It was a kind of drama. Picture-perfect defense that changed in an instant the mood of a drawn-out game, a come-from-behind homer by Asia’s home-run king, and a final duel between the representative players of Korea and Japan. Sunday’s final Asian qualifier in the World Baseball Classic at Japan’s Tokyo Dome was a rare victory that revealed the essence of baseball. In particular, as it was the first ever match-up between the elite players of both nation, it was a come-from-behind victory that unburdened the chests of the people, so much so that it could be called the baseball version of the Battle of Tokyo.
Before the match, Korea was ranked a level lower than Japan. Korea mobilized all its overseas players, but compared to Japan, with a 70-year history of professional baseball, it was a step behind in objective might. And perhaps paradoxically, the dynamic force behind Korea’s victory was the team’s mature attitude that it would learn Japan’s more advanced baseball. Lee Seung-yeop said, “We won the game, but we must learn and train more.” Park Chan-ho, too, humbly said, “Korean baseball grew by learning from Japan.” Without such humility, the come-from-behind homerun that ate through Japan’s weak point and the perfect finish might not have been possible.
On the other hand, Japan’s top player, Suzuki Ichiro, provoked the Korean side with his “30-year” comment, and earned criticism that his arrogance had brought defeat. The maturity of responding to the other side’s nice defense with a standing ovation opens ones eyes to “advanced baseball.”
That there is already discussion of granting the national team players military exemptions is rash and inappropriate. This tournament is a highly commercial one led by U.S. Major League Baseball. The basic nature is different from the Olympics and Asian Games. It’s also unreasonable to compare a tournament with only 16 nations to one like the World Cup, with some 200 nations.
Through this win, the national team learned a lesson greater than pride or victory. We look forward to a good fight in the finals to convene in the United States from March 13.
The Hankyoreh, 7 March 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] A Baseball Victory Brought through Humility |
