S. Korea in the Olympics – Baseball & Swimming
By Johnny Numba 5
I’m feeling a bit patriotic today…so let’s break down some of the great Korean teams/atheletes in the 2008 Olympics, reppin’ the good old red, white, and blue…..aaaaand black ( you know, cuz of them lines in the corner???) ahahaha.
S. Korean Baseball Team – Are you kidding me??? Still undefeated? A team that didn’t even qualify for Athens in 2004? Korea beat Japan last night coming back in the later innings, winning the game 6 -2.
You know that what that means? Guaranteed medal baby, gold or silver! Recipe for success in that game? Good clutch hitting, good base running, aaaaaaaaaand slugger Seung-Yuop Lee (???) baby! He’s known as the “Lion King” by his fans…he’s Asia’s most feared hitters…he holds the record for most homer runs (56) in a single season in Korea. Did you know in 2006 at the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC) he led the tournament with 5 homers and driving 10 runs?
Anyways, after the game he apologized to Japan, “I just want to say I’m sorry to the fans and players of Japan, but it is an important game and we’re all the same Asians.” Wow what great display of sportmanship right??? Weeeeeeeeeell, there’s a twist…he currently plays for Japan, earing about $2 milion a year, LOL I guess he can definitely expect something less than a hero’s welcome when he goes back. He’s quite a talent though…I hear the Dodgers and the Yankees are after him…but he says he’s pretty content with where he’s at now, so we’ll see…..
Park Tae-Hwan (???)- The story with this kid is that he was suffered from asthma as a child, and started swimming at the age of five because his doctor believed it could improve his condition. Is that inspirational or what folks!!!???
He also won gold* in Athens 2004 when Park was only 15 years old, winning the 400m race.
Watch the youtube video below when he won again in Australia – 400m. Siiiick….just siiiiick.
*Anyways, regarding the gold he won in Athens back in 2004….guess what? Afterwards he got DISQUALIFIED for a false start in one of the prelims, and his medal was stripped away from him. Being only 15 he cried and cried and cried…it was so sad. =(
But 2008 Beijing, he’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaack winning the gold in the 400m, and coming 2nd behind Michael Phelps in the 200m. Check out his gold medal performance in the 400m race! Can you believe he’s only 18???
GO Park Tae-Hwan!!
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