NEWSMAKER-Baseball-Fire goes out for 'Godzilla' Matsui (Reuters)

TOKYO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - No longer the fearsome, fire-breathing "Godzilla" of old, injury-ravaged Hideki Matsui retired from baseball with his head held high and as a huge source of national pride for Japan. The 38-year-old slugger, World Series MVP in 2009 with the New York Yankees, helped put Japanese baseball on the map after the trail-blazing Hideo Nomo and mercurial Ichiro Suzuki had enjoyed success across the Pacific. ...Nathan Lane Mel Brooks Emeril Lagasse Nicole Richie Heidi Klum Mario Batali Eric Idle/ Mike Nichols Adriana Lima Ty Pennington