested today in Osaka, Japan for assaulting a bartender after his credit card was rejected. Irabu allegedly drank approximately 20 beers, then became enraged when his credit card was declined, and began pushing, pulling the hair of the bartender and smashing bottles on the ground. Irabu paid his delinquent bill with another credit card and later admitted the assault when he was arrested.
Here is link to the Sports Illustrated story: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/20/bc.bbo.irabu.arrested.ap/index.html
So, there you have it. That's what Hideki Irabu has been up to: drinking beer, assaulting bar tenders, and having bad credit. Sounds more like Pete Rose to me.
This is a picture taken during better days for Irabu, when he was introduced to New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani one day before his Major League debut when he struck out 9 batters for a win. Unfortunately, it was all downhill after that...