Korea's Gold Medal Team
Outside of a handful of games of baseball I actually attended, the last time I sat around and actually WATCHED an entire game of baseball probably had to be around 1990, when the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. I do not enjoying watching baseball. It’s usually too boring. It can be exciting, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.
The Korean Gold Medal game between Korea and Cuba was exciting enough to keep my wife, dog, and I watching the entire time. Korea had the lead, 3-2, bottom of the ninth inning, with runners on first and second. The pitcher was going for a complete game, and had a full count. The umpire’s strike zone was a touch…inconsistent, to put it politely. When yet ANOTHER questionable call went against Korea, walking the Cuban runner and filling the bases, I had to simply get out of the room and go to the bathroom. It was way too tense.
The Korean catcher got tossed for complaining about the call, and the pitcher got replaced from the bull pin. At least in this game, they had a translator to sort out what the umpire was saying, unlike the controversial Women’s Handball decision. Eventually they sorted it out, and the Cuban player hit into a double play.
When the won the game, the apartment complex was shouting loudly like normal. For once, when the crowds were cheering, we were watching and cheering along too. Seems 14 of the players on the team that get gold medals don’t have to go to mandatory military service. That’s probably why they are so happy too.
I don’t like watching baseball, but that last inning was worth sticking around to watch. Good stuff.
